The Quiet Beauty of Suzhou
Our time in Suzhou felt like two completely different trips. There was the ancient city, with its canals, classical gardens, and traditional architecture, and then there was the modern city,…
Future City, Past Layers: Urban Change in Shanghai
When I think of Shanghai, I think of character. Beneath the glitz and glamour are layers of intention and history that tell far more interesting stories. You could start with…
Wandering the Streets of Boston
Boston has an unmistakable energy—a city constantly in motion, shaped by generations of students, innovators, and dreamers. That vitality is hardly surprising given the concentration of world-renowned universities, but Boston's…
Rooted in History, Alive in Spirit: Chicago
Chicago has character—gritty, deliberate, and unmistakably hard-working. Its palette leans blue and gray, steel and glass softened by the vast, steady presence of the lake. Unlike most American cities, it…
Exploring Heilongjiang for the First Time: Part II
We spent a few whirlwind days in Suibin, and the adventure began almost immediately with a visit to the local police station. Since I was staying with family instead of…
Exploring Heilongjiang for the First Time: Part I
Heilongjiang, way up in northeastern China, isn’t exactly what you’d call a wealthy province. Its GDP sits in the lower third of the country—eight or nine times smaller than the…