Nanchang wasn’t just another stop on my work calendar this time – it felt like a sneak peek into the future. I came here for the 2019 VR/AR Application Exhibition, and the first impression didn’t disappoint. The expo center itself looked like something out of a sci-fi movie: all glass, curves, and reflections, as if it was designed by someone who lives in the year 2050. Walking through the gates under the giant VR letters, I could already feel reality bending a little.

Inside, it was a playground for tech lovers. VR headsets transported people to space, AR glasses turned simple walls into interactive art, and everywhere you looked, someone was waving their arms like a Jedi practicing lightsaber moves. It’s wild how these technologies blur the lines between what’s real and what’s digital. For a few hours, I wasn’t just visiting Nanchang – I was surfing virtual oceans, exploring galaxies, and building 3D castles in thin air. If this is the future, sign me up.

But step outside, and the city of Nanchang showed that it didn’t need VR to impress. When night fell, the skyline exploded in color. Bridges glowed red, skyscrapers pulsed in blues and purples, and the river mirrored it all like a giant LED screen. Walking along the waterfront, I felt like I had accidentally stayed in augmented mode – the lights were that surreal. This city knows how to put on a show, no headset required.

Of course, you can’t talk about China without talking about the food – and oh, did Nanchang deliver. Dinners turned into feasts: endless dishes spinning on the lazy Susan, flavors that hit every corner of the taste spectrum, and enough chili to make you question your life choices. Add a few bottles of baijiu to the mix, and suddenly strangers became teammates, teammates became friends, and the language barrier? Completely dissolved in laughter.

When it was time to leave, I realized this trip had been more than an expo visit. It was a perfect blend of tech dreams, vibrant nights, and human connections that no virtual world could replicate. Nanchang taught me something important: the future might be virtual, but the best moments will always be real.