🏔️ Denver – America’s True “Old Money” City 💰✨

Denver, the capital and largest city of Colorado, is a major transportation hub in the American Midwest — often joked about by Chinese netizens as the "U.S. version of Zhengzhou" 🚂. Nestled against the Rocky Mountains, it started as a coal-mining town before gold was discovered, drawing waves of prospectors during the Gold Rush. Known historically as the "Queen City of the Plains," Denver played a vital role in agriculture across the eastern Rockies plains. With the rise of mining + farming + the Transcontinental Railroad + Westward Expansion, the late 19th century saw an influx of millionaires and immigrants, leading to explosive population growth 📈. A local once told me: “We’re the back-up of the whole Federal.” I joked: “Back-up for what? Energy?” They replied: “Back-up for everything. We have weapon companies, energy, and even our airport is a shelter.” (🔍 Look up “Denver Airport Noah’s Ark” – it’s a conspiracy rabbit hole! 🛸) ❤️ Why I Fell in Love with Denver: 🏙️ Clean & Safe Wide streets, clean urban spaces, and very few homeless people. As a foreigner, I felt none of the unease I sometimes feel in Manhattan or NYC. The people are genuine and friendly. 💧 Comfort & Convenience Ample energy supply — even the tap water in public restrooms runs hot (almost scalding!) 🔥 The convention center area is perfectly laid out — during a snowstorm, stepping out of the hotel right into the conference center felt like a blessing ❄️❤️. 🎨 Old Money with Taste – Denver Art Museum A provincial-level gallery with a cosmopolitan vibe 🖼️. Two buildings, four floors — a joy to explore without feeling overwhelmed. It celebrates diversity: Pacific Island art, Latin American exhibitions, and the Russell collection showcasing Native American culture. Not gonna lie — it’s small but beautiful! I fell in love with Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo 🎨 — he paints with his fingers, and his work is full of edges, attitude, and color. His pieces now sell for millions of RMB. That Denver Art Museum hosts a whole room of his work? That’s old-money confidence. ⛰️ Natural Beauty – Red Rocks, Echo Lake & Evergreen I squeezed in a half-day tour (and yes, hiked in Gucci ankle boots — probably the only one 😂). The verdict? Breathtaking mountain grandeur 🏞️. 🦞 Food Scene The steak was okay, but the lobster was fantastic! Recommended: Water Grill 🦞 Also, on 17th Street across from Union Station, there’s a stylish boutique that sells both new and second-hand luxury fashion 👗👜. #Denver #OldMoneyVibes #RockyMountainHigh #DenverArtMuseum #AmoakoBoafo #TravelUSA