Mandarin Immersion (Part 10)

This entry is part 10 of 40 in the series Mandarin Immersion

May 24, 2023

Mandarin Immersion (Part 10)

By Simon J. Lau

I indulged in some night photography from the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge. It reminded me how much I love capturing urban landscapes at night, especially when I’m out late by myself. In those moments, I feel completely in my element and, most importantly, happy.

Earlier, I explored East Lake and the botanical gardens in Wuhan. East Lake is a major attraction and one of the largest freshwater lakes in China. The botanical gardens, situated near East Lake, are among the country’s three research gardens. They were definitely worth the visit!

I also had a failed attempt at visiting Wuhan University. Since COVID, many Chinese colleges and universities have closed their gates to the public. It’s a shame, as this campus is considered one of the most beautiful colleges in all of China. Instead, you get this ugly photo of me in front of one of the entrances.

For food, I indulged in some local favorites. Hot dry noodles (pictured first at the bottom) are a popular Hubei cuisine, served with flavorful hot sauce. I also tried duck neck and head, along with a spicy bullfrog dish for good measure.

Finally, I made some new friends. I stumbled into this small bar, and the owner invited me to join him and his friends outside. We talked late into the night, and I was thrilled to engage in meaningful conversation in Chinese. My Mandarin is really improving! We agreed to meet again tonight.