This photo was taken in a perfectly ordinary alley.

There are no chic, trendy shops, no throngs of tourists, only the traces of everyday life. Clothes sway gently on the balcony in the breeze, a few well-used bicycles are parked downstairs, and a few elderly men sit on their own small stools, chatting idly.

This kind of scene is a rare sight in the heart of a city dominated by skyscrapers. It's not modern, not fashionable, and even a bit messy, but it possesses a solid, down-to-earth warmth. You can almost smell the aroma of home-cooked food drifting from an open window, and hear the faint sound of an opera from a TV.

We are always drawn to the glamorous landmarks, yet often overlook these "capillaries" that constitute the city's fabric. They are the vessels for the real lives of most people, recording the trivialities and peace of day-to-day life. This "imperfection" is, in fact, a reflection of the city's vitality, resisting the homogenizing erosion of commercialization.

Next time you pass an alley like this, take a moment to slow down and look. It reminds us that in the pursuit of efficiency and development, some clumsy, slow things are still worth preserving.