On a rainy Friday morning, I drove to Sam’s Club in Hangzhou for my regular shopping. Walking through the warehouse, I suddenly realized how similar daily life here now feels to my routine in Canada.

Over the years in Beijing, I have come to notice the quiet presence of the city’s street cleaners. Their work is simple and steady, and often goes unnoticed, yet it helps keep the daily rhythm of the capital running smoothly. Long before most people step outside, they have already finished hours of work. In a city that is constantly changing, their routine remains one of the small but essential parts of Beijing’s life.

The Gan Xiu Suo (干休所) where my father lives is a residential compound for retired PLA officers. These communities exist across China, quietly supporting veterans who served during the early decades of the People’s Republic.

I recently made a solo long-distance drive from my hometown Hangzhou to Beijing, a city I often call my second hometown after living there for nearly thirty years.