Walking around the ancient city of Suzhou (1)

On a Saturday after my daughter’s final exam, my daughter and I were at home and had nothing to do.

I am reading a book and my daughter is playing on Kaixin.com.

At this time, my daughter’s classmate called and invited her to play at her house, so I rode her bike to see her off.

It is a cool summer day, and the ancient city of Suzhou is in the annual plum rain season. The sky is gloomy, with dark clouds drifting from time to time. Cycling through the streets of the ancient city, the rare cool summer breeze blew, and I felt the intermittent drizzle falling on my face and arms.

My daughter’s classmate’s home is in an alley called Wuxian Zhi Street near Yangyang Lane in the ancient city. Narrow, crowded, and lively are the main characteristics of this alley. My daughter has been here more than once. She likes this place very much because of its liveliness. The alleys are all bungalows with pink walls and black tiles. It gives me the feeling that every household is connected and difficult to separate, so it has a sense of life. Unlike modern communities where homes are clearly separated and have indifferent relationships.

After my daughter arrived at her destination, I returned.

Suddenly I thought, why not take advantage of this cool summer day to ride a bike and feel the atmosphere of the ancient city.

So, we followed Yangyang Lane to the north, crossed Jingde Road, turned into an alley called Dongbaihua Lane, passed through the alley, and came to Wangtianjing Lane. Across the river from Wangtianjing Lane is Heyanxiatang. Follow the river to the north along Xiatang and arrive at Dongzhong City. Walk along Dongzhong City, cross Renmin Road, walk on Baita West Road, turn right at Pishi Street, and arrive at the flower and bird market on Pishi Street. .

There are professional flower and bird sellers in the flower and bird market, and they all have specialized shops. There are also flower farmers who come from other places (perhaps from rural areas). They usually bring a few to a dozen pots of flowers and plant them and place them on the side of Pishi Street. Most of these flower farmers are elderly. Now they bring more pomegranate flowers. I took my daughter to buy a pomegranate flower from here a few days ago.

After passing the flower and bird market, turn right to the cause and effect lane, and turn left to the old school. I have always thought that the names "Karma Lane" and "Old School Preschool" are very nice, but I can't give a specific reason, it's just a feeling, so whenever possible, I will pass by here just to feel these two names.

The end of the old school is Linton Road, and Linton Road is the Linton River. Usually, after I turn from the old school to Linton Road, I will follow Linton Road, then to Qimen Road, and then I will arrive home. Today I did not walk along Linton, but crossed it and came to an alley called Xuanqiao Lane. You can tell from the name that this must be an alley near the river, otherwise where would the "suspended bridge" come from?

I know that the end of this alley is the famous "Pingjiang Road". When I came to the end of the alley, I found a stone bridge on the right, which was very simple. So I walked through and found an alley called "Gu Family Garden". When I was thinking about which historical figure the "Gu family" in this "Gu Family Garden" was, I came to a house with a high gate and took a closer look. In the year, it was written "former residence of Gu Jigang". Then I understood that this Gu family turned out to be the famous historian Mr. Gu Jigang. Unfortunately, the door to Mr.'s former residence was closed, so we had to turn back and come to Xuanqiao Lane and then Pingjiang Road.

Most of the alleys mentioned earlier are paved with square stones, but Pingjiang Road is paved with rectangular stones, and the stones are much larger than those in the alleys. On Pingjiang Road, there are tourists in twos and threes. In the Pingjiang River on the west side, small boats are rowing by from time to time. The boat girls rowing the boats are dressed in simple clothes, which is in sharp contrast with the modern clothes of the tourists in the boats. On the east side are some quaint buildings, most of which were developed into shops. There is nothing modern about the appearance of these shops. The fluttering wine flags at the entrance of some wine shops make you feel like you are thousands of years ago. The towering ancient trees on the roadside, the ancient well in the middle of the road, the century-old stone bridge on the Pingjiang River, the flowing water under the bridge, and the bluestones paving the way under your feet all tell you the word "ancient".

Pingjiang Road was formerly known as Shiquan Road. It is said that it got its name because there are ten ancient wells on this road. Now when you walk on Pingjiang Road, you can still see ancient wells in the middle of the road. On the east side of the 1,600-meter-long Pingjiang Road are ancient alleys. The antiquity of this alley is not only reflected in the quaint houses on both sides of it, but also in the name of the alley. Zhu Chang Alley, Zhangjia Alley, Big Willow Alley, Small Willow Alley, Lilac Alley... and so on, all show you their past.

I rode my bike slowly through Lilac Lane. The alley is very narrow. If another car comes towards you, you have to lean to the side to pass, and you will bump into each other when passing. It is said that the inspiration for Mr. Dai Wangshu's creation of "Rain Lane" came from this alley.

After walking 1,600 meters north on Pingjiang Road, you will arrive at Northeast Street where the Humble Administrator’s Garden is located.

Northeast Street, beside the Humble Administrator’s Garden, is still crowded with tourists.