Yōuyōu Xǐchē Hé

Author: Huang Baquan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-06-01
Features: Xichuhe in Longshan, Hunan, is the homeland of the Tujia people. It is a living folk and ecological museum, home to the mysterious Tuma, the living fossil of the Maogusi drama, the ancient Shapowu dance, the flower of weaving art—Xianlankapu, exquisite and rustic furniture, and simple, primitive customs. The ancient town by the river has clean and bright cobblestone streets, with each (upside-down wooden house) reflected in the clear river water. Once prosperous and now silent. In a faint loneliness and a muddled train of thoughts, I settled into Xichuhe Town. The vast heart of Xichuhe and the warmth and kindness of the Tujia people made me forget the feeling of "Being alone in a foreign land makes one miss home even more during festivals." I quickly merged into the life of the Tujia people. I wandered endlessly through the alleys, standing time and again at the cool pavilion bridge, watching the distant Xichuhe River fade into the distance, listening to its gentle whispers. Every brick and stone, the history, and the people of Xichuhe Town are etched in my memory. Time and again, I trudged through the muddy paths, journeying through the mountains and fields of Xichuhe River, paying homage to the Shapowu hall, listening to the rhythmic (drumbeat), and stepping into the (upside-down wooden houses).