"Anting Old Street: A Whispered Encounter with Time"

Walking into Anting Old Street is at the moment when the breeze gently blows. Sunshine pours down through the black tiles, mottled like a dream, reflecting the years on the bluestone slabs. This place is neither noisy nor ostentatious, yet every brick wall and eave quietly tells stories spanning a thousand years. It is said that this land was once a place where Sun Quan, the King of Wu’s daughter, recuperated. She found peace here, thus the gentle name "Anting" was born. Another story says this was an ancient post station for travelers, sheltering those returning home safely. Regardless of the legend, both reveal the town’s long-standing kindness and tranquility. The old street is not long but winding and affectionate. Its layout of one horizontal and three vertical streets resembles a poem left by the ancients—horizontal as the main line, vertical as the veins—unfolding a watercolor scene of Jiangnan through the passage of time. White walls and black tiles, willow shadows slanting, river water quietly flowing under the bridge like the low hum of a guzheng. I lean on the railing, watching the boats drift by, as if seeing ancient people’s flowing robes coming and going. Then, my steps naturally lead me to the front of Yong’an Tower. I found a stair to sit on, and at that moment, the sky breeze passed through the tower’s eaves, bringing a string of bell chimes—clear and distant, as if drifting from another time and space. I listened quietly, letting the sound ripple across the lake of my heart. The bells harmonized with the breeze, washing away the summer noon’s heat and quietly smoothing the waves within. It was an indescribable joy, as if the wind chimes on the tower rang not only for the wind but also sang for my calm. Walking on, a car engine’s roar came from afar, like a modern greeting to the ancient. Anting Old Street is not far from the International Auto City—one end holds the future blueprint of German craftsmanship, the other the thousand-year fragrance of a Jiangnan ancient town. This dialogue here is not conflicting but rather evokes a gentle transition. As dusk deepened and lanterns lit along the riverbanks, I stepped out of the old street, still carrying a warm glow in my heart—like being led by a kind old man, told stories about time in whispers that warmed the soul. #StrollingAntingOldStreet #QuietBeauty #YongAnTower #AncientStreetFromThreeKingdomsEra