Zhouzhuang: Discover the First Water Town of China from Your Textbooks

The Tang-style and Song-rhyme Zhouzhuang has enacted the vicissitudes of a thousand-year-old city; the water-filled town crisscrossed by rivers has woven the silk net of the Wu region's watery kingdom. "In the season I love so deeply, again I see Jiangnan in September..." So sings the poet-singer Xu Wei. And where is the water town in your heart?

The Jiangnan water town from your language textbook – Zhouzhuang – is serene, graceful, harmonious. It draws the elegance of Suzhou and Hangzhou and gathers the splendor of water towns. The seed of longing for this water town was quietly planted deep in our hearts during morning recitation classes!

In September, tranquil and gentle Zhouzhuang itself is like a book – a monumental scroll that needs to be turned and savored slowly. "Up above there is paradise, down below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou, and in between lies Zhouzhuang." The renowned painter Wu Guanzhong once said: "Huangshan Mountain embodies the beauty of China's mountains and rivers; Zhouzhuang embodies the beauty of China's water towns." So this September, set off from that deeply remembered textbook passage and come touch the vivid First Water Town of China!

Jiangnan Water Town – Zhouzhuang

White walls and grey tiles are reflected in the water, traditional simplicity and modern splendor sway in the small bridges and flowing streams.

Ancient alleys paved with bluestone flagstones accumulate the charm of nine hundred years of the old town's past and present; the time-worn Fu'an Bridge spans the North–South City River. Boatwomen in blue floral cloth leisurely punt hand-rowed boats beneath it.

The eaves of the bridge towers on either end are steeply tilted; the traditional Shen's Tavern and a fashionable café intermingle. In the ancient lane, an elderly woman returns from buying vegetables while a girl dressed in antique clothing walks by – the scene is like a parallel space with time reversed as in the movie "Tenet"!

After high summer, September's water town is always peaceful and serene. The sky with drifting clouds is large enough to hold all your cares.

Palace lanterns have crept onto the white walls and black tiles along both banks; the annual Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival has quietly arrived!

What could be more poetic than drifting on a boat along Zhouzhuang's small rivers? A tiny wooden boat threading through the waterways passes under a bridge, and each crossing reveals a new scene.

Water is the soul of Zhouzhuang. Zhouzhuang sleeps on water; water is its bed. The bed is soft, sometimes gently rocking a couple of times – that's Zhouzhuang shifting its posture. Boats are the shoes it lays beside the bed.

The hazy morning mist is Zhouzhuang's sleepy face; the weeping willows along the banks are its flowing hair; the twinkling lights at night are its vivid eyes. No wonder Zhouzhuang alone claims the title "China's First Water Town."

There are countless ways to experience Zhouzhuang's water alleys: you can sit in a hand-rowed boat cruising the old town water lanes, passing under bridges and through arches for a fresh perspective on the white walls and grey tiles. Or you can take a water wealth tour, passing Yinzibang to explore the Caishenju in the water countryside's outskirts. Even before entering Zhouzhuang, you can board a painted pleasure boat at the visitor center and circumnavigate the entire water town.

As evening falls, hang two spinning lanterns on the bow, take an oar-lit night cruise of Zhouzhuang, and spend a tranquil, cool summer night in the secluded Western Bay.

With boats as brushes and the river as ink, you are painting in your heart a water-town scroll uniquely your own!

Homes pillowed on the river sway in the quiet, gentle waves; the Twin Bridges arch over the rippling town.

There are countless paintings of Zhouzhuang. Numerous artists and students have stood by the riverside splashing ink. The Japanese painter Hashimoto Shinsen painted "A Day in Zhouzhuang" at Taiping Bridge; Wu Guanzhong created the ink wash "Water Town Zhouzhuang"... Most famous, of course, is Chen Yifei's "Memory of My Hometown." In the painting, the Twin Bridges are like a key hanging at Zhouzhuang's waist, opening the heart of the hometown and also a window to the world.

Bridges arise from water, and water is linked into a living whole by these ancient stone bridges – hence the saying "small bridges, flowing streams."

Fourteen bridges built during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties span Zhouzhuang's "井"-shaped waterways. Pedestrians walk above, boats pass underneath. White walls, black tiles, black canopied boats, small bridges, flowing streams, and old houses – these make up Zhouzhuang's unique water town scroll.

Zhouzhuang Ancient Town in the Movies

Row, row, row to Grandma's Bridge. Grandma calls me a good baby, sugar and fruit for me. Grandma buys a fish to cook.

Simple yet steeped in history, Zhouzhuang naturally holds countless stories. "The Legend of the White Snake," "Liu Yazi," "Ruan Lingyu," "Hu Xueyan," and "The Wealthy Shen Wansan" were all partly filmed here.

In Zhang Yimou's film "Row, Row, Row to Grandma's Bridge," the heroine flees from Shanghai in a wooden boat that passes under Zhouzhuang's Fu'an Bridge, turns past the side of Grandma's Bridge, and heads toward a small island amid reed marshes.

Today, beneath Grandma's Bridge, the oars remain the same, but the colors are more vivid. The lane beside the bamboo-vine railing has become the Hand-in-Hand Lane, a photo spot for lovers.

In September, flowers in Jiangnan may be fading, but trumpet vines still cover the ancient town. The fish market at Western Bay is open; an old woman is busy arranging sun-dried fish and shrimp. Grandma lights the stove in the morning, the elderly man reads his newspaper, locals push carts carrying breakfast – life on both banks remains much the same.

Tap the stone alleys of Zhouzhuang with your soles, listen to the water town's pingtan tunes with your ears, view the tender nightscape with your eyes, feel the slow pace with your palms – and the Jiangnan water town from the pages of your book will leap vividly before you.

Just as writer Wang Jianbing said, every day in Zhouzhuang is an out-of-print edition. So, won't you come soon?

Twelve Hours in the Water Town: A Kind of Coolness Called Zhouzhuang

As July's heat fades and August lingers, Jiangnan's bright summer arrives. The sky is rinsed blue; every drifting cotton-candy cloud brims with stories. In summer Zhouzhuang, the river is fuller and the tenderness even more pronounced.

There is a kind of midsummer called a water town, and a water town called Zhouzhuang. Friends ask if the dense little houses of a water town feel hot in summer. Actually, as long as you find the right spot at the right time, every one of Zhouzhuang's twelve hours can be a 26°C cool summer day.

Morning Charm of the Ancient Town: 7:00–9:00 AM (Chen hour)

You must rise early in the water town. In the early morning, the town is just waking up. Stoves are lit along the banks, residents wash clothes in the river. The old town is quiet. Stroll along the authentic Zhongshi Street; the projecting eaves offer shelter from rain and sun. Walking on the time-worn bluestone paths, no parasol is needed, and no sunburn worries; cool drafts mischievously ruffle passersby's long skirts.

On a sweltering summer day, the emerald green river always lifts the spirits. On Hougang Street, the drooping green willows sway in the breeze, sending waves of coolness.

Pastoral Flower Fields: 9:00–11:00 AM (Si hour)

Childhood memories seem to hold the most summer moments – long holidays, countryside rice paddies and flower fields, endless fruit and vegetables, orange soda...

In summer, Xiang Village is full of life: frogs croaking in the lotus pond, birds chirping in the woods, cicadas buzzing in the branches – as lively as the band in "The Big Band." Pick some colorful cherry tomatoes and fresh peaches in the field, then while away the time reading a book at Xiang Village Bookshop.

A Taste of Jiangnan: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Wu hour)

Delicious aromas waft from Zhouzhuang's streets and lanes. Pop into any small eatery and you'll discover authentic treats: Zhenfeng Sock-Bottom Crisp, shaped like the sole of a sock, as thin as cicada's wings, crispy and tasty.

At Baojinzhai next to Twin Bridges, you'll find fermented rice dumplings, dark rice, small wonton bubbles, osmanthus lotus cake – all the Jiangnan snacks you could want. Next to Grandma's Bridge, Fuxingji offers an array of handmade Suzhou-style pastries.

Tea House Pingtan: 1:00–3:00 PM (Wei hour)

Inside Jubinlou, the decor is antique, with lanterns bearing the character "茶" (tea) and several old-fashioned square tables arranged neatly. Order a pot of Grandma's Tea or little green mandarin tea, along with some dried licorice plum and fragrant melon seeds.

Sit by the window, watch hand-rowed boats glide past outside. Tea fragrance fills the room, while the soft Wu dialect and the tinkling of strings of a pingtan performance drift to your ears. The afternoon suddenly becomes cool and refreshing.

Cool in the Courtyard: 3:00–5:00 PM (Shen hour)

The old houses in Xiang Village have been transformed into secluded courtyards, walls covered with trumpet vines. An old Phoenix bicycle, a vintage wooden piano – every corner is saturated with memories of a bygone era.

Pull a bamboo recliner into the yard and enjoy the shade; suddenly you're transported back to childhood. Wave a palm-leaf fan, feel the summer breeze brush your face, and taste the watermelon chilled in the old well – extra sweet.

Listening to the Breeze at South Lake: 5:00–7:00 PM (You hour)

The Western Jin writer Zhang Han used the excuse of missing his hometown's water shield soup and perch to resign and retire to South Lake. Changfu Bridge arches over it. Walking along the waterside boardwalk, you can hear the summer breeze. In the cool breeze, enjoy the light show "Autumn Moon over South Lake" and experience the changing seasons of the water town.

Oar Splash and Lantern Shadows: 7:00–9:00 PM (Xu hour)

As night falls and lights are lit, mist rises from the waterways. Board a hand-rowed boat for a night tour. Amid oar splashes and lantern shadows, get close to the water. The coolness of summer greets you. The creaking oar song is a gentle lullaby, cleansing the restless soul.

The night cruise starts from the dock opposite Shen's House, follows the North-South City River, passes Fu'an Bridge, Twin Bridges, and Zhang's House, turns back at Quangong Bridge, then passes Taiping Bridge, follows Hougang Street to Western Bay – covering almost all of Zhouzhuang's classic sights.

Summer Night Mellow: 9:00–11:00 PM (Hai hour)

Late at night, the daytime bustle subsides. A handful of quiet bars are scattered along the lanes – few in number, each with its own character, understated and restrained, careful not to steal the water town's spotlight. Yet they are the final tender moments, soothing lonely souls in the deep night...

Dreams Pillowed on Water: 11:00 PM – 1:00 AM (Zi hour)

24-Hour Summer Escape Guide to the Water Town

Day 1: Zhouzhuang Ancient Town – Hougang Street – North-South City Street – South Lake Autumn Moon Garden – Night boat ride – Bar mellow moments

Day 2: Xiang Village Qizhuang – Countryside stroll – Romantic flower fields – Fruit picking – Xiang Village Bookshop – Courtyard cool-down

Address: No. 43 Quanfu Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Kunshan City, Suzhou

Entrance ticket: 80 yuan

Hand-rowed boat night tour: 7:00–9:30 PM (extended on weekends), cost 180 yuan per boat (seats 6, can share).

Summer Zhouzhuang is pure as water, lively as wind, mellow as wine. This 24-hour cool guide turns every moment in Zhouzhuang into a 26°C summer. Which moment of the water town do you love most?

Youth Never Ends: Seal Your Youth with a Graduation Trip

In the blink of an eye, three or four years have flown by. Time rushes, and it's summer again – from gardenia blossoms to trumpet vines. Due to the pandemic, this year's graduation season is extraordinary. Those who met in summer must eventually part in summer. If you're going to mark graduation with a trip, it must be the Jiangnan water town.

Just as we are in our youthful prime, why not seize this summer and record your youth with a ritual graduation trip? In the soft, delicate water town of Zhouzhuang, rekindle friendship and freeze beautiful memories. Youth never fades; the waves are just entering the sea.

Strolling the Streets: Artisan Creativity

Enter through the "Tang-style Legacy" archway of Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, and the atmosphere immediately envelops you. Treading on smooth bluestone paths, passing between white walls and black tiles, you instantly travel to a new time-space where time slows down abruptly.

Laughing and frolicking, seek out Master Chen Yifei's footprints, pose for goofy photos on the Twin Bridges. Time seems to stand still; the day of farewell still feels far away.

Wandering through ancient lanes and covered bridges, you'll find small knick-knack shops. Glancing back, it's as if you've returned to childhood, when a few coins could buy a heap of snacks.

Under Grandma's Bridge, the bamboo railings lean close to the water. Hand-rowed boats lined up neatly seem ready to set sail for a distant shore, loaded with youthful dreams.

Sit in Sanmao's Teahouse, holding a cup of Grandma's Tea that Sanmao longed for but never got to drink, and sense this water town that once moved Sanmao to tears.

The twelve workshops of Zhenfeng on Zhongshi Street are lined shoulder to shoulder, hiding various handmade shops. Learn to spin and weave like a grandma; pick a pure cotton blue-print cheongsam, imagining yourself looking mature.

Many artsy shops are tucked in Xianyuan Lane. Visit the Cat's Sky City to pet cats, pick two cute books and a journal, pondering what to write on a postcard to your future self.

The whimsical Paper King is especially dreamy against the blue night sky. On the open-air stage, sing a song like "Dalabengba!".

Rowing the Water Alley: Riding the Wind and Waves

Before sailing into the vast ocean, a hand-rowed boat ride is a must. Amid the creaking of the oars, the boatwoman's Jiangnan tune, the gentle rocking, and the emerald water, you glide under bridges and through tunnels. Old houses on both banks flash past like slides, giving you a taste of life in this small town.

In front of every house, the old wharves remain. In the morning, you can still see grannies washing vegetables and clothes, and grandpa lighting the coal stove. Time seems to pass quickly, yet also not to flow at all.

Lean on a wharf, peer out to see if any hand-rowed boats are passing, and freeze the scene of small bridges, flowing water, and family houses in the background of your memory-capturing photos.

Eight Nights of Zhouzhuang: Moody Nights

Under the night curtain, Zhouzhuang is even more tender and enchanting. Lights trace the town's graceful silhouette; both banks are bright; mist lingers over the waterways. The night market buzzes. Zhang's House is festooned with lanterns. Dishes from Shen's Tavern by Fu'an Bridge waft fragrance. From the small bar under an ancient bridge, a husky folk song "Girl on the Little Bridge" floats out.

In the ancient melody "Remembering Jiangnan," hand-rowed boats slowly glide from the depths of the North-South City River. Women in ancient Jiangnan dress stand at the prow, as if emerging from a painting. In the bustling streets, you bump into ladies in cheongsam or hanfu; the fleeting moment of passing feels like time travel.

Roaming the Flower Fields: Facing the Sun

Sunflowers in Xiang Village Qizhuang are in full bloom, spreading into a golden sea. White-walled, black-tiled dwellings are faintly visible deep within the flower sea.

With the taste of soda pop, summer perhaps becomes less sentimental. Roam in the romantic flower sea, let a paper kite fly in the summer breeze, and let your youthful dreams dance with the wind, facing the sun!

Each courtyard of the Era Show B&B carries memories of different decades. Squat in a row in the yard, wave a palm-leaf fan in the cool summer evening, the freshly picked watermelon chilling in well water. Behind you, the grape trellis hangs with strings of purple waterfalls – pure childhood memories.

Every decoration in the room, every little object, every poster on the wall stirs childhood memories.

Photography Tips

Outfits: bestie outfits, couple outfits, May Fourth youth outfits, hanfu. Inside Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, you can rent hanfu (including hair styling and makeup) at "Miss Shen's Hanfu Shop."

For hanfu: Zhang's House / Shen's House / Ancient Stage / Zhouzhuang Museum / Zhongshi Street

For May Fourth outfits: Sanmao's Teahouse / Cat's Sky City / Yifei's Home

Recommended Tour Route

Day 1: Zhouzhuang Ancient Town

>> Morning: Ancient Archway Entrance → Zhaobi (screen wall) → Taiping Bridge → Yifei's Home → Twin Bridges → Fu'an Bridge → Grandma's Bridge → Ancient Town Water Lane Cruise Dock

>> Afternoon: Take the Ancient Town Water Lane Cruise → Western Bay Dock → Zhongshi Street → Sanmao's Teahouse → Cat's Sky City → Paper King

>> Evening: Night tour of Zhouzhuang → "Four Seasons Zhouzhuang" show → Xiang Village Era Show B&B

Day 2: Xiang Village Qizhuang

>> Morning: Ancient Town Water Lanes → Twelve Zhenfeng Workshops → Zhang's House → Ancient Stage

>> Afternoon: Xiang Village countryside + Sunflower flower field

All that has passed is but the prologue. Everyone's youthful memories need an unforgettable trip, a water town trip with them. Because what ends is this summer, not us.

Listen to a Pingtan Performance, and You've Found Jiangnan

Everyone harbors a Jiangnan in their heart... Poets say: Jiangnan is good; the scenery I once knew well. What is Jiangnan? Elegant and gentle Jiangnan – is it small bridges and flowing streams? White walls and black tiles? Or misty rain and alleys...

The summer sun is intense yet lazy, pouring onto Zhouzhuang's mottled ancient alleys. Rain-washed bluestone roads clink and patter, telling of the town's flowing years.

A melodious pingtan tune, with tinkling strings, drifts out. Instantly, the Jiangnan ink-wash painting before you becomes vivid, like small bridges and streams threading through streets and lanes, mesmerizing.

Listen to a pingtan performance, and you've found Jiangnan...

The male performer, gentle as jade in a long gown, holds a three-stringed lute; the female performer, elegant and poised in a cheongsam, cradles a pipa. They sit at what is called a stage, but it's only a table and two chairs. The moment they open their mouths, the soft-sweet Wu dialect reveals all the beauty of pingtan. No wonder the master scholar Yu Dagang called it "the most beautiful sound in China."

Pingtan is the general term for pinghua (storytelling) and tanci (ballad singing), with a history of over 400 years. It originated in Suzhou and flourished in Shanghai, and was listed among the first national intangible cultural heritage items in 2006.

Teahouses and storytelling halls, pipa and three-stringed lute, the strings turn, the pipa sounds sweet. It doesn't matter if you understand the lyrics or not. In the subtle, delicate melody and the Wu dialect singing, you can always sense vivid characters and feel the joys and sorrows of the story.

The Wu County annals record: "During the Ming and Qing dynasties, tanci and pinghua flourished... Many Suzhou people were idle, and it was common to see them cramming into teahouses to pass their days." The essence of the water town's slow life is right here in the teahouse pingtan.

A cup of tea, a seat – that's the Jiangnan life.

The town is never short of teahouses, and Zhouzhuang is no exception. The sound of pingtan comes from Jubinlou on Zhongshi Street. Just one door separates Jubinlou from the bustling street, creating its own world. The openwork carved wooden windows exude antique charm; inside, lanterns with "tea" characters add ambience.

Pingtan performances often take place in water towns and at wharves. For centuries, Zhouzhuang has been a stage for pingtan. Because you must take a boat to reach old towns like Zhouzhuang, pingtan performers going out to perform call it "leaving the wharf."

Square tables and long benches are lined up inside, with blue-and-white porcelain tea sets and old-fashioned thermoses placed on them. In an instant, you've stepped into the past. The old stove for boiling water still puffs steam.

"Fragrant lotus blooms on emerald waters, stirred by the breeze; the breeze stirs the water, cooling the long summer day." Three or five friends sit around a table, order a pot of Grandma's Tea or little green mandarin, with some dried licorice plum and fragrant melon seeds.

Sit by the window; outside, oars creak; your nose fills with tea fragrance; your ears catch the tinkling strings. The afternoon becomes cool and serene. One pingtan tune encompasses an entire Jiangnan.

Listen to a Pingtan Tune, Choose a Jiangnan Town

"The aroma assails; three cups still seem too few. The taste delights; two bowls more are not too many." The unique Grandma's Tea of Zhouzhuang is crystal clear and fragrant.

Whether Bi Luo Chun or white tea, it must be steeped in a blue-and-white porcelain bowl. Lifting the tea lid to tease floating leaves adds a touch of ceremony to time.

On a summer afternoon, a bowl of Jiangnan mung bean soup is indispensable. Cooling and refreshing, it's the healthiest summer drink. Besides soft mung beans, the soup also has red and green shredded jelly, candied dates, and other rich ingredients – a unique childhood memory for water town kids.

Only by sitting in a water town teahouse can you truly hear the charm of pingtan. The lyrics and melody, the old town's white walls and black tiles, and the time-traveling you fuse into a vivid Jiangnan painting with sound.

When the performer says, "If you want to know what happens next, tune in next time," it becomes a reason to come back to Zhouzhuang!

The sky waits for misty rain; delicacies await you in Zhouzhuang

The North-South City River runs through Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, with Xianjiang Bay on one end and South Lake Bay on the other. The abundant waterways have nurtured the liveliest life along their banks. Twin Bridges, Fu'an Bridge, Zhang's House, Shen's House – all sit along the North-South City River.

Quangong Bridge, standing for centuries, bears witness to Zhouzhuang's long years and holds many locals' childhood memories.

Quangonglou Fashion Restaurant – a three-story building with steep eaves and white walls beside black tiles – nestles beneath Quangong Bridge. Inspired by Wu Guanzhong's painting "Zhouzhuang," it blends Hong Kong-style trendy tea restaurant culture with water town cuisine.

Stepping inside, you're greeted by a fresh, bistro-style feel: warm lighting that fuses Chinese and Western elements, romantic and elegant décor, all connected to the riverside views... The black, white, and gray base tones are just like Wu Guanzhong's ink-wash paintings, while Tiffany-blue partitions and chairs resemble a touch of sky blue of the water town, full of poetry.

Large floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides let in the bright sunshine; the river reflects shimmering patches onto the ceiling. Such a spacious and bright dining space is rare in Zhouzhuang.

At night, the dock outside the restaurant fills with returning fishing boats, and the water-town light-and-shadow show quietly begins in Xianjiang Bay.

In the morning, grab two buns from Grandma's Bridge Bun Shop; at noon, sample some authentic Hong Kong-style dishes on the first floor; in the afternoon, have afternoon tea at the rooftop garden on the third floor; in the evening, go up to the second floor, order a few local water-town dishes, and enjoy the outdoor light show "Fisherman's Song at Dusk." Simple joys are the essence – this is the water-town's slow life.

Water Town Delicacies in a Tea Restaurant

Jiangnan water town, you seem far away because of the city's bustle. Jiangnan water town, you feel so close because of the flavors on my tongue.

Zhouzhuang has many foods: you can stroll the streets seeking snacks, or sit by the river at a night market to soak up the ambiance. Dining in the fresh, elegant Quangonglou Fashion Restaurant is yet another special experience.

Shen Wansan's business in Zhouzhuang spurred its prosperity, which is why many dishes here bear his name. Shen's pig trotters are the signature. Quangonglou not only offers the traditional Shen's pig trotter but also a new Cantonese-influenced dish – crispy fried meat roll – to satisfy different palates.

People in South Lake Fishing Village live by the water. Bai Xian River abounds in river delicacies: clams, whitebait, and perch are known as the Three Treasures of Xian River. Steamed perch, scrambled eggs with whitebait, and Grandma's pickled vegetables... are all must-try local flavors in Zhouzhuang.

Hong Kong-Style Delicacies in the Water Town

Life isn't like cooking; you can't have all the ingredients ready before you start. But you can place an order here right now.

Besides water town dishes, authentic Hong Kong-style cuisine is Quangonglou's biggest feature – a rare Cantonese restaurant in Zhouzhuang. The fresh Hong Kong-style decor makes you feel like you're in a TVB drama.

One indispensable Hong Kong dish is char siu (barbecued pork) – tender and juicy, perfectly balanced fat and lean, brightly colored, aromatic.

Crispy shrimp toast: the tempting aroma of lightly fried toast combined with fresh shrimp, dipped in a special sauce, is rich and full. One bite, and the crust is crispy while the shrimp meat has bite! It's a kid's favorite, worthy of applause for both looks and nutrition.

Har gow – the iconic Cantonese dim sum – features a translucent wrapper encasing one or two shrimp. The filling is faintly visible; the skin is smooth, the shrimp tender. One bite seems to burst with juice; the delicate meat exudes endless magic, a single piece surpassing myriad other joys.

Siu mai, one of Hong Kong's "Four Heavenly Kings" of dim sum, is soft, fragrant, white and crystal-like, resembling pomegranate gems. Steamed chicken feet with black bean sauce offer a Q-texture springiness.

A plate of dry-fried beef ho fun is set on the table. Lift it with chopsticks, and steam bursts out – the final warning before the beef ho fun attacks your taste buds! It looks glossy with oil but tastes savory, refreshing, and not greasy at all!

Lift the lid of steaming lap cheong (sausage) claypot rice: oily, glistening sausages lie on the rice, color glossy, meat firm. The slightly sweet, wine-flavored Cantonese sausage is a favorite of many. Pour in soy sauce and stir, each fragrant Thai rice grain evenly coated with fat and sauce. Paired with a bowl of Hong Kong-style nourishing soup, it can heal any sorrow.

Walking along the Tamsui River, listening to her favorite song, putting warmth back in your pocket!

In many people's culinary memories, a steaming basket of Grandma's handmade large buns is indispensable. Whether on a trip or on the way to work, the first bite of a Grandma's bun in the morning brings happiness for the whole day.

The grannies rise early every day to prepare the day's fillings: pork, greens, or dried mustard greens. Meat and vegetables are paired for a perfect balance. Skilled hands deftly pleat the buns, sealing both flavor and affection inside.

Freshly out of the steamer, the buns look best – plump, round, lazily lying in the tray, steaming. One bite and the meat juice might just trickle from the corner of your mouth. The filling is fragrant, well-seasoned, and satisfying!

It's you, on the rooftop, a beautiful encounter. Singing on the rooftop, with the one I love.

The rooftop garden is a hidden check-in spot at Quangonglou Fashion Restaurant. People come and go on Quangong Bridge below; small boats glide past; clouds drift over Xianjiang Bay. Bathed in the sunset, enjoy a quiet afternoon tea.

Their self-branded Origin Coffee offers various hand-ground coffees, Hong Kong-style silk stocking milk tea, fruit tea, and cute ice cream. They say the recipes can be custom-made.

Order a top-notch double-skin milk: it looks like cream, pure white; the upper skin is sweet-smooth, the lower skin slippery and soft, with a delicate, tender texture. The sweet, light taste embraces your whole body in soft sweetness.

Butter-layered pineapple bun is Hong Kong's dream combination. A freshly baked golden, crispy pineapple bun with a slice of chilled butter – experience the contrast of hot and cold melting on your lips.

In the water town of Zhouzhuang, beside Quangong Bridge, inside Quangonglou Fashion Restaurant... The sky waits for misty rain; delicacies are waiting for you!