Su Lin

A native of the picturesque city of Hangzhou, Su Lin embodies the elegance and refinement traditionally associated with East China. She is recognized internationally not just as a Senior Travel Journalist, but as a National Level 1 Tea Appraiser—the highest official certification attainable in the Chinese tea industry. This unique qualification allows her to seamlessly weave the rich tapestry of East China’s tea culture—from the Longjing terraces of Zhejiang to the Wuyi rock teas of Fujian—into her broader narratives about regional tourism and gastronomy. Su Lin is also the author of Whispers of the Water Towns, a beautifully illustrated travelogue that documents the culinary micro-regions of the Yangtze River Delta, which spent several weeks on the regional bestseller lists.

In her capacity covering East China, Su Lin provides readers with highly curated, sensory-rich content. She is an expert on the delicate, sugar-kissed flavor profiles of Huaiyang and Shanghai cuisines, often guiding readers away from crowded Bund restaurants to discover hidden Michelin-starred gems and historic xiaolongbao (soup dumpling) shops in ancient water towns like Wuzhen and Suzhou. Her writing heavily emphasizes the philosophy of eating in harmony with the seasons, a core tenet of Eastern Chinese culinary tradition. Whether she is reviewing the spring bamboo shoots of Anhui, the hairy crabs of Yangcheng Lake in autumn, or the intricate seafood dishes of the Shandong coast, Su Lin’s prose is immersive and highly evocative. Her deep local roots and professional appraisal skills ensure that her guides are sophisticated, highly accurate, and deeply respectful of the artisanal craftsmanship that defines East China's culinary and scenic landscapes.