If the rest of the world replicates a carefully crafted cocktail, Tai’an is akin to a fiery shot of baijiu, enigmatic and full-bodied, potent and unforgettable. Instead of sullenly lingering in obscurity, it swings its doors wide open, inviting the daring to savor its intoxicating brew. Yes, you’ve heard murmurs of bustling Shanghai, heard Beijing’s symphony echoing through continents, but we are scuttling off the predictable path, plunging into a labyrinth of a forgotten story.