If it were not for the "UnionPay" logo and "Taobao upgrade" signboard at the shop entrance, perhaps my thoughts would have lingered in the distant past. There are also many short alleys on the West Street leading to the riverside. The best locations by the river are equipped with teahouses and restaurants, attracting customers and pleasing guests. The gondolas moored on the water, just like the houses with white walls and black tiles on both banks, remain still, exuding a serene charm that permeates the surroundings.
The spring scenery of Jiangnan is most poetically expressed through watercolor paintings. A few female students from the Academy of Fine Arts are sketching by the riverside. Under their brushes, the spring colors of the ancient town come alive on paper. Their focused expressions reveal their deep longing for spring within their hearts.
We enjoyed a lunch full of watertown characteristics on the second-floor balcony of a riverside residence, exquisite yet not luxurious! Stir-fried snails, braised pork with preserved vegetables, mallow... These dishes look ordinary but have outstanding flavors. The last dish served was steamed silver fish, which is a local delicacy and particularly delicious.
Wandering around the ancient town, after a circle, we came to the opposite side of the West Street. The kilometer-long covered corridor along the river is the most famous feature of Xitang, undulating continuously with varying heights. Under the covered corridor, one can walk without hindrance regardless of wind or rain, connecting the hearts and hands of residents.
On the ancient West Street, merchants gather and trade thrives. It is reported that a businessman contracted a temple for 7.2 million yuan to collect money from incense offerings: fake monks were criminally detained. Shopkeepers display their goods along the street, ranging from simple bronze handicrafts, colorful handmade textiles, to local specialties represented by lotus root cakes, with a wide variety...
An old man volunteered to be our guide, leading us into a pitch-black alley. Originally, the old houses in Xitang are so close together that their roofs connect, making the alley underneath completely dark. After carefully walking for dozens of meters, a light appeared ahead, reaching the West Street by the river.
There is a garden called Xi Garden on the West Street, the largest private garden in the history of Xitang, known for Mr. Liu Yazhi's former residence.
There is also a Stone Skin Alley on the West Street, "If you haven't been here, it's as if you've never been to Xitang!" said the old man... The fragrant soybeans and chestnuts full of Jiangnan flavor are unforgettable. South Lake chestnuts are round and translucent; paired with emerald green soybeans, they are a perfect match.
If you plan to wander through Xitang, you should not miss this enchanting night view... Looking up at the narrow strip of sky above the Stone Skin Alley, underfoot is a cobblestone path overgrown with moss, and on both sides are high walls with peeling white paint; beneath the high walls are several miniature doorways, probably the side doors of wealthy families in the past. The narrowest part of the Stone Skin Alley is less than seventy centimeters wide, requiring passers-by to sidestep each other...
The reflections of lights flicker on the water, swaying like brocade with the ripples. Diners sit by the water, sipping wine or tea while leaning on the railings, accompanied by a few small dishes, enjoying the beautiful scenery before them.
When speaking of famous waterside ancient towns in Jiangnan, Xitang must be mentioned. On April 22nd, driving from Puxi Shanghai via the Outer Ring Expressway and then onto the Hangzhou-Shanghai Expressway, it takes less than an hour to reach Xitang Town in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, where the reunion with the dreamlike waterside town begins...
The orange streetlights illuminate the West Street, with very few pedestrians, somewhat tranquil. The voices of residents indoors and the barking of dogs deep in the alleys can be heard clearly.
I guess it's because here it's far from the riverbank... Sure enough, at this moment, the area around the covered corridor is brightly lit and bustling with people...
The sound of paddles does not disturb the tranquility of the ancient town; the boats glide gently across the water surface, and the ripples soon return to calmness. Appreciating the old houses, stone bridges, and small rivers... as well as the people living here, one cannot help but marvel at the serenity and composure of Xitang!
The main waterway of Xitang is T-shaped. Building houses along the river and living beside the water has been a tradition since ancient times. Naturally, water towns cannot do without bridges... Xitang is no exception. Standing on Anjing Bridge, we see Yongning Bridge on the left and Anxiu Bridge in the distance ahead. The names of the bridges and their appearances are equally classical and elegant!
The Five Sisters Lake outside the scenic area is a newly constructed attraction, inheriting the layout of Jiangnan gardens. Continuing inward through the commercial street leads to the small roads of the town. Heading eastward along the road, the vast old houses that enter the field of vision are the core of the ancient town.
As twilight falls, dinner is enjoyed at Ding Family Restaurant at the end of the covered corridor. While savoring the delicious food, we await the dreamlike night scenery of Xitang.
In the evening, the green gradually fades away in Xitang, and red lanterns quietly light up on the walls and eaves... Like spirits, they become the most dazzling characters in the ancient town.