On Nov 30, I had the opportunity to visit Huishan Ancient Town in Wuxi, where the beauty of autumn was on full display.
As a Liberian international student at Jiangnan University, I set out to explore the town's seasonal charm and was immediately wrapped in a wave of golden, purple and snow-white chrysanthemums that bloomed in every conceivable shape and hue, transforming the old town into a living painting.
At first, the sweetness of the blossoms amazed me. The cobblestone lanes, lined with traditional black-tiled houses and curved eaves, wound through "rivers" of flowers, guiding me from one breathtaking scene to the next. As a design student who loves beautiful sightseeing, my heart swelled with admiration.
A variety of chrysanthemum flowers are on display at Huishan Ancient Town in Wuxi. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
What made the trip unforgettable was how the flowers blended effortlessly into the town's rich history. At the entrance of an 800-year-old ancestral hall, a grand chrysanthemum arrangement stood beneath a carved wooden plaque. The soft petals contrasted beautifully with the dark, weathered wood, evoking a sense of timelessness. From the center of the town, I paused to capture beautiful pictures of the leaves, golden fish and their reflections rippling with every gentle breeze, as if the water, too, had caught a glimpse of the flowers and was blooming in response.
Our guides, who had accompanied us through the ancient streets, brought the story of Huishan Ancient Town to life. They explained the symbolism behind the flowers, teaching us how to identify the different varieties, some with "spider-like" petals, and others simple and "daisy-like".
Adonis Dorbor Jr (2nd from right) and other expats admire chrysanthemum blossoms at Huishan Ancient Town. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
As we continued our journey, the golden fish decorations hanging overhead in the town caught my eyes. Intrigued, I asked one of the guides about their meaning. I learned that the golden fish symbolized academic excellence in Chinese culture. Inspired by this, I promised myself to return to Huishan before or after every exam.
Adonis Dorbor Jr (2nd from right) and other expats display the clay handicrafts they created at Huishan Ancient Town. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
A lucky turn of events allowed me to sit in on a clay-making class, where I learned how to mold my own golden fish. It wasn't just a trip to see flowers, it was a chance to immerse in the essence of autumn, in the beauty that wraps itself around Huishan's ancient streets like the soft and lasting petals of a chrysanthemum petal.
Every minute in Huishan Ancient Town amazed me and I can't wait to explore more.
The author is an international student at Jiangnan University who participated in a cultural event organized by Wuxi International Communication Alliance at Huishan Ancient Town in November.
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