Finally, I found the village of my dreams.

During the Lunar New Year holiday, I boarded a northbound high-speed train and finally arrived in Huizhou, a place I've long dreamt of. I couldn't wait to rush to Yixian County to find the ancient villages I'd seen countless times online.

Bishan Village, a small village hidden deep in Huizhou, doesn't have grand landscapes, but it exudes the most touching vitality. Here, traditional culture and modern civilization coexist harmoniously, and poetry blends seamlessly with everyday life. It's like a profound book, each page filled with stories, waiting for attentive readers to savor.

Strolling along the winding alleys, I'm flanked by mottled horse-head walls, their corners covered with moss, whispering tales of time. The distant crow of a rooster breaks the village's tranquility, yet somehow makes it even more profound.

Turning a corner, a simple and elegant building comes into view—the Bishan Bookstore. This bookstore, which I'd been searching for, appeared unexpectedly at this very corner. Converted from an ancestral hall, the bookstore perfectly preserves the characteristics of Hui-style architecture. Sunlight pours down from the patio, casting dappled shadows on the bookshelves. The shelves are filled with books about Huizhou culture. I pick one, find a quiet corner, sip a cup of coffee, and immerse myself in the ocean of knowledge, savoring the unique charm of Huizhou.

As dusk approaches, the setting sun casts a warm glow on the village rooftops, and smoke curls upwards from chimneys. The distant mountains gradually fade into the twilight. At this moment, I suddenly understand the imagery of Tao Yuanming's poem, "Picking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern fence, I gaze leisurely at the southern mountain." Truly beautiful~

Post by Elizabeth Mitchell Rose-98 | Mar 6, 2025