The annual team-building activity is finally here. Today’s destination is Xishan Island on Taihu Lake, Suzhou. Outside the window, familiar urban streets give way to endless farmland. As swathes of green flash past, the mood lifts. Someone murmurs, “We’re nearly there.” Everyone in the coach turns toward the window at once. The vast Taihu Lake unfolds unexpectedly, shimmering with countless golden ripples under the sun. Our trip thus begins amid gasps of amazement!

Our first stop was Wind Chime Valley. Tempting Dongshan loquats lined both sides of the path. Walking up the stone steps deeper into the valley, the world gradually grew quiet — not dead silence, but filled with another kind of sound. Wind chimes hung everywhere: on pine branches, bamboo railings and rocky cliffs beside the stream. Strong winds brought out their crisp tones. A shallow mountain stream ran through the valley, tumbling down from higher ground and splashing white foam over stones. Its gurgling water formed a soft background beneath the wind chimes. The pines on both sides rustled in the breeze. Locals call this scene “Golden Bells and Pine Melody”. The pines act as natural reeds, playing in harmony with wind chimes for thousands of years. That is Wind Chime Valley. It is not a grand view to take in at one glance, but a scene to listen to and savour with your heart. Every wind chime has its own tone, and every gust blows from a different direction. Therefore, the melody you hear during your visit will always be one of a kind.

Our second stop is the Grand Ruyi Buddhist Sanctuary on Xishan Island, Suzhou. Nestled in Qiliwu, it is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces Taihu Lake to the south. It backs onto Piaomiao Peak, the highest among Taihu’s seventy-two peaks. First built in the 2nd year of the Yuanjia reign of the Southern Dynasties (425 AD), it boasts a history of over 1,600 years. Emperor Xizong of the Tang Dynasty once granted it the name “Guanyin Courtyard”. The ancient millennium temple was destroyed by warfare in the early Republic of China. Reconstruction on the original site started in 2008 and took eight years, bringing forth today’s golden Buddha statue.

At noon, we arrived at Banmu Lake Restaurant and savoured authentic Suzhou specialties, including scrambled eggs with whitebait, Taihu one-pot seafood, stir-fried beef and crispy salt & pepper pork. Every dish tasted amazing. We chatted happily about the morning’s fun moments over lunch, with laughter drifting out the window. After the meal, we headed straight for our next stop.

Our third stop was Hengshan Island. A peaceful peninsula in the southeast of Taihu Lake, it connects to the main Xishan Island via a 1-kilometer causeway. Walking onto the island with open Taihu waters stretching out on both sides feels like treading lightly over waves. The island’s highlight is its original fishing-village lifestyle. Stone houses, moored fishing boats and drying fishing nets all preserve genuine local fisherman charm. Endless loquat trees grow here, bearing golden fruits. Freshly picked loquats sit outside every household for visitors to taste.

Our final stop was Mingyue Bay. Stepping into the bay, visitors first see an over 1,200-year-old ancient camphor tree. It has a sturdy trunk and a huge canopy spreading like a giant umbrella, casting dense shade. This tree has stood guard over the village for a thousand years. Beneathfoot lies the stone-paved street laid during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. Stretching 1,140 meters long and paved with granite slabs, it features the famous scene of “walking in embroidered shoes after rain”. Nearly one hundred ancient Qing buildings remain in the village, including the Huang Clan Ancestral Hall, Deng Clan Ancestral Hall, Lihe Hall and Yugeng Hall. The ancient wharf extends 58 meters into Taihu Lake and is built from 256 granite blocks, offering a perfect spot to watch sunrise and sunset.

Towards dusk, the whole Taihu Lake was dyed soft orange by the sunset. The day was short — too short to capture every detail. Yet joy lasts long enough to help our team grow more harmonious and warm in the days ahead. This wonderful day drew to a close amid laughter as we headed back by coach!