Wentu/Ying Zhigang

There are many old streets in Suzhou. Compared with the ancient towns built as scenic spots, they seem slightly dilapidated. However, if you want to move out one or two characters related to the old streets, you will be surprised.

It turns out that the old streets have great origins.

For example, Xiangcheng Old Street, where Yao Guangxiao, the "black prime minister", appeared.

This monk who became a monk but never came out. He assisted the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty in launching the Jingnan Campaign and winning the throne. He became a senior official but refused to return to the secular world. His various magical legends are still passed down in the mouths of Lao Jie people from generation to generation.

The old street is very old and can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

According to the Records of Suzhou Prefecture and Xiangcheng Town Records: "Xiangcheng was called Xiangcheng in ancient times. In the first year of Helu, King Helu of Wu, Wu Zixu, the prime minister of Wu, went to Hunan on the order of Helu to "sample the soil and taste the water, like heaven and earth" and chose a site to build the capital. Some of the city bricks have been transported to Hunan, but later they noticed the soft gaps in Hunan and stopped." Build Hedong Street with bricks, and get its name Xiangcheng."

Guanqiao is the oldest bridge in Old Street.

This single-hole stone bridge made of bluestone, granite and Wukang stone was built in the second year of the Song Xianchun. Because of the Lingying Temple on the bridge's side, it was called "Tongxian Bridge" at that time, but was renamed "Guanqiao" during the Yuan Tianyou period.

Granary is the memory of generations in Old Street.

Three granaries with brick and wood structures standing side by side were built in 1976. They are cylindrical in appearance with a dome top and covered with small black tiles.

People in Xiangcheng Old Street call these three granaries "yurts", and it is said that each can store more than 100,000 kilograms of grain at a time.

Year after year, the tung flowers in the old street fall and bloom. Warm sunshine penetrates through the dense branches and leaves. On sections of bluestone road, mottled white walls are engraved with the annual rings of the years., telling the stories of the world in time.

In the ancient temple of Lingying, high-level roads have emerged in large numbers throughout the dynasties.

Su Dounan was the one who had strong magic skills and could call the wind and rain; Zhou Helin was the one who received the imperial edict to Beijing to discuss Tao and was famous in the capital; Zhao Hongke and Zhou Zhengyi were the one who traveled thousands of miles and determined to cultivate and observe; when he prayed for rain came true, the Su Mansion awarded a plaque, and when his magic power turned back to heaven, he was the one who was promoted to high tech...

Xi Yingzhen, who is knowledgeable and skilled, should also be ranked among the top disciples Yao Guangxiao.

Like many ancient towns and old streets in Jiangnan, Xiangcheng Old Street is prosperous because of water.

Since the Song Dynasty, supplies from the north and the south have converged here through water transport, resulting in a prosperous market. Residential buildings are built along the water. The front door faces the street, the back door faces the river, and the deep alleys are winding and winding.

However, the old street hundreds of meters long is crowded with merchants and shops in the lively New Year. At any corner, there is the ability to amaze time.

In ordinary days, various scents waft from shops, people come in and out leisurely, and the old streets leisurely chew their mouths full of happiness and tranquility.

In the supply and marketing cooperative on the street, colorful paper-wrapped fruit candies and various cakes are visible from the glass counters, attracting salivating children.

A faint charred aroma and oily aroma fills the alley, which is the taste of Xiangcheng sesame cakes.

The sweet fragrance of jujube paste and sesame seeds wafts from the street to the end of the street. It is the lingering nostalgia mark of Xiangcheng people who were born and raised in Sri Lanka.

The old street haunted by fireworks in the world is filled with stories of the past, and cordial and warm greetings are heard from neighbors.

Barber shops, cotton shops, hardware stores, and grocery stores scattered on both sides of the street are old businesses that "don't make money and seek peace of mind", adhering to the true flavor of the old street.

The old wooden door with the vermilion lacquer was pasted with the word "Xi" that had already turned white. When pushed gently, it made a "squeaking" sound.

The elderly grandma held the front line and sat in front of the door. Every ray of the morning sun shining on the alley hit her wrinkled and kind face.

Everyone living in the old street is reluctant to leave, and every traveler who has come here is unwilling to leave.

Although the old street is old, it is warm and bright. Because the fireworks here are enough to comfort people.