This hidden gem of a town is so underrated, it breaks my heart. I really hope it becomes popular.

## **Xiaoximen Street: Ancient Bridges Whisper, Years Like Poetry** Xiaoximen Street, paved with bluestone slabs, unfolds like a yellowed ancient book in Shaoxing's misty rain. The stone bridge at the corner arches like a crescent moon, its weathered surface covered in vines, as if time has tied a knot here, binding a century of stories. The water flows unhurriedly beneath the bridge, reflecting the white walls and black tiles of both banks. Occasionally, a black-awning boat glides by, its oars breaking the reflection before quickly returning to stillness. Elderly locals sit at the bridge head, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans, reminiscing in Shaoxing dialect about days gone by—how a daughter's wedding dowry once filled the entire street, which year the flood waters rose above the bridge, and how they eventually receded... The tea house by the bridge releases the fresh aroma of Longjing tea, while the wine shop exudes the rich fragrance of yellow rice wine. Standing on the bridge and looking out, the winding alleys and gently swaying lanterns create an illusion where you can almost hear the calls of ancient vendors, the recitations of scholars, and the soft Yue Opera melodies drifting from secluded chambers. The bridge of Xiaoximen Street is not just a bridge. It is a witness to the passage of time, a storyteller, and the gentlest footnote in the memories of Shaoxing people. **Come walk this bridge, and let the flowing water take you to listen to those stories gently told by time.**