Xu Haolun

What memory stands out to you from your time at UC?

Friendship and cultural diversity! I’ve made lifelong friendships during my time at UC. 

I still remember the group trips my friends and I took to Lake Ellesmere to see the Aurora lights, Akaroa to experience the French settlement, and Riccarton to discover local delicacies from the Christchurch Farmers' Market. A friend even invited me to a Christmas lunch with her family and I was so touched by their hospitality.

Developing solid friendships with people from around the world is one of the UC memories I cherish the most.

What is your favourite thing about where you live?

Suzhou is a cultural hub in China. Established in 514 BC, you can explore more than 2,000 years of history by visiting local gardens, parks, museums, Buddhist temples, and even ordinary alleys in the Old Town district.

The city is also a powerful financial hub. Statistics show that 156 of the world’s 500 largest companies from 19 countries and regions invested in projects in Suzhou, including Coca-Cola, Mitsubishi, L’Oréal, Unilever, Samsung, Siemens, and Philips. Here, you can meet people with different cultural backgrounds, try out a wide range of cuisines, and find many job opportunities.

It’s worth mentioning that bullet trains run between Suzhou and Shanghai multiple times a day, and only take 30 minutes to travel. Living in Suzhou means you can enjoy a vibrant metropolitan lifestyle in Shanghai too.

Is there any advice you would give fellow alumni who have moved to your area?

Transportation. Suzhou does not have an airport, the nearest airports are the Su’nan Shuofang International Airport in Wuxi city and the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. Both taxis and the metro from Shanghai can be very experience and slow so it's worthwhile figuring out how to book train tickets.