Bridges of Jiangnan

An Encounter with Bridge Poetry in Jiangnan's Misty Rain "In Suzhou, every home rests by the water. In the ancient palace grounds, space is scarce, but small bridges over waterways abound." I've always yearned to visit the Jiangnan water towns, and during my holiday, I finally set foot in this gentle land to begin my journey of discovering its charming bridges. My first stop was Zhouzhuang, known as "China's First Water Town." This ancient town exudes grace and poetic charm at every turn. Stepping into the town feels like traveling back in time, with winding stone paths flanked by white-walled, black-tiled houses featuring traditional wooden doors and windows. The most eye-catching sight is the Double Bridge. Standing at its entrance, a stunning watertown panorama unfolds before your eyes. Clear waters flow gently, reflecting blue skies, white clouds, green trees, and white walls, along with the ancient stone bridge. Wooden boats glide by slowly, their oars creating ripples that break the water's reflections like a moving ink painting. I could almost picture Mr. Chen Yifei painting here years ago - his artwork made the Double Bridge world-famous, drawing countless visitors to capture their own memories. Following the waterway, I arrived at Fu'an Bridge. Built in the 15th year of the Yuan Dynasty's Zhizheng period, this bridge features unique architecture with a bridge tower rising above the water, decorated with upturned eaves, bracket sets, and ornate beams - a perfect example of classical elegance. The plaques and couplets on the bridge tower add rich cultural depth. From the tower, I gazed out at the town's beautiful scenery. Houses stood in perfect arrangement in the distance, boats crossed nearby waterways, and the soft local dialect filled the air, making me forget the noise of the outside world. Leaving Zhouzhuang, I visited Tongli Ancient Town. Known as the "Venice of the East," Tongli features a network of waterways and bridges. The Three Bridges - Taiping Bridge, Jili Bridge, and Changqing Bridge - are arranged in a triangle formation across the waterways, representing one of Tongli's most iconic attractions and a symbol of good fortune for locals. Stepping onto Taiping Bridge, though not wide, its surface is perfectly even. The bridge railings feature intricate carvings that remain clear despite years of weathering. Standing on the bridge watching the flowing water below, I imagined the lively scenes of past wedding processions crossing the three bridges amid drums, firecrackers, and celebrations. The blessings of "peace, prosperity, and celebration" carried people's hopes for a better life, becoming unique cultural symbols of Tongli. After leaving Taiping Bridge, I followed the stone path along the river to Jili Bridge. This arched bridge has graceful lines, like a rainbow spanning the water. Bridge couplets adorn both sides - the southern side reads "Shallow waters reflect clouds, while the northern side says "