Wenzhou people surely must know about this profoundly cultural small town, right?

A thousand-year-old ancient town, those tranquil corners always manage to touch the softest part of our hearts.

Isn't every scene here just like the ones from our childhood?

The wooden courtyard houses that have withstood the test of time still stand tall, having witnessed countless laughter and joy.

On the old streets of Fenglin, an ancient town of a thousand years, myriad stories are hidden among the bluestone paths, the mottled walls, and those silent ancient buildings.

On the streetside, the elderly either walk with canes or casually sit in bamboo chairs chatting, eating, or idly whiling away the time in the sun, with an air of ease and peace lingering around.

Occasionally, one or two children run past them, leaving behind a trail of crisp laughter, like an interlude in a movie, adding a touch of liveliness to the quiet street.

An elderly grandmother with silver hair slowly walks with the aid of a walking stick. In front of her, a young child sits joyfully playing in a toy car. The child's laughter infects the grandmother, who stops, bends down, and kindly talks to the child, as if seeing her younger self. The child's grandfather also comes over upon hearing the laughter and starts a warm conversation with the grandmother, both faces beaming with happiness.

Not far away, a country grocery store with white walls and blue tiles is open, waiting for customers. An old man with white hair sits askew in a bamboo chair, turning his head to watch other elders play chess with interest, as no customers come for a long while.

Further ahead, an old building named 'Qianning Hall' comes into view. This building was once a pharmacy during the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. Although it has been through a century of changes, the structure still stands firm. The door is half-open, and an old man inside is leisurely browsing the news on his smartphone with reading glasses on and legs crossed. The busy scenes of the old pharmacy are no longer present, but the tranquility and comfort it offers are still desirable.

There are few pedestrians on the old street, and many ancient houses keep their doors tightly shut, as if guarding the long-sealed stories of the past. But it is this quietness and silence that give people more time to appreciate the history and culture of the old street. Walking on this street is like traveling through time, returning to that distant era, feeling the purity and beauty.

Post by henrymoonlight | Jun 14, 2024