A Journey Across the Heavens, Beginning with The Return of the Condor Heroes

“The maiden gathers lotus by the autumn waters, her narrow sleeves of light silk, a pair of golden bracelets gleaming beneath. Her reflection shines as she plucks flowers that look like her face; her heart is tangled with the silken threads.” The soft Wu dialect was enough to stir anyone's heart, and the voice belonged to a girl in the bloom of youth, making it all the more playful.

On South Lake in Jiaxing, a young woman steered a fishing boat, singing Ouyang Xiu's “Butterflies Love Flowers” as she cast her net.

“Little Guozi, if I were a fish, I'd swim right into those girls' nets...” The word “swim” was used to exquisite effect.