A pilgrimage to the water towns of Jiangnan - 'One River, Two Streets, Three Bridges' of Shaxi, Taicang

There are two ancient towns of Shaxi, located in Taicang, Jiangsu and Dali, Yunnan respectively. Taking advantage of the good weather before the Spring Festival, I visited the old streets of Shaxi Ancient Town in Taicang. ➡️One River refers to the Qipu that runs through the town from east to west. It was dredged in the second year of Song Jingyou (1035) by the famous minister Fan Zhongyan and has been around for nearly a thousand years. It plays an important role in both the farming of ancient ancestors and the lives of modern residents. ➡️Two Streets refer to the old streets along the river on the north and south banks of the old Qipu, which are divided into East Gate Street, Middle Market Street - West Market Street, and West Gate Street by Baiyun Middle Road. Walking along the street, you can see long windows and overhanging beams, and encounter the old charm and ancient style from time to time. Old houses and residences can be seen everywhere with green bricks and black tiles. The depth and length of the old street is rare in today's ancient towns in southern Jiangsu. ➡️Three Bridges, namely the three ancient stone arch bridges that span the Qipu and connect the old streets on the north and south banks, are the Liji Bridge, Yixing Bridge, and An Bridge. All have typical Qing Dynasty architectural styles. The three bridges curve like a rainbow, and the bridge body and shadow reflect a full moon. At present, these three ancient bridges are all cultural relics protection units in Taicang City.