"A Bite of Xiaolongbao, A Journey Through Time: My Lost Notes in Nanxiang Ancient Town"

That day, I walked into Nanxiang Ancient Town.
It’s not large, but it quietly stands by the river of time, like a silent yet deep-eyed elder, telling stories that reach back to the Three Kingdoms era. This place was originally called "Nanku Li," later renamed "Nanxiang," symbolizing a lucky bird flying from the south—an omen of good fortune. Located in Jiading, it has long been a land of Jiangnan’s literary culture. Though small, the ancient town hides ancient pagodas, temples, bridges, wells, walls, and bowls upon bowls of xiaolongbao that make people willing to travel thousands of miles just to taste them.

In front of a heavy wooden door, I sat on the stone steps, looking up at the weathered lintel and carved bricks. Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind: "Did a scholar once live behind this door? A Jiangnan talent who quietly studied, secretly wrote poetry, and hid from the storms of the court?"

The wind blew softly, as if someone whispered back to me: "Their poems still drift inside the house." Passing by a summer symphony of Zen music, I was moved to record it...

A few steps further, I encountered the twin towers of Nanxiang, one tall and one short, facing each other from afar. These are the remains of Yunxiang Temple, a thousand-year-old ancient temple in Nanxiang, built during the Tang dynasty and rebuilt in the Song dynasty. The towers still stand firm today. Some say these twin towers are the guardians of Nanxiang and a bridge for the ancient town to converse with the heavens. Standing before the towers, I took a photo with a smile but silently wished: "May we also keep a bit of ancient charm in this noisy, mundane world."

The most stunning bite of the journey was from a xiaolongbao shop that has been in business since the Guangxu era. I ordered a basket of steaming hot xiaolongbao, waited for the soup to swirl beneath the skin, and took a gentle bite...
Ah! This is truly a gift of history wrapped in boiling time! This bite is not just delicious but feels like a heartfelt gaze into an ancient era.

Nanxiang Ancient Town is a poem yet to be finished. Standing by the stone tablet of "Nanxiang Ancient Town," I made a V sign and reluctantly stamped this journey like a child before leaving. But I know this is not the end—because I haven’t yet heard all of Nanxiang’s stories. There are still late Qing private gardens like Tanyuan that keep scholars lingering; there are Hecha Pavilion, ancient theaters, bridge shadows, and alleys, dreamy and surreal, but those must wait for another visit!

Before leaving, I softly said: "Thank you, universe, for always letting me find a little lost beauty in your embrace." And someday in the future, when I miss it, I know that just by gently closing my eyes, the memories will once again rise, warm and fragrant.

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