Taizhou Trip Begins with the 'Full Fish Banquet'

The COVID-19 pandemic struck suddenly with a huge impact! From a halt of all industries to rapid recovery, in just half a year. The 2020 National Day holiday was bustling with tourism! Looking around the world, as a Chinese, a sense of pride surged in my heart. I never travel during Golden Week, but this year I made an exception: a three-day trip to Taizhou!

On the morning of October 5, I left home at six, took a Didi ride, and arrived at the meeting point in over 20 minutes. No one was late; we departed on time and had a smooth journey. Unexpectedly, we reached the Sutong Bridge in an hour and a half. Hello, Yangtze River, long time no see! On the bus, I sent photos of the Yangtze and a little poem to friends and family:

Just out of the neighborhood,

In a flash across the Yangtze.

Autumn sun glitters on the river,

The waters vast and gray.

At nine o'clock, the bus stopped at the Sutong Bridge service area, which had complete facilities, a dazzling array of goods, and grand architecture. When traveling abroad, there are so-called service areas, but just one or two small shops. After a 20-minute rest, we continued. At 11:20, the 50 tour members got off and filed into the 'Shi Wei Tian Restaurant' in Qintong Town, Jiangyan District, Taizhou City.

Ten dishes, nine fish, each bowl fresh,

Ten people at a table, each joyful.

Water towns, lake networks, water everywhere,

Northern river town welcomes guests!

Having woken up early, we were famished by then. Ten of us sat around the table. Truly a land of plenty, as per the itinerary, this was the 'Full Fish Banquet'. Various kinds of fish were served one after another. There was one fish dish whose name I didn't know—just white fish pieces the size of stinky tofu. Mr. Wang and I decided: it was fish chin. Unexpectedly, so tender, it melted in the mouth, rich but not greasy—my first taste ever!

We discreetly took one piece each. But when the lazy Susan turned to us again, there were still many fish chins in the bowl. We tried again. On the third round, still some left, so we tried a third time! Oh my, why were our tablemates' chopsticks so modest?

The three days in Taizhou began with the 'Full Fish Banquet' at Shi Wei Tian Restaurant!