Nanjing 

For a taste of the local flavors, one recommendation is the Shiziqiao Street, in conjunction of Hunanlu Street. It is my policy to try the most indigenous local food wherever I go. For that reason, the Nanjing Dapaidang restaurant is one good choice. Its deliberate antique decorations as well as the furniture indicate a clear vow to provide a flavor that is one hundred percent local.

There are so many choices, but I can only recommend a few here we are. This is Shizitou, very easy to remember, the head of a lion. This one is the root of the lotus. This one is Luhao, vegetable only available in this part of China and the last one, this one I've never heard of, it's called Tang Yumiao, sweet little taros.

Early morning is the time a city reveals its natural beauty, before it disguises itself in the artificial makeup of traffic jams and noisy crowds. That's why I chose to get up early to do some jogging, to get a glimpse of the local life in Nanjing.

But jogging is probably the most boring exercise in Nanjing. This little bamboo toy is called Zhumingtang. It stimulates your waists, arms and even your ears.

And the prize for most beautiful sight still goes to the wonderful practice of the Taiji sword. You can find groups of people practicing along the road. Obviously you don't get this good with only one or two days of practice. Some of them have been honing their skills for over decades. It is interesting just to watch them move peacefully along the increasingly busy streets.

Another thing you won't miss noticing along the roads are those folks who gather to give their birds a fresh breath of air in the morning. These birds are carefully pampered and taken care off. And their owners are all too familiar with the birds' habits, what they are afraid of, what they really like.

The morning market usually only opens along the Yudao Street between 6:00 and 7:30. The farmers nearby come to sell their fresh vegetables and other household items.

It's cheap and fresh.

The old saying that the early bird gets the worm holds true here in describing the roadside food stands. Different stands provide different choices for breakfast. This is the Chinese version of fast food. Convenient, a multiple of choices, and ready in an instant, such food stands are a blessing for anyone hurrying on their way to work. Such little Wantons, with just a teeny tiny little amount of finely ground pork wrapped inside paper-thin dumpling skin, are unique to the region. And believe me, they are pretty tasty.