Shaoxing Ancient City - Misty Jishan Garden

Misty Jishan Garden The fine rain falls diagonally, and Jishan Garden is faintly visible in the morning mist. The bluestone road glistens with water, reflecting the outline of the black tiles and white walls, like an unfinished ink painting. I hold an oil-paper umbrella and walk slowly along the winding path. The ancient trees in the garden are even more verdant in the rain, and the raindrops hanging from the branches and leaves resemble the pearls dangling from the ears of Jiangnan women. In the distance, a thin mist lingers over the surface of Jian Lake, and a few black awning boats are quietly moored by the shore, with rainwater accumulating on the awnings and slowly flowing along the bamboo strips. Turning around a moon gate, I suddenly catch a faint whiff of wine. Following the scent, I find a winery hidden deep in the bamboo forest. Faded Spring Festival couplets are pasted on the old wooden door, and a few strings of dried lotus pods hang under the eaves. Pushing open the creaking wooden door, the aroma of wine becomes even stronger. An old man with white hair is wiping a wine jar, and when he sees me, he smiles and greets me, "You're just in time, sir. The newly brewed yellow wine has just been opened." Sitting by the window, I watch the rain fall on the banana leaves outside. The old man brings a pot of warm yellow wine, and the amber-colored wine swirls in the celadon cup. Taking a sip, the rich aroma of the wine lingers in my mouth, carrying the unique warmth of Jiangnan. The old man says that this wine is brewed with water from Jian Lake and has been cellared for ten years. The rain gradually subsides, and the raindrops on the eaves fall on the bluestone, making a crisp sound. In the distance, the melodious singing of Yue opera can be heard, mixed with the soft Wu dialect. A few regular customers come to the winery one after another, sitting around the old elm table, discussing this year's harvest and talking about the interesting stories of the neighborhood. I suddenly realize that the charm of Jishan Garden lies not only in its scenery but also in the life infused with mist and rain. It is the accumulation of thousands of years, the inherent grace and elegance of Jiangnan people. Like this cup of yellow wine, it is warm at first taste, with a lingering aftertaste, making one intoxicated and unwilling to wake up. As dusk falls, the rain-soaked Jishan Garden is shrouded in a haze. I put down my wine cup and walk out of the winery. In the distance, the last wisp of mist is dissipating over Jian Lake, revealing the mirror-like surface. A few egrets skim over the water, creating ripples, as if adding the finishing touch to this ink painting.