After the rain, the river is under the water: a painting of a riverside homestay in Hangzhou in the mist and rain

In late spring in April, the rain in Hangzhou always carries three parts of poetry and seven parts of lingering. When a rainstorm washes away the dust, the riverside inns are transformed into loose-leaf pages of Jiangnan ink paintings. Raindrops hanging from the eaves, ripples on the bluestone slabs, and white walls and black tiles shrouded in mist together weave an enchanting dream of rain and mist. 1. Rain Falls on the Pillow River: The First Encounter between B&B and Jiangnan Pushing open the carved wooden door of Zhenheju, the scent of moist sandalwood mixed with the fragrance of grass after the rain hits you in the face. The homestay is built along the canal. The white walls are soaked by rain and have different shades of ink, and the moss on the black tiles looks even more fresh and juicy. The rainstorm had just stopped, but water droplets from the eaves were still falling like pearls from a broken string, striking out delicate notes on the bluestone slabs. If you lean on the rattan chair on the second-floor terrace overlooking the water at this time, you can see the lanterns of the old teahouse on the opposite bank swaying in the wind, reflected on the water like flowing gold foil. Sensory Experience: ● Visual: In the hazy mist, the canal seems to be covered with a layer of rice paper, and the ripples created by the boatman rowing are natural brushstrokes. ● Hearing: Raindrops hitting banana leaves, running water washing over stone steps, and the sound of Pingtan flutes coming from afar, all interweave into the unique rhythm of Jiangnan. ● Smell: The air is mixed with moist woody scent, the crisp aroma of Longjing tea, and the scent of gardenia wafting from nowhere. 2. Living by the river: Five poetic spaces after the rainstorm 1. Courtyard: Lotuses Blooming Every Step The courtyard appears clearer after being washed by heavy rain, with blue brick paths winding through it and rainwater gathering into miniature streams between the cracks in the stones. The copper wind chimes hanging under the corridor were blown by the wind, and the tinkling sound echoed with the sound of flowing water. Strolling to the edge of the lotus pond, the lotus leaves are dotted with water droplets, just like "big and small pearls falling on a jade plate". 2. Tea Room: Watching the Mist and Rain The tea room of the B&B faces the water, and you can see the canal when you open the window. At this time, boil a pot of hot tea and watch the raindrops meandering on the glass window to form a painting. In a trance, you can't tell whether it is the people in the painting, or the painting reflecting the world. 3. Guest Room: Sleeping by the Water The wooden structure of the guest rooms retains the texture of old houses in the south of the Yangtze River, and every detail is ingenious. The night after the rainstorm is exceptionally quiet, with only the sound of oars cutting through the water coming near and far, accompanying people into sleep. 4. Terrace: Listen to the rain at night If it is a rainy night, you can sit quietly on the rooftop terrace. Raindrops from the eaves fall into the celadon bowl, sounding as clear as the sound of pipa strings; in the distance, the soft Wu dialect of the old street residents comes, interweaving with the sound of rain to form a long, lingering Jiangnan whisper. 5. Stroll along the canal and encounter surprises In the early morning after the rain, I strolled along the canal greenway next to the homestay. The fog had not yet dissipated, and the stone bridge and willow trees were looming in the haze. The occasional encounter with a farmer selling lotus roots on his shoulder, or a girl walking by with an umbrella, are all vivid footnotes in the Jiangnan landscape. Living by the river after a rainstorm is the most gentle gift from the south of the Yangtze River.