Location: Shenzhen
Travel note summary: After dinner, instead of returning to the Sheraton, I suddenly felt like taking the metro and walking alone to the area near Jingyuan Hotel north of Xiangmi Lake. Back in 2007, when I was 27 and on my first business trip to Shenzhen, I stayed at Jingyuan Hotel. I was naive then, full of curiosity about this unfamiliar environment. I remember Jinli, who worked in Guangzhou, came to see me, and we got foot massages at the Qinghai Building next door—my very first time. Back then, just a few dozen RMB (over 200 NTD) could kill a whole evening, so I often came alone after work. Things like haircuts, taxis, and massages in China were all incredibly cheap at that time. After returning to Taiwan, time flew by as I shuttled between cities across the straits. Shenzhen has grown from just opening its first metro line to now having 11 extensive lines. Compared to Shanghai, I have a different, indescribable feeling and sentiment toward this city. Tonight, I suddenly wanted to revisit this old place from the beginning. A decade later, Jingyuan Hotel still stands, but the Hong Kong-style dim sum restaurant where I ate with Jinli in the Qinghai Building has …
