The Charm of Shendu｜There Is a Kind of Late Autumn Called Xiyuan Road

In Luoyang, if you want to find a road that reveals the pulse of urban development, echoes history, and touches the texture of the four seasons, it must be Xiyuan Road. It is not just a traffic artery but also known by locals as the "most beautiful street," a living piece of history, a flowing scroll of paintings, and a sentiment deeply rooted in the memories of Luoyang residents. 01 History: The Former Imperial Garden Stepping onto Xiyuan Road, beneath your feet lies the land of a royal garden that has slept for thousands of years. This was once the "Huitong Garden" of Emperor Yang of Sui and the "Shendu Garden" during the Wu Zhou period. Imagine the first year of the Daye era, west of Luoyang city, where a magnificent garden stretched "north to Xin'an, south to Feishan, and west to Mianchi." Exotic stones were transported from Jiangnan, rare plants transplanted from the Five Ridges, and precious birds and beasts roamed freely. The splendor of Xiyuan was beyond imagination. However, war eventually consumed this prosperity. Palaces turned to dust, precious trees were used as firewood, and the hundreds of miles of imperial forbidden land finally fell silent in the dust of history. The Xiyuan, painstakingly maintained for over a century during the Sui and Tang dynasties, was devastated during the An Lushan Rebellion and faded from the historical stage. It was not until 1956, when the name "Xiyuan Road" was revived, that this road inherited the cultural lineage of a thousand years. It was no longer a secret kept by emperors but a messenger of time, allowing everyone who walks it to participate in this millennia-old dialogue. 02 Scenery: The Four Seasons in the Branches and Leaves If history is the skeleton of Xiyuan Road, then the plane trees are its blood flowing for more than half a century. More than 1,500 French plane trees are the true "original residents" of this road. Standing side by side, their branches form a continuous green tunnel overhead. In summer, sunlight filters through as golden fragments, sprinkling on the shoulders of strollers; the cicadas' song accompanies them, casting a deep and tranquil filter over the entire street. Autumn is the magnificent "coronation" of Xiyuan Road. After the first frost, it seems overnight that the green is stolen by the autumn wind, cloaked in a rich and warm yellow-brown. Leaves flutter down like tired butterflies, laying an endless "carpet of fallen leaves" on the asphalt. The sound of wheels rolling and footsteps crunching, crispier than potato chips, rings in the ears, becoming a luxurious sound effect unique to Luoyang’s autumn. At this moment, the noisy city automatically mutes, making people want to slow down and listen to time sigh softly by their ears. When the evening lights come on, the decorative lights on the treetops hang like a river of stars, and the dazzling lights cast a magical glow on the plane trees. The poetry of the day transforms into a romantic nighttime spot for city residents. From sculptures along the way to the seasonal flowers at Peony Square, this nearly 4-kilometer road offers a scenic view at every step. 03 Sentiment: Memories of Generations Xiyuan Road weaves its gentleness into the ordinary lives of countless Luoyang people. To the old residents of Jianxi, it has a simpler name—"Old Route 8." This road has witnessed many people's half-lives. The bicycles of youth once carried the songs of the "Four Heavenly Kings" and Jay Chou through the shadows of the plane trees; young love quietly blossomed under this shade; the daily hustle of middle age played out here repeatedly; and retirement leisure found its home in a game of chess or a dance in the street garden. Xiyuan Road is like a silent family member, involved in every important moment from your birth to starting a family. It remembers your struggles in the rain and keeps your laughter at sunset. Xiyuan Road is like a graceful woman in plain clothes, washed clean of all adornments, calmly embracing the city with green shade, removing noise, and offering you lasting companionship. Today, the clamor of imperial banquets has long faded, but the joyful songs of ordinary people have taken root and flourished here. The former imperial forbidden land has truly become a "cultural and recreational park for citizens." Perhaps this is the most perfect cycle: the ultimate glory eventually blends into the most ordinary warmth.