"One Day in Changzhou: Missed the Shrimp Cake Stall, but Found a Surprise!"
It was a relaxing day in Changzhou. I went straight to Hongmei Park after getting off the train. It's not far from the station, so I walked there. The park is quiet and the air is nice. I took a few photos. I took a photo of the reflection of Tianning Temple Pagoda in the water. The water looks nice, and winter is a great time for photos. I wandered around and went into Tianning Temple. It's just a temple, nothing special. You have to pay to go up the pagoda, but I didn't feel like climbing, so I just looked at it.
Then I went to Qingguo Lane. The old houses there have a Jiangnan style, with white walls and black tiles. But it was a bit quiet, with many places closed and not many tourists. I just took some photos and looked around. I heard there was a shrimp cake stall, but I got lost and couldn't find it. I don't know if that was lucky or not. Then I went to Banshan Bookstore to find a quiet place to relax.
On the way, I saw a Changzhou cake shop. The environment was average, but it looked authentic. I went in and had some fried noodles with eel, which were delicious. I also got an egg pancake to go. It was simple and satisfying, like a home-cooked meal.
After eating, I went to Banshan Bookstore. It was quiet, with many people reading. I stayed there for a long time and finally had time to read. I had heard of Han Kang's "The Vegetarian" before, and today I finally read it. It was good. The bookstore is a great place to read.
Then I realized I had brought a power bank but no charging cable. How silly! I went to Wuyue Plaza to get one and charged my phone. After that, I went to Changzhou Museum. No reservation is needed. I spent about an hour there. Most of the exhibits are about the history of Changzhou, which was interesting.
Finally, I went to Changzhou Library. The second floor is a study area, with many students reading. It was quiet, a good place for book lovers. Overall, Changzhou is a quiet place with no busy attractions. It's a great place to wander around. If you don't go to the Dinosaur Park, one day is a bit tight. Two days would be more comfortable, and you can enjoy the slow pace of the city.