The little flowers of osmanthus create a huge scent across the city of Rugao in Nantong. [Photo/WeChat account:rugaofabu]

One of nature's fragrances that is hard to ignore in the autumn has to be the scent of osmanthus blossom.

The tiny little flowers not only smell pleasant but also taste delightful. This has led to their use in cooking; the flowers are widely consumed as an ingredient in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Let's take a look at some popular osmanthus- inspired dishes in Nantong.