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Summer furnace is one cool place to visit in autumn

By Gong Wanwen (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-11-11 09:35

Nanchang is not a recommended destination in the summer when it is unbearably hot and humid.

Known as one of the four furnaces in the country, along with Nanjing, Chongqing and Wuhan, the capital of Jiangxi province is often described "as hot as hell" in the summer days.

Autumn - cool and pleasant - is the best time to explore the city.

Unlike fast-paced Beijing, Nanchang is the ideal place for taking a leisurely stroll. It is also the best way to meet locals and experience the relaxed pace of life that is reflected in every vignette of daily life - from the young girls window shopping to old men taking a nap in the sun in their foldable bamboo chairs.

Even in the business district, people seem to be in no great hurry.

A stroll around Nanchang is a good way to learn about the history of the city, and country.

This is the birthplace of the People's Liberation Army and is often known as "Hero City", where many influential figures in Chinese history such as Zhou Enlai and Zhu De left their marks.

On Aug 1, 1927, the Chinese Communist Party leaders started the famous Nanchang Uprising, the first major Kuomintang-Communist engagement of the civil war.

The Nanchang August 1 Uprising Museum stands at the site of the uprising's headquarters.

Blending both Western and Chinese architectural styles, the five-story building is filled with objects of historical and cultural importance.

The place that Nanchang occupies in the history of China is similar to that of Lexington in the history of the United States: Both lit the fire of revolution.

When night falls, the city comes alive. Nanchang residents like to spend the night outdoors, holding dancing parties in the public squares or parks, or head to Snack Street for a bite.

When I return to Nanchang, I drag my friends to this street, for a taste of Nanchang noodles, fried Lihao and bacon.

Lihao, a leafy vegetable that is only found in Poyang Lake, the country's largest freshwater lake, is only available in February and March.

But before you venture into a restaurant to try typical Nanchang cuisine, remember to take a bottle of water. The city is famed for its spicy foods. People here believe the more hot pepper you eat, the happier you will be.

Most restaurants here do not call it a day until 5 in the morning, giving visitors enough time to savor all the delicacies their stomachs can hold.

(China Daily 11/11/2010 page19)