IELTS Speaking Part 1 Introduction: Hometown, Home and Country

My hometown, Suzhou, is in eastern China, about 100 kilometres west of Shanghai. It’s known for its beautiful classical gardens and canals, which have earned it the nickname ‘Venice of the East’.

Useful language:earned it the nickname

I love the mix of old and new — you can walk along peaceful canals in the morning and then visit a modern shopping district in the evening. The food is also excellent.

Useful language:the mix of old and new

It has grown rapidly. There are new metro lines, high-rise buildings and business parks, although the historic centre has been well preserved.

Useful language:well preserved

I live in a two-bedroom apartment on the eighth floor of a modern building. It’s not very big, but it’s bright and close to the metro.

Useful language:close to the metro

The living room, because it has a big window with lots of natural light. It’s where I relax, read and spend time with friends.

Useful language:natural light

Right now, an apartment, because it’s more convenient and closer to work. In the future, I’d love a house with a small garden.

Useful language:more convenient

I’m proud of our long history and our food culture — every region has its own distinctive dishes and traditions.

Useful language:distinctive dishes

Many people spend time with family, go shopping or eat out. Young people often meet friends at cafés or go on short trips.

Useful language:eat out

I’d like to talk about the Forbidden City in Beijing, which I visited last summer.

It’s located in the heart of the capital, right next to Tiananmen Square. This vast palace complex was the home of Chinese emperors for nearly five hundred years, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and it was the centre of government for one of the world’s great civilisations.

Visitors can explore its many halls, courtyards and exhibitions displaying imperial treasures such as ceramics, clocks and jade. The scale is awe-inspiring: there are around nine hundred buildings spread over a huge area surrounded by high red walls and a moat. Highlights include the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where emperors held their most important ceremonies, and the Palace of Heavenly Purity, which was the emperor’s residence. I spent almost a whole day there, and still didn’t see everything.

I find this place fascinating because it offers a tangible connection to the past. Walking through the same gates and halls as emperors and their courtiers did centuries ago gave me a profound sense of history. I was also amazed by the intricate details of the roofs and decorations, which show the incredible craftsmanship of ancient artisans.

For me, the Forbidden City is a testament to our rich cultural heritage, and I think it’s important because it helps younger generations understand where our culture comes from and feel proud of it.

Useful language:the heart of the capitalawe-inspiringimperial treasuresa tangible connectiona profound sense of historya testament to

Urbanisation has a complex impact. When people move to cities for work or study, they may feel detached from their roots, and traditional ties and dialects can weaken. However, better transport and communication let people stay in close contact, and many migrants invest in their hometowns, so connections can actually remain strong in new ways.

Useful language:detached from their rootsstay in close contact

They can protect historic districts by law, build new developments in other areas, and use careful design so modern buildings don’t overshadow old ones. Old buildings can also be restored and given new uses, such as museums or cafés.

Useful language:overshadowgiven new uses

Homes will need to cope with extreme heat, floods and storms — for example, better insulation, natural ventilation, raised foundations and solar panels. Energy-efficient design will become standard.

Useful language:natural ventilationraised foundations

Advantages include exposure to different foods, languages and perspectives, which makes people more open-minded. Disadvantages can be misunderstandings or language barriers, although these usually decrease as neighbours get to know each other.

Useful language:open-mindedlanguage barriers

Online neighbourhood groups make it easy to share news, sell items or organise events. But people may also spend less time chatting face to face in local shops or parks.

Useful language:neighbourhood groups

They can provide identity and stability during fast change. I think customs should be kept where they bring people together, but adapted when they no longer fit modern values.

Useful language:identity and stabilityadapted

For some, home may become less about a fixed place and more about community and belonging. People may live in several places during a year, while still keeping strong emotional ties to their hometown.

Useful language:digital nomadsa sense of belonging