Mingshui Ancient Town

✨ Just two hours from Beijing, I discovered that the North, too, has its own “Jiangnan of waters and mist.”

People often speak of the dreamlike charm of Suzhou and Hangzhou, but it was only when I arrived at Mingshui Ancient Town – the homeland of poetess Li Qingzhao that I realized the beauty of rivers and canals belongs not only to the South.

Here, moss-green tiles, little bridges arching over crystal-clear streams, and flowing waters winding through every alley breathe life into the town. A slow walk reveals that every brick wall, flower cluster, and wooden window could become the perfect frame for an ancient painting.

When night falls, the town awakens in a festive glow: dazzling water shows, romantic drone performances painting the sky, and sparks of molten iron flying like shooting stars — a spectacle both magical and breathtaking.

Most of all, this is the land of Li Qingzhao, one of China’s greatest female poets. Strolling here feels like stepping into her verses, where “by day there are streams, by night there is wine and poetry.”

📍 Qingzhao Spring City · Mingshui Ancient Town – Jinan, Shandong
Perfect for a short getaway: no flights, no rush — just two hours by high-speed train from Beijing to a northern “little Jiangnan” that is peaceful, romantic, and brimming with soul-stirring experiences. 🌿🍶✨

Post by Hami Nguyen | Sep 25, 2025