I visited China from March 10 to 16, where I spent four days in Hangzhou, one day in Suzhou, and one day in Wuxi. It was my first trip back to these places in about 40 years, and they have totally changed. During my time there, I attended a robotics exhibition, visited various attractions, and enjoyed some truly excellent meals.
Tan Kin Lian poses under the cherry blossom trees at Yuantouzhu. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]
In Wuxi, I stayed at the Fliport Garden Hotel, which impressed me with a unique feature. When the key card is removed from the holder, the charging point remains active, allowing guests to charge their mobile phones or other devices even after leaving the room.
The charging point at the room of the Fliport Garden Hotel. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]
At night I visited the Hubin Commercial Street, a bustling area full of restaurants.
Hubin Commercial Street is buzzing with cars and restaurants at night. [Video provided to wuxi.gov.cn]
One of the highlights of my time in Wuxi was visiting the Yuantouzhu Scenic Area, located near Taihu Lake, one of the largest lakes in China. The lake covers about 2,400 square kilometers — around 3 times the size of Singapore. The cherry blossoms there were just starting to bloom, and while it was a bit early in the season, I was still able to see some beautiful blossoms.
The view of Yuantouzhu. [Video provided to wuxi.gov.cn]
For my return trip, I took a flight from Wuxi to Singapore on Juneyao Airlines. This was my first time traveling with this airline, and I made sure to check its safety record before booking. I was satisfied with what I found. The flight was direct, with the shortest travel time, and the fare was quite affordable at around SGD 160 ($125.6). The experience was pleasant; the plane was punctual, and the flight was smooth.
Tan Kin Lian is a well-known figure in Singapore, having served as the CEO of NTUC Income, one of the country's leading insurance companies.
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