Suzhou's Most Beautiful Water Town: Qili Shantang

*Drift through a thousand years on a sculling boat, reliving the old dreams of riverside life in Jiangnan*

When night falls, the red lanterns of Qili Shantang light up one by one, transforming the area into a living painting reminiscent of Bai Juyi's poetry: "Green waves flow in all directions, and 390 bridges span the waters." Join me as we explore the enchanting night charm of Suzhou's "First Ancient Street"!

### 🌙 **Must-Do Experiences**
✅ **Sculling Boat Ride Through the Water Alleys**
▪️ Wooden boats for 45 RMB per person, with boatwomen singing traditional Suzhou ballads
▪️ Best route: From Tonggui Bridge to Yefang Harbor, admire the reflections of riverside homes

✅ **Check Out the Four Ancient Bridges**
1️⃣ **Tonggui Bridge**: A Ming Dynasty stone arch bridge, where the bridge arch and lanterns form a perfect circle
2️⃣ **Xing Bridge**: A popular photo spot featured in the TV drama "All Is Well"
3️⃣ **Xinmin Bridge**: The best vantage point to overlook Shantang River and the Changmen City Wall

### 📸 **Photography Tips**
1️⃣ **Tonggui Bridge Water Surface**: Capture lantern reflections during the blue hour at 6:30 PM
2️⃣ **West Wall of Yuhan Hall**: Photograph moonlight casting dappled shadows through lattice windows
3️⃣ **Yubei Pavilion Dock**: Use long exposure to capture the light trails of sculling boats

### 🏮 **Hidden Gems**
▪️ Outdoor "Shantang Ballads" performances every Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM
▪️ Riverside tea houses offer "Waterfront Music Experience" (Spend 58 RMB or more to receive complimentary tea snacks)
▪️ Find the "Seven Raccoons Post Office" tucked away in an alley to send postcards with exclusive stamps

"As the sculling boat glides through shimmering waves, the soft Wu dialect conversations from both shores create the perfect Jiangnan night ambiance." Remember to wear comfortable cloth shoes—the cobblestone paths here will take you back to the old days of "When you visit Suzhou, every home rests by the river."