Another popular park is Bochi (Bowl Pool) Hill Park, featuring fine examples of Taoism architecture. At the foot of the hill stands a 9-m-tall bronze statue of Taoist philosopher Laozi, whose belly is completely hollow. Inside the hollow part, the script of Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing), the most influential Taoist text, is carved in the form of the Taoist symbol for yin and yang, as the letters constitute a circle with a curved line down the middle.

It is said if you go into the empty space of the statue to pick up Laozi's writings, you will become a wise man. Last year, when I took a look at the statue, I found that the hollow belly was crowded with people. And there were still hordes of tourists waiting outside, so I had to queue up for a long while to enter and become "smart".

Bochi Hill Park is also a terrific public place to do physical exercise. Many senior residents go there to jog, practice shadowboxing and swim, even on a freezing winter morning.

Stir-fried fresh water eels

For local delicacies, I strongly recommend la tang (spicy soup), an appetizer served at any snack bar in the city. Its basic ingredient is wheat gluten, mixed with sliced kelp and coriander leaves that give extra flavor. This humble soup is particularly popular in winter, as it will warm your body and soul.

If you go to a restaurant, don't hesitate to order the famous Huaiyang dish stir-fried fresh water eels. Its soft texture and fragrant smell may encourage you to stay in the city even longer.