Ten young people from seven countries visited Gaoyou, Jiangsu, on Sept 27 and 28. DONG MING/FOR CHINA DAILY

Gaoyou offers a blend of history, natural landscapes, and modern conveniences, providing a refreshing perspective on China beyond its bustling metropolises.

Foreigners often think of China as a country with buildings and lights everywhere. The photos you usually see on social media — shot in big cities like Shanghai, Chongqing, or Shenzhen — showcase China's high-end technology, such as drone light shows, widespread 5G networks, electric vehicles, and AI facial recognition.

But let me introduce you to another side of China — Gaoyou, a smaller city in Jiangsu, which I visited with nine other young people from seven countries on Sept 27 and 28.

On my first day there, I didn't notice much difference between Gaoyou and a big city. It has all the conveniences of modern life. I even told my classmate, "You can probably find anything here. Let's go grab something to eat." We explored the city and discovered that many shops were still open, even though it was already 10 pm. The locals welcomed us warmly and tried to speak some English words to us.

What really caught my attention was when we wandered down quieter streets. The atmosphere became cozier, and we saw beautiful homes tucked away from the noise of the main roads.

"When I first arrived, I thought it looked very modern and I was quite surprised because I hadn't heard of this city before. I thought it would be a very small village in the middle of nowhere but it turned out to be new and modern and that impressed me," said Zuza Bialas, a 23-year-old journalism student from Poland studying at Tsinghua University.

But Gaoyou is not just about streets and shops — it's also home to magnificent lakes and forests. In fact, out of its 1,963 square kilometers, 788 square kilometers are water, making up about 40 percent of the total area.

"We were very impressed by the lake; it was so vast that at first we thought it was the sea," Bialas mentioned.

Suhard Liya, a 17-year-old pre-university engineering student from France studying at Tongji University, shared with me that the media in France often spread the idea that China is polluted, with concrete and modernity everywhere, and that they don't care about nature.

"But I didn't have this idea because I talked to Chinese natives in France who showed me the real, positive side of China," she said. "When I arrived, my perceptions were confirmed. As I explored Shanghai and Gaoyou — a big city and a smaller one — I found them both really clean."

Gaoyou is a city full of wonders. Its importance stems from its location along the ancient Grand Canal, the world's longest man-made waterway, stretching over 1,700 kilometers.

This vital trade and communication route connected different regions of China, helping the city flourish as a hub for the exchange of goods and cultures over the centuries.

A highlight of our trip was Southgate Street, Gaoyou's "ancient street", where you can enjoy local delicacies and admire the stunning traditional architecture.

Walking along the street feels like traveling back in time. The buildings, with their curved roofs and intricate woodwork, reflect the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), keeping the charm of traditional Chinese design alive.