At sunrise, riverside flowers redder than fire; in spring, river water green as blue. How can one not recall Jiangnan? — Documentary of a 2018 Summer Self-driving Tour in East China!

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Jiangnan, a place of outstanding people and beautiful landscapes, has been a land of abundance for emperors, generals, wealthy merchants, and literary figures since ancient times. Emperor Yang of Sui visited Yangzhou three times, and Emperor Qianlong of Qing visited Jiangnan six times... Poems praising Jiangnan are countless: "Thousands of miles of orioles sing, green reflects red; waterside villages, hill towns, wine flags flutter in the wind!" "Jiangnan is a land of beauty, Jinling is the city of kings!" "Above is heaven, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou!"...

In the summer vacation of 2018, we had planned a self-driving trip to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Itinerary and hotels were almost ready. Two days before departure, I checked the Guizhou weather forecast and found that all the places we planned to visit would have continuous rain. Guizhou indeed has no three sunny days in a row. So we decisively abandoned the Yunnan-Guizhou trip, turned around, and headed to the water towns of Jiangnan.

On July 27, in sweltering Shenzhen, our group of six set off according to the new plan. After a 6-hour drive, we arrived at the first stop of this trip—the Yongding Hakka Tulou, known as the number one building under heaven.

Yongding Hakka Tulou, renowned for its long history and grand scale, is especially famous for its circular tulou, which are the most traditional and breathtaking. Viewed from above, circular tulou look like giant mushrooms or flying saucers from outer space. It is said that Hakka tulou became so famous because satellite images taken by the US were mistaken by the US military for Chinese missile silos or nuclear reactors, causing great panic.

These circular tulou are dozens of meters high, usually four stories tall, with one to two hundred rooms. The first floor serves as kitchens and dining rooms, the second as warehouses, and the third and fourth as bedrooms. The facilities are complete, with well-designed ventilation, lighting, water supply, and storage, like a miniature fortress. Normally, only one main gate and one back gate are open. In case of an invasion, once the gates are closed, the building is tightly sealed. No matter how many troops come, it stands firm.

The children were quite interested in the tulou, running around happily and asking many questions. Why did they build such large houses? Why were they round? The guide told them that large houses were for the whole clan to live together, promoting unity and defense; round tulou had many advantages, such as being more attractive than square ones and making room orientation differences less noticeable, which helped with internal distribution.

On July 28, after breakfast, we left Longyan and headed to the Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area. Along the way, the two children listened contentedly to Uncle Kai's Journey to the West, occasionally discussing which of the four characters was the strongest or laziest. After a six-and-a-half-hour drive, we arrived at the Wuyi Mountain Jiuqu Resort Hotel. After settling our luggage, we found it was still early, so we visited a tea plantation. Looking around, the mountain was covered with tea plants like rows of green-clad soldiers standing tall, covering the slope in a sea of green.

On July 29, the weather was hot. After breakfast at the hotel, we took the free shuttle bus at the hotel entrance and officially began our Wuyi Mountain tour. Speaking of Wuyi Mountain, Mr. Guo Moruo once said: "Guilin's landscape is the best under heaven, but it cannot compare to a small hill in Wuyi." So Wuyi Mountain is definitely worth visiting. Entering the scenic area from the South Gate, we first crossed the Jiuquxi Bridge. Under the bridge, the water was clear, fish swam happily, and bamboo rafts passed by in an endless stream.

After crossing the bridge, passing through the Wuyi Academy, Cloud Nest, and Bathing Immortal Pool, we arrived at the foot of Tianyou Peak. Due to the heat, we rested at the foot for a while and saw two little chameleons running on the grass. The children watched them with great interest until they disappeared into the grass.

After replenishing water and having some dry food, we began our assault on Tianyou Peak. Since it was completely exposed to the sun, the two mothers stopped at the first pavilion. Considering the weather, we advised the children not to climb to the top, but they said in unison: "We won't give up! We want to reach the top!" To fulfill their wish, the two dads gritted their teeth and climbed further. With about 100 steps to the top, the path became almost a 90-degree cliff. Looking down into the abyss, the dads' legs went weak and their hearts were full of anxiety, so they had to persuade the children to give up. Unfortunately, due to the dads' giving up, the summit was not reached.

After descending from Tianyou Peak, we came to the lawn at its base. There stood a huge stone with the inscription "Wall standing thousands of ren" carved by the Ming scholar Chen Sheng in the 13th year of the Wanli era, describing the steepness of Xianzhang Peak and metaphorically representing the profound cultural connotation of Wuyi. It is said that this huge rock is a single complete stone without any cracks, a perfect wonder of nature.

After replenishing food and water at the service area by the lawn, the children played on the grass and by the stream for a while, then we headed to Huxiao Rock. On the way to Huxiao Rock, there was a Haohan Slope. Seeing the plank road on the cliff above, we had to give up and took another path to Yünü Peak. During the walk, we passed high mountain tea groves, lush green Dahongpao bushes covering the mountains, beautifying the land and enriching the tea farmers.

After nearly an hour of walking, we arrived at the stream at the foot of Yünü Peak. The sun was about to set, and the land became cool. The stream was crowded with people; not only children but also adults enjoyed playing in the water. In the stream, bamboo rafts carried laughing people, their bright red and blue colors adding splendor to the green mountains and waters.

After playing with water and pebbles for a while, the two children got their clothes wet. The scenic area shuttle was about to end its service, so we stopped, took the shuttle back to the hotel.

On July 30, we set off again under the scorching sun, first to the Yixiantian Scenic Area. Walking in Yixiantian, looking up, we saw a crack in the rock like a giant axe split, less than a foot wide and over a hundred meters long, letting through a ray of sky light like a rainbow across the sky. Walking here was very inconvenient; slightly larger bodies could get stuck, and many overweight people had to turn back.

Exiting Yixiantian, we saw Lounge Rock, which has been weathered over millennia into its present "hundred holes" form. These holes are perfect shelters for birds, a marvelous creation of nature.

After a short stop at Lounge Rock, we took a bus to the Dahongpao Scenic Area. From the drop-off point, we walked a distance. On the left were cliffs, on the right were tea gardens, row upon row, with various varieties, very beautiful. After more than ten minutes, we saw the "ancestors" of Dahongpao—a few wild Dahongpao tea trees. Tea lovers would be thrilled, but for children, they were just trees; they preferred the tea eggs and tea drinks sold nearby.

From Dahongpao to Shuiliandong Water Curtain Cave, the journey was about 3 kilometers along a gentle canyon. After an hour's walk, our group of six finally arrived at Shuiliandong. Although the greenway had fresh air and pleasant scenery, it was not easy under the blazing sun. The two children walked independently without complaint, which really touched us.

At Shuiliandong, everyone was a bit tired, and we had to catch the afternoon bamboo raft ride, so we only made a quick visit. After that, we hurried to the waiting point for the shuttle to the bamboo raft dock.

After about half an hour on the bus, we arrived at the bamboo raft dock. Taking a bamboo raft was the highlight of the Wuyi Mountain tour and the children's favorite activity. The children bought fish food before boarding. The boatman rowed while telling fascinating stories about Jiuquxi, including fun anecdotes from filming Journey to the West and the origins of scenic spots. The children's greatest joy was feeding the fish from the raft; they scattered fish food, and the fish followed, and they competed to see whose side had more fish.

Traveling through green mountains and clear waters, past many bends and shoals, time flew by, and soon we reached the ninth bend. Reluctantly, we got off the raft. After leaving the raft, we drove back to the hotel and then went to the venue for "Impression Dahongpao". This show is part of famous director Zhang Yimou's Impression series. Luckily, we had bought front-row tickets at the hotel lobby, so we could taste the freshly brewed Dahongpao tea during the performance, with its tea fragrance warming our hearts.

In the impression theater, the most famous peaks of Wuyi—Dawang Peak and Yünü Peak—could be seen at a glance. The 360-degree rotating stage, top-notch lighting and sound systems, and interconnected stages created a magnificent panorama extending for thousands of meters. The 70-minute performance took place in a completely open "mountains and waters" setting, making it the world's first "mountains-and-waters surround theater". The entire show was splendid and all-encompassing, skillfully integrating natural scenery, tea culture, and folk culture into a live performance against the natural backdrop—a feast for the eyes.

After the show, thunderous applause erupted. This performance marked a perfect end to our Wuyi Mountain tour. Tomorrow we would head to the scenic city of Hangzhou.

Memories of Jiangnan, the most memorable is Hangzhou! Hangzhou is a cradle of Chinese civilization, one of the seven ancient capitals of China, known as the "famous southeastern prefecture" and praised by the famous Italian traveler Marco Polo as "the most beautiful and noble city in the world". It is famous for West Lake and the Qiantang River tide.

On July 31, after a 5-hour drive, we arrived in Hangzhou from Wuyi Mountain at 4 PM. After dropping off our luggage, we walked to Hefang Street and Southern Song Imperial Street. Hefang Street is a favorite for women and children, with a dazzling array of snacks and crafts. As the most bustling and lively old street in Hangzhou, Hefang Street has a long history and profound cultural heritage. It was once the "foot of the imperial city" of ancient Hangzhou and was the cultural and economic center of the Southern Song Dynasty. The time-honored shops here are still well-known to Hangzhou people today.

The architecture of Hefang Street is full of Jiangnan characteristics: orange-yellow tiles, green-white gables, and bright archways. At night, the Qinghefang historical district looks especially charming under warm and cool lighting. People stop to admire, marveling at the exquisite lights as they stroll among the outlined ancient buildings, as if returning to the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Southern Song Imperial Street was the main street of Lin'an, the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty. Today's street has been renovated to imitate the old style. Although it retains an ancient charm, there are not many visitors. According to locals, few local people go there; it's mostly tourists.

"If you compare West Lake to Xishi, she is always beautiful, whether lightly or heavily made up." West Lake is undoubtedly the representative of Hangzhou's beauty and the highlight of any Hangzhou tour. The famous "Ten Scenes of West Lake" surround the lake, with natural and cultural features complementing each other. No matter how you explore, it brings joy. On August 1, we went to West Lake. We took a cruise to Hubin No.2 Park Pier, visited Mid-Lake Pavilion and Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. Then we walked along Su Causeway, admired lotus flowers, saw Broken Bridge, visited Flower Harbor to watch fish, and saw Leifeng Pagoda in the evening glow.

Due to the heat, Bean Girl wasn't feeling well, so we canceled some attractions in Hangzhou, such as the night cruise on the Grand Canal. Hangzhou's food and scenery are unforgettable; we will come again next time.

On August 3, we drove from Hangzhou to Xitang, one of the six ancient towns in Jiangnan. Xitang, anciently called Xietang, is 10 km from Jiashan city center, a thousand-year-old water town of Wu culture. Xitang has a long history and is one of the birthplaces of ancient Wu and Yue cultures. Streets are built along the river, and houses are built by the water, fully displaying the water town style of Jiangnan. Xitang has become one of China's film and television shooting bases, with films like "Mission: Impossible III", "My Youth Who Makes the Decisions", "Don't Love Me", and "Like Fog, Like Rain, Like Wind" shot here.

The ancient town is not large; our group wandered from noon to night. Countless old bridges and alleys are Xitang's characteristics, with rain corridors everywhere. On one side of the corridor are shops selling local products, ornaments, and snacks, as well as residential houses; on the other side is the river, with benches to sit and rest.

In Xitang, you must take a punting boat to experience the town from the water—it has a unique flavor. The former working tool, the wupeng boat, is now a tourist boat. Sitting in the wupeng boat, with a gentle breeze, the willows on both banks sway like graceful beauties in green dresses; strings of red lanterns burn like flames, illuminating Xitang and the smiling faces of people.

When night falls, the riverbanks are glittering with lights, softly illuminating the ancient town like a dream. From the hand-rowed boats come beautiful music. Standing on the bridge, admiring the colorful street scenes on both sides, you feel as if you are in a flowing oil painting by Van Gogh.

Walking on the roads of Xitang, green water surrounds white walls, red flowers scatter on green tiles, winding rivers murmur in the sunset. At this moment, we can only imprint the beauty in our eyes and keep it in our hearts.

Shanghai, the Oriental Magic City, once the Ten-Mile Foreign Settlement, now the Oriental Pearl. Shanghai is the red starting point of the Chinese Communist Party; Shanghai is an important window for China's reform and opening up. In early autumn August, entering Shanghai, Chinese and Western cultures, trendy fashions, and urban prosperity blend here.

On August 4, we bid farewell to Xitang and arrived in Shanghai. After settling our luggage, we went to City God Temple and Yu Garden. Both are rare traditional cultural landmarks of Shanghai. City God Temple mainly sells Shanghai specialty products. Here we found childhood memories—White Rabbit candy—and tasted Shanghai's famous snack—crab roe soup dumplings. Yu Garden is a typical Jiangnan garden architecture, with pavilions, rockeries, and lush trees. It is known for its quiet elegance, exquisiteness, and the quality of small but full of variety. Many domestic and foreign dignitaries and celebrities have visited Yu Garden.

From Yu Garden, we went to the Bund. At night, it's like a train station during Spring Festival travel season—full of people. Standing by the Huangpu River, on one side are the Bund's varied architectural styles, on the other side is the new skyline of Pudong's skyscrapers.

Walking on Nanjing Road, it was a sea of people with brilliant lights. Known as "China's No.1 Commercial Street", it is lined with various Shanghai time-honored shops and malls. Over the past century, it has witnessed countless stories of world celebrities and dignitaries in Shanghai.

On the morning of August 5, we visited Tianzifang, with its artistic atmosphere. Tianzifang was converted from Shanghai's unique Shikumen building complex. Thanks to the settlement of famous artists like Chen Yifei and Er Dongqiang, this once-unknown alley gradually gained an artistic vibe. Strolling in the old lanes, looking at the rooftop dormers, the red tiles, the cracks and moss on the gable walls, everything exudes the flavor of old Shanghai. If you are a literary youth, you can spend a day visiting several cultural celebrity art studios.

We wandered around Tianzifang; the two children were quite interested, touching things here and there, running into one shop to see crafts and then into another to see what snacks were available. After visiting Tianzifang, we went to Pudong New Area in the afternoon to personally experience the skyscraper cluster.

On August 6, we went to the children-exclusive Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tale Park. Since it was newly opened and in a remote location, there were not many people. The park is divided into seven themed areas based on Andersen's fairy tales: "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", "The Little Match Girl", "Thumbelina", "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Little Mermaid", "The Ugly Duckling", and "The Wild Swans". There are not only amusement rides like carousels and Odin's Blessing but also large climbing and slides. The children loved these, but their favorite was the bubble bath.

Suzhou, also called Gusu, has long been famous for its beautiful landscapes and elegant gardens. It has the reputation of "Jiangnan gardens are the best under heaven, and Suzhou gardens are the best in Jiangnan". With its small bridges, flowing water, and waterside houses, it is known as the "Oriental Venice". Particularly noteworthy are Suzhou gardens, which are representatives of Chinese private gardens and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites. You must see them when in Suzhou.

On August 7, we drove from Shanghai to Suzhou. After checking into the hotel, we immediately went to the exemplary Jiangnan garden—Suzhou's Humble Administrator's Garden. It is one of the four famous gardens in China. The entire garden centers on water, with scattered rockeries and exquisite courtyard buildings, lush flowers and trees, and a different view at every step.

After visiting Humble Administrator's Garden, we had lunch at a famous Suzhou restaurant nearby. The food was delicious, and we could also enjoy free Suzhou pingtan performance; the elderly artists even interacted with us. After dinner, we went to the night cruise dock on the moat. Boarding an ornate boat, we sailed on the moat. The colorful lights along the banks reflected in the rippling water and swaying willow branches, blending perfectly with the ancient Suzhou architecture, intoxicating us, fully experiencing the softness and refinement of this thousand-year-old city.

On early August 8, we went to Hanshan Temple, which Bean Girl had been longing for. Because of the poem "Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night" — "At moonset, crows cry in the frosty sky; by the river, maple fires and fishing lamps accompany my sleepless night. Outside Gusu City lies Hanshan Temple; the midnight bell reaches the traveler's boat." — Hanshan Temple became the focus of today's tour. With a history of over 1,400 years, it is a famous pilgrimage site. Pilgrims come daily to ring the bell and burn incense for peace. Entering the temple, Bean Girl asked her mother incessantly: "Where is the bell of Hanshan Temple? Can we still hear the bell now?" Of course, she also burned incense, made wishes, fed the fish, and climbed the rockery.

After Hanshan Temple, we went to Shantang Street in the old Gusu city. Shantang Street, with a thousand-year history, is the essence of ancient Suzhou, called "the epitome of old Suzhou and a window to Wu culture". It was built by Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi when he was an official in Suzhou. The residential houses here are basically front-street and back-river; the Shantang River flows slowly through them, with wupeng boats moored at the banks and red lanterns hanging on both sides. Here you can also find some Suzhou time-honored brands, such as Caizhi Zhai and Wufang Zhai.

"Jiangnan is a land of beauty, Jinling is the city of kings." Nanjing has always been called the "ancient capital of six dynasties" and is a fertile land in the southeast. As Dr. Sun Yat-sen said: "Nanjing is the ancient capital of China before Beijing. Its location is in a beautiful region. It has high mountains, deep waters, and plains. These three natural features are gathered together in one place, which is rare among the world's great cities."

On August 8, after about 4 hours' drive, we arrived in Nanjing. After settling luggage, we immediately went to the Nanjing Presidential Palace. It has both traditional Jiangnan gardens and modern architectural relics. Its history dates back to the early Ming Dynasty, over 600 years ago. It was once the Han Prince's Mansion of the Ming, the Jiangning Weaving Office, the Viceroy's Office of Liangjiang, and the Heavenly Palace of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. On January 1, 1912, Sun Yat-sen was sworn in as the provisional president of the Republic of China here, and it became the Presidential Palace. Later, it served as the Presidential Palace of the Nanjing National Government. Since modern times, it has been the political and military center of China and the source of major events.

After visiting the Presidential Palace, we moved to Confucius Temple. It consists of three large ancient buildings: the Confucius Temple, the Imperial Academy, and the Examination Hall. It was the first national highest institution of learning in China and one of the four major Confucian temples. Actually, we went there to experience the bustling atmosphere of the ancient capital, enjoy the nightlife along the Qinhuai River, and taste the snacks at Jinling night market. Of course, Bean Girl loved the various snacks and the rickshaw ride.

After eating and playing at Confucius Temple, we went to Laomendong. Compared to Confucius Temple, it is much quieter. Most of the residential houses in Laomendong are from the late Qing and early Republic periods. There are grand mansions, beautiful gardens, blue brick walls, and tall sycamore trees. It feels more like Nanjing. At the deepest part of Laomendong, the ancient Ming city wall stands tall and majestic, though it has lost its role of guarding the city, it still proudly tells its glorious history.

On August 9, it was still scorching hot. We arrived early at Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the tomb of Ming Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma. The mausoleum is magnificent. Entering, we first walked along the winding Sacred Way, lined with large stone animals and civil and military officials, symbolizing royal authority and dignity. After the Sacred Way, we reached the main tomb buildings, including the "Zhilong Tangsong" stele left by Emperor Kangxi when he paid homage.

From Ming Xiaoling, we went to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum to pay respects to the great revolutionary pioneer Dr. Sun Yat-sen. We climbed the steps, passing the Memorial Archway, the Sacred Path, the Gate, the Stele Pavilion, the Sacrificial Hall, and the Tomb Chamber, arriving at the tombstone inscribed by Tan Yankai. Dr. Sun rests here. On the buildings are his calligraphy, such as "The World Belongs to All" and his governance principles: "Universal Love", "Rights of the People, Democracy, Livelihood".

Due to the heat, our two-day trip to Nanjing could only be a quick tour. As an ancient capital of six dynasties, Nanjing has many more places worth seeing, like the majestic Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge and the solemn Memorial Hall of the Nanjing Massacre. It is said that in autumn, Nanjing is beautiful with golden fallen leaves and red metasequoias. So we look forward to a future autumn trip to Nanjing.

On August 10, we left Nanjing and drove to the foot of Mount Huangshan, starting a two-day tour. Since we arrived early, we decided to visit the Emerald Valley, a scenic spot at the foot of Mount Huangshan. It was said to be a filming location for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", with dozens of emerald-colored pools and a series of waterfalls. There is also a touching story: in 1986, 36 young men and women from Shanghai got stranded in the valley for three days; through adversity, 10 couples later got married, so it is also called Lover's Valley.

On the morning of August 11, we woke up the earliest during this Jiangnan trip, before 8 AM. After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we set out for Mount Huangshan. After about 40 minutes by shuttle bus, we arrived at the South Gate. There were several queues, and after waiting about an hour and a half, we finally took the cable car up to the mountaintop.

Mount Huangshan has been one of China's top famous mountains since ancient times, renowned for its "four wonders": odd-shaped pines, bizarre rocks, sea of clouds, and hot springs. The ancients said, "Having visited the Five Sacred Mountains, you don't want to see other mountains; having visited Mount Huangshan, you don't want to see the Five Sacred Mountains." But it is not easy to see its spectacular scenery. Of 365 days a year, over 200 are rainy or foggy. On the way, we heard a visitor say he had been to Mount Huangshan three times, and it rained every time. Fortunately, we were lucky; the weather was sunny after we got up.

But the good weather didn't last. At the Dreamlike Pen Flower scenic spot, it suddenly started drizzling with wind. We hurried back to the Beihai Hotel where we were staying. However, the rain was unpredictable; soon it lessened. We put on raincoats and continued towards Qingliang Terrace and Lion Peak. At Qingliang Terrace, looking into the distance, we saw a vast sea of clouds—very fortunate to witness the Mount Huangshan sea of clouds. The path to Lion Peak was narrow, steep, and often above deep abysses. For safety, Bean Girl and I did not go further, but brave Dama went alone.

In the evening, it drizzled again. We returned to the hotel. Dama's plan to watch the sunrise the next morning was dashed, and the many campers on the flat ground in front of the hotel could only sleep to the sound of wind and rain tonight.

On August 11, we got up early, but the weather was not on our side—a fine rain, with Mount Huangshan shrouded in gray mist. After breakfast at the hotel, we continued our second day on the mountain. Today's main attractions were Flying Stone, Welcoming-Guest Pine, and Bright Summit.

From Beihai Hotel to Flying Stone and then to Bright Summit, the distance was nearly 10 kilometers, mostly uphill, and we walked in the rain. We were worried whether Bean Girl's physical strength and perseverance could hold up. But her hardworking and uncomplaining spirit moved us. She kept smiling and walking with her head held high, completing the two-day hike on Mount Huangshan. As it was still early, we drove directly to Hongcun, the "Village in Chinese Paintings".

Hongcun is a representative of Huizhou-style ancient villages, known as the "Village in Chinese Paintings". Green mountains, clear water, white walls, black tiles; flowing water, small bridges, withered vines, old trees—Hongcun is like an ink wash painting. South Lake and Moon Marsh are the essence of Hongcun. Hongcun was first built in the Southern Song Shaoxing period (1131-1162). From the Ming Yongle period (1403-1424), it gradually developed into a magical "ox-shaped village". The ancient trees at the village entrance are the "horns"; the rows of Ming and Qing Huizhou-style houses are the "body"; the four bridges over the stream west of the village are the "legs"; Moon Marsh is the "stomach"; South Lake is the "belly"; and the water channels running through every household are the "intestines".

On August 12, after breakfast at our Hongcun inn, we directly went to the Hongcun scenic area. Crossing the bridge, we arrived at South Lake. The lakeside was full of students and teachers sketching, as if we had entered an art school. Bean Girl was very interested in painting, standing behind the big brothers and sisters, looking around, wishing she could paint a few strokes herself. We spent the whole day wandering in Hongcun. Although the village was crowded with tourists, it remained peaceful and quiet.

The sun slowly set. We reluctantly left Hongcun in the sunset glow. Our trip to Hongcun left a beautiful and deep impression—sometimes bold and colorful, sometimes like splashed ink freehand, truly like a slowly unfolding landscape scroll!

On our way back from Hongcun to Shenzhen, we stayed overnight in Nanchang on August 15, passing by the Prince Teng Pavilion and the Nanchang Yangtze River Bridge. On August 16, when passing Heyuan, we remembered Dama often mentioning the Bavaria Manor, so we made a detour. Entering the manor, the buildings were stunning, as if we had arrived at some European town. Surrounded by mountains and water, with colorful European-style buildings, castles, and windmills, it felt like a fairy tale kingdom. Here we could enjoy hot springs, amusement park rides, and watch wonderful performances. Although parking was inconvenient, the children loved it very much.

On August 17, with joy and fatigue, we returned safely to Shenzhen, ending our 23-day self-driving tour of East China. Traveling thousands of miles is better than reading thousands of books. At every stop, Bean Girl encountered different local customs and geography. Her many reactions made us gratified and surprised; in the journey, we saw her grow.

Travel Notes Directory

1. Architectural Marvel: Hakka Tulou

2. Fujian's First Mountain: Wuyi Mountain

3. Heaven on Earth: Hangzhou

4. Ancient Town at the Border of Wu and Yue: Xitang

5. Oriental Pearl: Shanghai

6. Oriental Venice: Suzhou

7. Ancient Capital of Six Dynasties: Nanjing

8. Imperial Mountain: Mount Huangshan

9. Village in Chinese Paintings: Hongcun

10. German-style Bavaria Manor

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