Zhouzhuang Scenery: China's First Water Town

Author: Huai Xiaodi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: In the Jiangnan where orioles sing and green trees reflect red blossoms, after living a tranquil life for nine hundred years between the classical Suzhou and the modern Shanghai, Zhouzhuang, a commoner in simple robes and unadorned eyebrows, gracefully emerges from the depths of the waterways, leaving the world amazed. Thus, people from all directions flock to her like a tide. Some praise her as the pearl of Jiangnan, China; some lament her as a rare gem within the land, a world heritage; some say she is made of water, while others describe her as intricately carved from jade. Some call her the memory of her hometown, while others call her the dreams of her heart. All of them, in their own way, love Zhouzhuang. Xiaodi is in Zhouzhuang. As a native born and raised in Zhouzhuang, he loves and understands the town more than many others, yet he remains silent. As a photographer, he holds his beloved camera, wandering day after day, year after year, through the streets and bridges of his homeland, exploring the quiet alleys and deep lanes, his eyes fixed on the scorching sun and cold moon, the morning glow and evening shadows, his heart tied to the comings and goings of people, the old and the new. For the Zhouzhuang in his heart, he has much to say, but the language he uses to express his feelings is these photographs. Love in Zhouzhuang is as affectionate as ever, yet it is uniquely exquisite.