2016 Year 7 Moon 31 On the last day of July, the weather remained sunny and mild. Early in the morning, reporters from the Nobang editorial team set off from the company, heading to Xitang—a thousand-year-old water town and ancient village—to gather inspiration for their writing. On the bus, our tour guide explained the itinerary to us and chuckled, “Once we arrive at the scenic area, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time.” About two hours later, our group finally reached the Xitang Ancient Town scenic area. As soon as we stepped inside, our eyes were immediately drawn to the ancient eaves, moss-covered alleyways, quaintly styled attics, and stone-built arch bridges—all of which seemed to be quietly telling us about Xitang’s rich history and culture. And so, our correspondent’s journey of spiritual and cultural exploration officially began.
The accompanying tour guide led us on a visit to a variety of ancient residences and cultural museums. Among the ancient residences were Ni’s Residence, Xue’s Residence, and West Garden. These old houses have stood here year after year, their simple yet dignified gateways, gleaming blue bricks, or even moss-covered corners—all imbued with the stories and memories of the people of Xitang. The museums—including the Button Museum, the Jiangnan Tile Collection Hall, the Ming and Qing Woodcarving Gallery, and the Zhang Zheng Sculpture Art Gallery—each vividly showcase Xitang’s artistic and cultural heritage. During our tour, we gained a deeper understanding of Xitang, and our appreciation for the culture and history it embodies became all the more profound and genuine.
Having experienced the tranquility and serenity of ancient residences, strolled through quaint alleyways steeped in history, and walked along bustling, vibrant commercial streets, we finally arrived at a charming little shop with a fresh, inviting atmosphere. Here, we took a brief tea break and began the main focus of our field-reporting trip: a casual tea gathering. Correspondents gathered around a table, engaging in heartfelt conversations as they reviewed their work accomplishments from the first half of the year and discussed the challenges they had encountered. 2016 Remaining for the year 5 A month of work has come to an end. Putting aside the fatigue from our travels and the stress of work, everyone was able to speak freely, express their own views, and share their genuine thoughts. We identified many areas in our previous work that deserve improvement, and put forward numerous constructive suggestions for the future work of the Nuobang editorial team. These suggestions received positive feedback and responses.
This tea party marked the first in-depth discussion since the establishment of the Nuobang Editorial Department. It yielded numerous effective approaches and methods for advancing the department’s work, provided us with firsthand insights into the genuine thoughts of our correspondents, and will greatly benefit the future development of the editorial department as well as the work of our correspondents. During the free time following the tea party, you’ll have the chance to revisit those spots that once captured your heart and made you want to linger—a perfect opportunity to truly savor and get to know them all over again, or even to capture their essence with your camera and share them with others.
It wasn't until we were about to leave the beautiful ancient town of Xitang that everyone began to feel tired and drowsy. Yet, we didn't feel weary at all—instead, we found ourselves closing our eyes, slowly savoring the beauty of Xitang once more. History is always refining society, people, and the environment, guiding them toward a predetermined direction of change. Today stems from yesterday; the present is shaped by the past. What we see is but a fleeting moment in the vast expanse of time. Through this tiny window, we can try to glimpse a fragment from the long river of history, to appreciate the resilience of life, to sense the beauty of everyday living, and to perceive the enduring legacy of culture.
The rings of history connect one end to the past and the other to the future. In July, let’s grow! In August, keep up the good work! Moving forward, we’ll keep striving hard to ensure that Nobang’s culture permeates and takes root in every corner of our company!
