Nanjing trip: a journey fueled by the desire to meet my favorite singer

After my second failed attempt to get a ticket for my favorite singer, Ele Yan’s, concert, I decided to embark on a solo trip to Nanjing to attend a music festival where he was performing as a guest. It was a difficult decision—I had to manage everything on my own, and traveling alone to a new city posed an entirely new challenge. Once I got my parents’ approval, I quickly booked my hotel and transportation, as the festival was just around the corner.

As my excitement grew, the day finally arrived. After a rushed start from my hostel, I boarded the bus on time, though a hint of nervousness lingered. The four-hour ride to Nanjing gave me a chance to take a short nap. We arrived at the music festival venue around 11 a.m.—quite early, since the event didn’t start until 2 p.m. I decided to explore the area and join some of the booth games. Participants could win prizes like keychains, postcards, and polaroids. I happily collected several and even received a plastic water pouch with an Ele Yan sticker from the organizers. It was a thoughtful gesture that made me feel the organizers truly cared about the audience.

The music festival began promptly at 2 p.m. I found a spot in the middle of the rock zone. As the artists took the stage, the crowd’s excitement and energy surged. Standing among the audience, I was fully immersed in the incredible atmosphere. Everyone cheered and applauded loudly after each performance, motivating the artists for their next set. I enjoyed every act, though my legs grew numb from standing so long in the rock zone.

Before Ele Yan’s performance, I even caught a glimpse of Chenle and Renjun from NCT Dream for the second time—my first encounter with them had been in Malaysia. This performance was one I had eagerly anticipated, as they rarely return to China for events like this.

As the clock slowly approached 8 p.m., it was finally time for Ele Yan to take the stage. As expected, the audience erupted in cheers. Tears almost welled up as I saw him in person—it was surreal to witness the singer I usually only hear through my earphones standing right in front of me. To my delight, Ele Yan performed my favorite song, “缓缓”, making the festival experience even more incredible and unforgettable.

As the music played, I sang along and waved my hands toward him. I was overjoyed that my long-awaited dream had finally come true. Even after standing for six hours, I cheered with all my energy, completely exhausted but exhilarated.

Ele Yan performed eight songs during his set, but it still didn’t feel like enough. I felt a little empty inside when he left the stage. I stayed to enjoy the remaining performances to make the most of my ticket, catching acts by Eric Chou, another of my favorite singers, and Henry Lau. I would easily rate this music festival a perfect 10 out of 10—every guest delivered an outstanding performance. Though it had been a tiring day, I returned home with a heart full of happiness and unforgettable memories.

After a good night’s sleep, I began the second day of my Nanjing trip with a friend who studies there. We met at Jiming Temple and explored this famous site. The temple wasn’t very large, but its many staircases added to the charm. Afterwards, she took me to her university, Southeast University, for a campus tour. The campus had a serene atmosphere, reminiscent of Yuquan, with its lush greenery.

Later, we walked to Red Temple Street, where I tried a local snack called Vegetable Crisp. It was so crispy and delicious that I can still remember the taste. We had lunch at a restaurant in the city center before heading to Confucius Temple Pedestrian Street, which was bustling with crowds and full of energy.

Around 5 p.m., I headed to the high-speed railway station to catch my train back to Hangzhou. This trip was truly wonderful and fulfilling—I finally saw my favorite singer perform live, something I had been dreaming of for so long. An unexpected highlight was also being able to meet my friend in Nanjing, keeping the promise I made to visit her one day.

Although the trip was short because of my tight schedule, it was meaningful in every way. I left with memories I will cherish, and I believe that one day, I will return to Nanjing again.