Charming Watercolour Painting - Night Xitang Water Town

Under the cover of my vacation, I had my trip to Xitang Water Town again. I remember the first time I went to Xitang was in the year of 2007. Since my first Xitang tour, Xitang has stayed in my memory and let me be lost in a reverie. Hence, I had another Xitang tour this time. Although Xitang belongs to Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, it is very close to Shanghai. If you are driving to Xitang from Shanghai, it is only about eighty-five kilometers away, about an hour and a half.

I set off from Shanghai at about 3 p.m.; it was already late when I arrived in Xitang. By sunset, the lights of the inn along the river were in twos and threes, adorning both sides of the river. The distant Shaoxing opera singing was rising and falling, mild and indirect, beautiful and moving. So, I found an inn and put down my baggage in a hurry, and could't wait to get into the dim light of night Xitang.





Along with the dim light of night and misty rain, I walked in the gallery. I saw the running water and never-ending boats on the river in twos and threes. On both side of the river, I saw some well-proportioned Jiangnan local-style dwelling houses featuring white walls and black tiles which was built along the river. A string of red lanterns were hung on the wall, tall or low, bits and pieces, flickering with the wind. Above the river, the lamplight of the tall stone arch bridge was particularly bright and beautiful, reflecting in the sparkling river, just like a round moon falling into this ancient town, letting a person enchanted.





In this quiet water town, tourists in small groups strolled along the river bank, or sat under the corridor, or had some tea and respite, or appreciated the bright lights, etc...Faced with this situation, standing on the bridge alone and looking at the night Xitang's water, bridge and distant shining folk houses, I felt the night Xitang Water Town became especially graceful like a charming watercolor painting just created; this watercolor painting gave tourists random thoughts.