This ancient town always has a way of calming the soul

Located about 7 kilometers northwest of Haining City, this ancient water town in the south of the Yangtze River has always retained the authentic atmosphere of water town life. It may have some dilapidated and decadent old charm, but it is precisely this sense of antiquity that preserves the unique charm of the ancient town. Stone-paved roads, blue brick houses, and winding alleys; wandering here is like traveling back in time to the ancient days, yet the omnipresent sense of life and the smell of fireworks retain a bit of the tranquility and vitality of the modern city. The wooden doors of the old street, the old lady sitting quietly on the steps eating, the dog sleeping in the cool shade beside the wooden door, oblivious to time, and the old bamboo pole simply hung next to the door with old-fashioned bamboo clip hangers. Walking on the paths of the ancient town, you won't see the delicately decorated milk tea shops and pastry stores on both sides of the street, no commercial streets with looping earthy music, nor snacks and window displays from all over the country popping up everywhere. The not-so-long old street, about 300 meters east to west and about 150 meters north to south, has shops along the street that are connected, and most of them still vaguely show the layout from the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, revealing the remnants of old stores such as salt shops, oil mills, rice shops, and bamboo shops that were once prosperous. This place might be like the old alleys in your memory, where people live earnestly and simply. The only difference from ordinary alleys is probably the historical sites scattered throughout the ancient town. De Yi Bridge, De Feng Bridge, Zhang Zixiang's Residence, Zhu Shuzhen's Former Residence, Guan Tingfen's Book Collection Tower, Qian Juntao's Ancestral Home, Huangling Mei's Residence, Feng Family Hall... The roads, bridges, rivers, and residential houses in the town are all relatively well-preserved in their traditional style, recording the changes of time and the vicissitudes of the town. This summer, coming to this town, you can carry a big palm-leaf fan, leisurely look for ancient relics, visit the former residences of celebrities, tease the lazy dogs lying around in the countryside, pet the old cats snoring by the doors, and strike up conversations with the people living here.