Noodles a foodie's bright spot in Nanjing

Long before we left on the high-speed train, friends were telling us exactly where and what to eat in Nanjing. Their advice came tinged with passion and nostalgia as they eagerly shared favorite foods and places to dine.

Duck's-blood glass noodles was the most often recommended dish, and it seems to be the street food most associated with this city south of the Yangtze. Giving it a good run for its money was the next suggestion, fragrant tofu scented with five-spice and named after the orchid.

Above all, almost everyone said the best place to go to sample these local temptations was Nanjing Dapaidang, a successful franchise with many outlets all over the city, but with a very picturesque branch right by the Confucian Temple alongside the Qinhuai River.