[Linqing Dongwan Garden | A Dreamlike Painting, the Ink Wash Canal Awakens After a Thousand Years]

At daybreak, the eaves of Dongwan Garden already evoke half a verse of the Grand Canal. Following the veins of the bluestone alleys, you'll fall into the folds of time in the "Three Streets and Twelve Alleys": the carved lattice windows of the Jin Ping Mei Corridor, leaking a few rays of Ming and Qing Dynasty's setting sun; on the stone steps of the canal wharf, the boatmen's chants seem to be soaked in moisture. The stage of Ziyun Street has not yet opened, but you can hear the sound of the Huqin trying to play, startling the copper bells on the eaves. The Pingtan sounds in the teahouse are mixed with the fragrance of tea, brewing into a intoxicating charm in the evening breeze. This garden is not only for viewing scenery, but also invites you to be a person in the painting—holding a wisp of the old dream of Linqing Customs in your left hand, and scooping up a handful of the poetry of modern life in your right hand, letting time brew into a never-fading ink wash scroll between the brick seams and tile gaps. There will be more exciting performances during the May 1st holiday, brilliant fireworks at night, and intangible cultural heritage of blacksmithing fireworks. Every day is a surprise.