有时候我们对自己所置身的城市,未必比稍有涉足的异域更加熟悉;这要看从哪个层面上说。譬如,我到太原生活七年了,但对于这座老城的认识,却如同盲人摸象。那些遥远年代里所蕴藏的古老繁华,我向来知之甚少;如果不是写作这篇文章,我对它的所有想象或许将永远停留于最浅薄的层面。 Sometimes we may not be more familiar with the cities we live in than the exotic places we have been involved in; it depends on what level we are talking about. For example, I have lived in Taiyuan for seven years, but my understanding of the Old City is like a blind person. I have always known very little about the ancient bustles of those distant ages, and if not for this essay all my imagination of it would probably remain at its most superficial level.