On April 14, 2010, my sister and I embarked on a journey to search for happiness. Guangzhou South Railway Station is a modern and grand building, resembling a small airport. The vast space inside the gate is awe-inspiring, with a simple structure like elegant Chinese calligraphy that flows smoothly and decisively without any hesitation. At 8:05 PM, we boarded the most fashionable high-speed train "Harmony Express" heading to Wuhan. Its pure white body has three large characters "Harmony Express" written on the windows. The seats are spacious and can rotate front and back, fully showcasing high technology. The train slowly started moving, with slight swaying, but the water in the cup remained unusually calm. Looking out of the window, only the distant scenery was continuously moving. It was raining at the time, and the raindrops on the window were not vertical but slanted due to the speed of 350 kilometers per hour. After a four-hour journey, we arrived at our destination, Wuhan, at 23:56 PM. Before getting off the train, we all put on our thick coats because it was only 3 degrees Celsius in Wuhan. Getting off felt like stepping into a world of ice, with a noticeable temperature change making us all shout from the cold. My sister couldn't stand still in such cold weather, walking with bounces which was quite amusing. With excitement and tension, we stepped into the world-famous ancient city - Wuhan. We passed by Wuhan Yangtze River Second Bridge, recalling a primary school lesson about the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge. The night in Wuhan was peaceful without the hustle and bustle of the city, illuminated by neon lights, making the entire city look charming. Amidst the soft light, there were tall buildings with a touch of old charm. After a 20-minute ride, we reached our destination, Wuhan International Holiday Grand Hotel. After checking in, we found a noodle shop nearby and had a few bowls of noodles. Taking a bite, everyone exclaimed, "Too delicious to describe!" This kind of noodle is called Re Gan Mian, a major feature of Wuhan cuisine. Both my sister and May ate two big bowls, showing how incredibly tasty they were.
April 15, 2010
The weather cleared up early in the morning, and the traces of rain gradually disappeared with time. The sunlight brightened the entire Wuhan city, giving a fresh and comfortable feeling after the rain. We took the elevator to the 27th floor revolving restaurant for breakfast. The restaurant's surroundings are made of floor-to-ceiling glass, allowing us to enjoy the panoramic view of Wuhan while eating breakfast, which was extremely pleasant.
After breakfast, we officially set off. Our first stop was to visit two very distinctive hotels - Shangri-La Grand Hotel and Sentosa Grand Hotel. The car moved slowly through the streets and alleys of Wuhan, taking about half an hour for a two-kilometer journey. Wuhan is an old city lacking overall planning, and with the opening of the Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed railway, traffic congestion has become more severe. After a 20-minute bumpy ride, we arrived at the Shangri-La Grand Hotel. Shangri-La Grand Hotel is a five-star hotel in Wuhan with very distinctive architecture full of Indian style, where many Indians can be seen dining in traditional Indian attire.
After visiting the two grand hotels, we headed to the famous Hubei Library. Upon entering, the palace-like architectural complex caught our eyes, reminiscent of the Forbidden City. Most of the collections come from archaeological excavations and collections from various places, mainly featuring unearthed artifacts with strong local characteristics and distinct era features, reflecting the ancient culture of Hubei Province. Some of these artifacts hold significant positions in the development history of Chinese ancient culture. Having studied history for three years in high school, seeing many ancient artifacts in textbooks, this personal encounter felt exceptionally refreshing.
Subsequently, we returned to the hotel for lunch and met the renowned Ms. Wen. She didn't appear too young but exuded elegance. The dishes on the table were all the most distinctive foods of Wuhan. The cucumbers were much shorter than those in Guangdong, each one uniformly sized, looking fresh green, clearly just picked. They were incredibly fresh and sweet when bitten into, especially flavorful with sauce. That day, we ate many distinctive dishes, but the cucumber left the deepest impression. After finishing the meal, we went to the next scenic spot - Wuhan East Lake Park. Resting after meals made us feel as carefree as gods. Although tired, upon getting off the bus, we immediately became energetic. Inside the park, many people were leisurely strolling, their faces calm. The surface of East Lake was as still as a mirror, occasionally drifting with gentle willow fluff. Wuhan gave me the feeling of being a provincial capital with the famous Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge and the historically renowned Yellow Crane Tower, filled with skyscrapers but without the hustle and bustle of Guangdong, tranquil and suitable for calming a restless heart. In the park, we slowly walked around and took pictures imitating ancient beauties. My sister joked, "Learn from them, but don't fall into the lake; no one will save you." A bit of teasing followed, and although tired, we wanted to sleep and thus headed to Wuhan University, using the bus ride to take a nap.
Wuhan University - the dream university I once longed for, a century-old prestigious institution, preserving many architectures from the Republic of China era. One could imagine the intellectuals of the past conducting various reforms here, numerous academic exchanges happening here, and various schools of thought converging here. There is also a distinctive cherry blossom path within the university, with cherry blossom trees lining both sides of the shaded path. Every March, the cherry blossoms display their beauty here, but we came at the wrong time; the cherry blossoms had already withered, leaving behind quiet cherry blossom trees. This made me think of my own university days, fleeting and turning into fragmented memories before I could fully experience them, evoking a sense of loss. Whether laughing or crying, life must go on, and so must the tour. "An old friend takes his leave of the Yellow Crane Tower, in the mist and flowers of the third month he goes down to Yangzhou," Li Bai's famous lines have made the Yellow Crane Tower a world-renowned landmark. Now I am fortunate enough to personally witness its grace. It is a cluster of buildings, with many small buildings of similar style around the Yellow Crane Tower, and a large bell. We encountered a couple ringing the bell, with the man shouting out his love for the woman while ringing the bell, making us bystanders feel a chill.
Today's journey was rich in culture, and with an unfulfilled desire for Wuhan's culture, we arrived at a local, distinctive restaurant in Wuhan. It was said that this restaurant was described in detail in Chi Li's "Comings and Goings," attracting many visitors, including ourselves who are admirers. The restaurant wasn't large, nor was it luxurious or quiet. Each table had an accompanying "singer," enjoying spicy food while tasting songs of different styles, adding a unique flavor. In this characteristic restaurant, our friends from all over the country laughed and chatted, listening to a sincere Mongolian man sing "Meeting at the Ao Bao," and a fiery Hunan girl's love song. Though not drinking wine, we sang along with joy, since the girls drank delicious soy milk instead of alcohol.
Our one-and-a-half-day trip to Wuhan ended, and our next destination is Wuyuan in Jiangxi province, looking forward to bridges, streams, homes, Zhu Xi's hometown, and gray-white architecture. Tonight, we rest well, ready to continue tomorrow.