What happens when the Double Festival meets the Carved Flower Building~
The weather is gradually turning cooler. It's very pleasant during the day with the sun out. I arranged a trip with a friend. I had previously done some research on Ctrip to see which ancient town nearby was fun. Seeing the good reviews for the Carved Flower Building, we picked a good day and set out. During the Double Festival, there were many people, and the scenic area had done a lot of decorations. The ancient town really has its charm.
You can feel it—such a private garden in the southern style is quite rare in central Jiangsu. It was better than I imagined, very comfortable. A small bridge over flowing water, houses by the river, and in front of the house, a 280-year-old little-leaf boxwood, which also carries the function of warding off misfortune and evil.
Four gardens enclose a courtyard house. The doors and furniture in the main hall are all preserved from that time. According to the guide, during the 'Destroy the Four Olds' movement, this set of large red rosewood furniture was sold off. Later, when the garden was being restored, it was recovered, so being able to arrange and restore it to its current state was truly not easy.
The courtyard is full of carvings, with various traditional Chinese auspicious sayings, such as 'Happiness as vast as the Eastern Sea' and 'Five Blessings at the Door.'
In the southern garden, there is also a couch, with a pipe placed on it. It is said that the first owner of the Carved Flower Building smoked opium on this couch, which led to the decline of his family fortune, and he eventually sold the house. The guide mentioned that opium was introduced from Britain. In old times, opium was called 'fushou gao' (happiness and longevity paste). The Chinese people did not have the concept of drugs back then; instead, the wealthy all wanted to smoke this 'good stuff.'
The ancient town is very lively at night. Many people are dancing and strolling. A cool breeze blows from time to time, making it very comfortable. It's a great place to relax, have fun, and gain knowledge.
