Jiaxing through a lens

Also don't forget Lanxiu Park. It's next to Nanhu Lake and worth seeing for the Wu Temple, which you can enter and climb to the top of for a city view.

Trains? Well, you have to see both of them. A bit far out is Beichen Road, where you will find a locomotive and a few carriages abandoned and left to the elements; I'm told it's popular for model shoots and selfies. The other is in the center of town and if you can find it you'll not fail to note the metal sculptures that look like they are from a Transformers film.

Jiaxing Happy World is what we in the west deem an old-fashioned fun fair. It is not pristine or new; it is old and colorful and has tons of character. I could happily spend all day there taking photos of the rides and games.

The abbey? Yes, there is an abbey in the city. Vincent Abbey is only a 10 minute walk away from the Yuehe River and worth a look. Inside is a small museum which depicts the canals around Jiaxing in some interesting old photographs. When you walk out of the abbey along the tree lined road turn right and a few minutes later you'll come to a bridge with a story of Jiaxing on the floor and a painted sky on the ceiling.

Among the numerous old buildings and areas to wander around in, Meiwan Street is good and easy to get to as it's in the center of town. If you fancy a longer trip, two buses will get you out to Xincheng where you can see old style buildings that I was told were for movie sets, designed to look like 1980s China. Not sure if it's true but well worth a day trip to see them.

Weather permitting I am out almost every day walking with my camera. I often just follow my nose, walking wherever I wish, just looking for interesting things. Photographers never know what they will find in these circumstances and we trust to luck. Without exception everyone I have met has been friendly, always speak even if it's just to say hello, some like to ask where I am from, other want to see what I am photographing.

I may not speak the language well but even just pointing to my camera gets a nod or thumbs up. There is always a smile for this crazy foreigner walking around, a genuine curiosity about what he is doing. There's always a welcoming feeling in the city.

Nothing much to see in Jiaxing? I totally disagree.