The Smart Qili Mountain Pond——Suzhou Travel Notes (3)

The smart Qili Mountain Pond

When I go to Suzhou, I just want to explore the ancient times.

I asked the hotel receptionist, where is the fun place in Suzhou? The answer is Guanqian Street. I asked the rickshaw driver, where is the fun place in Suzhou? The answer is still Guanqian Street. I can only remind you, don’t go modern, the older the street, the better. So the rickshaw took me to Qili Shantang.

You need to buy tickets for Qili Shantang, this should be a place with some content. Sure enough, my first feeling when I stepped into the threshold was: I'm right. Compared with Yiyuan and Hepingjiang Road, Qilishantang has both simple and elegant gardens and lively markets. I can strongly feel the rich, lively and prosperous atmosphere here.

The path paved with two-color cobblestones first attracted my attention. After walking briskly on it for a few steps, I saw the small bridge reflected in a pool of green water. A group of small goldfish suddenly swam out of the bridge hole. They were probably here to welcome me. Mine? My heart suddenly became clear and extremely joyful. The next thing I saw was that everything I looked at seemed beautiful.

I don’t need to praise Suzhou’s gardens too much, they are known to the world. It's just that there is a place in the ancient Qili Shantang that makes me fascinated, but it is made possible by modern high-tech means. In an attic in the garden, light and shadow reproduce the Ming and Qing style of Shantang Street. People in Shantang Street dressed in ancient costumes, some doing business, some selecting items, hurriedly coming and going with different postures. And when a family is having a big wedding, the hall is full of guests and drums and music are playing. The characters on horseback, those carrying sedan chairs, and those holding hands to congratulate each other are all vividly depicted, and the scene is very lively. I stopped by the wooden window to take a closer look, and I felt like I was immersed in the old customs and customs of Shantang Street.

Coming out of the garden, the long market stretches for seven miles and is built along the river. It is said that Shantang River was developed by Bai Juyi when he organized migrant workers, so Shantang Street is also called "Baigong Causeway". No wonder you can see Bai Juyi's memorial hall and statue here.

I wanted to take a boat ride in Shantang River, but I was told that because there were too few tourists, the boat owner had already got off work. I had to walk along the river to take a look, and I took some favorite photos, which is not a regret.

Interestingly, I somehow ended up at a market, and a white cat was walking around my feet obediently. One of its eyes was yellow and the other was blue. I was surprised by the uniqueness and beauty of the cat's eyes. Beautiful, I quickly took a photo and filled the cat-less gap in my camera. I really have a connection with this cat.

Because there are goldfish, because there are white cats, because there are Tai Chi Tea Ceremony Garden, Shantang Academy, the statue of Bai Juyi, Bai Laoquan Winery, and even more because there are houses with white walls, black tiles and wooden windows, green water, stone bridges and awning boats. River... I linger here, very close to life and very close to history.