"Heaven on Earth", was the first thought that hit me as soon as we embarked on the boat, which took me and my friends to one of the most incredible places in China: Yuantouzhu Scenic Area, surrounded by Taihu Lake. The welcoming sun shone upon the marvelous lake scenery, reflecting the small islands and traditional boats, slowly drifting in the open water.
The author takes a photo when viewing the Yuantouzhu Scenic Area. [Photo provided by Ekaterina Vorobeva to wuxi.gov.cn]
We were greeted by huge flocks of red-billed gulls that escorted us from the second our boat started its way to the island. All the way to Taihu Fairy Land, I marveled at the stunning natural scenery and took in the fresh air. It's so rare to get a chance to be in such a relaxing and quiet place in such a busy city as Wuxi.
Upon arriving at the island port, we saw a fabulous mix of natural wonders such as century-old trees, rocky mountains, lake-side beaches, and man-made cultural heritage like traditional temples, Buddha statues, and exquisite bridges. This is, honestly, the thing that I love Wuxi the most: It never fails to amaze me with how smoothly it blends the natural sceneries with the human-built sights. This gives me the feeling of inner peace and harmony like nothing else.
The author enjoys herself when viewing the Yuantouzhu Scenic Area. [Photo provided by Ekaterina Vorobeva to wuxi.gov.cn]
As a famous Chinese poet Guo Moruo once wrote, "The superb view of the Taihu Lake, after all, lies in the Turtle Head Island or Yuantouzhu" (太湖佳绝处，毕竟在鼋头), and it is something that you cannot argue with: Anyone who has a chance to visit Wuxi, cannot miss the opportunity to come here. Most people know Wuxi as a prominent business and enterprise center. However, it puts so much effort into preserving its natural allure, and Yuantouzhu is the best example that everyone must experience at least once in their lifetime.
The author is a China Daily intern from Russia, studying at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
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