Wuzhen, Zhejiang

Wuzhen is always a good idea. Finally, I made it to Wuzhen. Maybe it was the lack of tourists, or maybe it was the gift of sunshine, but walking through the crisscrossing streets and alleys felt different from other ancient towns I had visited. It wasn't tacky or pretentious, and the label "thousand-year-old town" seemed believable. It was as if the ancient town had always been like this, and I could almost see people from ancient times pushing open heavy wooden doors, carrying loads across bridges, shouting, and setting up stalls on boats. My tangled thoughts seemed to unravel, and trivial matters suddenly became unimportant. Immersing myself in the gentle water town of Jiangnan became the top priority. Since I wasn't here specifically for tourism, I didn't plan to explore every corner of the town. I just had a sudden idea to take a short stroll during a work break. With a casual attitude, I got off at Wangjinli and walked along the stone bridge road, turning at a random fork and entering another unknown alley. With fewer people and a slower pace, the sound of autumn leaves crunching underfoot was crisp, and my thoughts became light and distant. I had never visited a scenic spot so leisurely before. The entire ancient town felt like a map in a game, waiting for me to explore. I didn't rely on signs to find my way, nor did I seek out "check-in points" or "photo spots." My heart and feet naturally guided me to where I wanted to go. Wuzhen seemed to expand with fewer people, offering more unexplored areas. I gradually expanded the boundaries of the Wuzhen map, unlocking more stories. With this unplanned mindset, the world felt more open, and everything beautiful was beautiful. I was completely loyal to my body, mind, and spirit. In today's world, filled with travel guides, isn't this old-fashioned way of traveling romantic? I arrived at the pier, where the sunlight danced on the water like golden fragments. The boatman gently rowed the boat, and I sat alone, listening to him recount the history of Wuzhen in his local dialect. As the boat passed by each inn, I saw people drinking tea, playing cards, listening to opera, chatting, and daydreaming. Was life always this slow? The boatman said, "I'll take you to Xizha slowly. When there are more tourists, there's a time limit, and when there are too many boats, there's even a traffic jam on the water." On the way back, I thought, "To come when inspired, to leave when satisfied," isn't that what it's all about? What better way to experience the local culture? Unfortunately, I didn't have the leisure to wake up early, find a table by the water, order a pot of tea and some snacks, and enjoy morning tea while listening to opera. Let's plan for next time.