During the seven-day trip, in addition to visiting Fenghuang and Furong towns, I also explored other ancient towns in Xiangxi — Liye and Chadong.

In 2002, some 36,000 bamboo slips were discovered in Liye in the ruins dating back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), revealing insights into the Qin government's political system.

Chadong, a small town bordering provinces of Guizhou and Hunan, as well as Chongqing, inspired Shen's most famous novel, Biancheng (Border Town), a poignant love story that has touched millions.

At the entrance of a house where Shen once stayed in Chadong, many tourists sat at a table posing for photos. On the wooden wall behind the seat, a quote from Biancheng reads: "This person may never come back, or perhaps they will return tomorrow." It's the final sentence of the story.

My colleague asked me to sit down for a photo. "Judging by your smile, you'll be back soon," she said.

He Chun contributed to this story.