★ Tourist location: Tongli Ancient Town, Wujiang, Suzhou

Speaking of Tongli Ancient Town, it may be the ancient town where I check in most frequently except Huishan Ancient Town, which is close to me. In fact, there are still some drives from Wuxi to Tongli. When I first went to Tongli, I was surprised by its original state, which was completely different from Zhouzhuang. Later, whenever I had the opportunity, whether passing by or making a special trip, I would go to the ancient town. Later, Tongli was commercialized like Zhouzhuang, and always felt that it lacked its original flavor. But fate is really amazing. I stayed in Wujiang twice for a short time, and the hotel is not far from the ancient town, so I had to check out a card no matter what. Even if you can't spare time during the day, you should go and see the night view at night.

The night in Tongli was also noisy, far less quiet than when I came back. I remember when I first visited Tongli, it was National Day, and the ancient town of Tongli was quite deserted. Today, Tongli is not less famous than Zhouzhuang, and its commercialization level will catch up with Zhouzhuang.

The ancient town is inlaid among the five lakes of Tongli, Jiuli, Yeze, Nanxing and Pangshan. The township is divided into seven small islands by fifteen rivers in the shape of Sichuan, and forty-nine ancient bridges string the small islands into a whole. Among these bridges, the most lively place and the most beautiful night view is the Sanqiao Scenic Area.

The three bridges refer to the three ancient bridges of Taiping, Jili and Changqing that were erected in finished shapes on the river. They were built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In ancient times, to have a wedding sedan chair in Tongli, you had to pass through these three bridges, which had a somewhat auspicious meaning.

Taiping Bridge is a beam type. It was built in the twelfth year of Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty and looks very small and exquisite. Of course, this is also due to the fact that the river under the bridge is not wide. It and the Jili Bridge were built by Fan Jinglie and others from the same village. There is a connection on the bridge: "Yongnan North Taiping Road, 23 years after its completion in Jiaqing." It can be seen that although it was built during the Qianlong period, it was built during the Jiaqing period, and this time span seems a bit long. Or maybe the original bridge was destroyed for unknown reasons and was rebuilt during the Jiaqing period?

Jili Bridge is located between Taiping Bridge and Changqing Bridge. It has a half-moon-shaped arch bridge. It was rebuilt by the Tongli Town Government in 1988. There are bridges on both north and south sides of the bridge. One link is "Zhu is shining in the clouds, the small bridge is flowing in the river village", and the other link is "Jili Bridge is shaped horizontally in the shape of a half moon, and Taiping Bridge stands tall to reflect double rainbows."

Changqing Bridge was formerly named Fujian Bridge. This "Fujian" has nothing to do with the current Fujian Province. The so-called "Fujian" also carries the meaning of auspicious celebration. There is a bridge on the bridge: "Public donations will lead to benefits, but good pillars will be left to wait for the title." It means that the bridge builders will generously donate money in order to facilitate people's travel and benefit the people. This is also a good thing for the present and future generations. Because leaving a name on the pillar is also the proper meaning. Therefore, this bridge also has another name called Guangli Bridge.

Tongli people have the custom of "walking three bridges". It is said that there is a local saying about three bridges! "Walking through Taiping Bridge, you will be in good health all year round; walking through Jili Bridge, your business will be booming and BBK; walking through Changqing Bridge, you will stay young and never grow old." In life, there is really nothing else to ask for other than these things.

It is said that people in Tongli will happily detour the Sanqiao when they encounter any major and happy events. If you meet an old man's 66th birthday, you will have to walk the three bridges after lunch, at least for luck, celebration, and good luck. Listening to the names of the three bridges, we can understand why everyone in Tongli has to take a walk.

There is another equally beautiful myth and legend about the beautiful Three Bridges. Long, long ago, there was a green dragon in the East China Sea that was deeply loved by the Jade Emperor, so the Jade Emperor seemed to recruit it to the sky. Qinglong was unwilling because he had a lover, Huo Phoenix. He did not want to leave Huo Phoenix, but he did not dare to disobey the Jade Emperor's orders. You know, if you don't agree to the emperor's decree, it's like disobeying it. This is the case in the human world, but it is probably even stricter in the immortal world. Qing Long had no choice but to fly to Lingxiao Palace. When passing by Tongli, he saw the fire phoenix crying sadly. He could no longer fly, so he resolutely stayed and married the fire phoenix. At this time, Qinglong violated the rules of heaven, and the Jade Emperor ordered Qinglong to be taken into heaven and sentenced to ashes. The fire phoenix broke into heaven and used its body to protect its lover. Nanhai Guanyin has always been a merciful heart, so she immediately became sympathetic, so she pleaded for the green dragon and the phoenix. Guanyin's status in the celestial court was also very high, and the Jade Emperor had to give him face no matter what, so he made Qinglong and Phoenix both give up their immortal identities. The green dragon dug down the ground and turned into a tree. Facing the Jili Bridge, the fire phoenix turned into a teahouse. Sanfengxi Teahouse is behind the green dragon tree. The two finally fulfilled their long-cherished wish and were together forever. This teahouse is the place where today's Lu Family Inn

Even at night, there is still an endless stream of tourists on the Third Bridge. Although it is not so close to each other, at least it is difficult to stay on the bridge for too long. I am always embarrassed to block the way of those who come after me. Even if tourists do not know the customs of Tongli people, or even the beautiful meaning of these bridges, it does not prevent everyone from appreciating the beauty of the three bridges.

There is a Zhuangyuan Hall on the street, which is tastefully decorated. There has been only one champion in Tongli history. He was Wei Ruxian from the Jiachen Division in the fourth year of Chunyou, Emperor Li of the Southern Song Dynasty. When he entered the Champion Hall, he was hung with a portrait of the champion. Wei Ruxian's ancestor, Wei Zhi, was a Jinshi in the sixth year of Yuanyou of the Northern Song Dynasty. It can be seen that he also came from a scholarly family. However, when he was young, his father died early and his family was in decline. The mother and son relied on a few acres of thin farmland, and their lives were quite difficult. He went to Wenzhou and controlled the Zhenhai Navy. Chunyou died of illness five years later at the age of thirty. If he had not died young, his official position would have been higher.

The current Zhuangyuan Hall is a studio where some calligraphy and painting works are displayed. When we walked in, the master came out from the inside. I wonder if he was a descendant of the Wei family.