A bowl of Wuxi old-fashioned noodles. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

How to dispel the lingering chill of spring? Come and have a bowl of Wuxi old-fashioned noodles.

In Wuxi, a city renowned for its culinary delights, noodles hold a special place in the hearts of locals, earning them the title of "noodle enthusiasts".

With over 1,800 noodle establishments dotting the cityscape as early as 2015, Wuxi is a hub for noodle connoisseurs. Among these, a standout dish proudly carries the city's name — Wuxi old-fashioned noodles.

At the heart of this dish lies the soul-warming soup. Even before it reaches your table, the tantalizing aroma of the broth, painstakingly crafted with bone marrow, pig trotters, hen, and ham, whispers of its complex flavors developed over seven to eight hours of simmering.

The accompaniments for Wuxi old-fashioned noodles are a cornucopia of flavors. From fish balls to shredded meat, tripe to shrimp, each ingredient, including mushrooms, water bamboo, flowering cabbage, and green soybeans, harmoniously blends to capture the essence of early spring.

The star of this culinary masterpiece, the old-fashioned noodles, hails from the noodle store "Shang Mian Dian" on Xushe Street. Locals have revered it as the epitome of noodle perfection for a century.

While some may find Wuxi old-fashioned noodles too rich compared to plain varieties like yang chun mian, locals appreciate the dish's symbolism. The medley of toppings mirrors the vibrant canal docks, the velvety white broth reflects the opulence of Taihu Lake, and the chewy noodles symbolize the unwavering resilience of the people of Wuxi.