Due to the unique geographical conditions, vast plains and numerous lakes, as well as the abundant water sources and transportation advantages brought by the dense rivers, ports and ditches, Southern Jiangsu has been the richest region in China since ancient times, and Kunshan has become the top 100 counties in China.
Here, the urban area is surrounded by new buildings and green water, which is very modern and livable, and its prosperity is comparable to that of first-tier big cities.
Here, the countryside has a new look, the grass grows and warblers, there are observation decks in the fields, small trains open in the countryside, and the station has become a popular spot; Country life has become a popular aspiration.
The expression of this wealth in ancient times was the Jiangnan towns built by the water. In Kunshan alone, the well-preserved ones are Zhouzhuang, Jinxi and Qiandeng.
Compared to the first two, Thousand Lamps is slightly less famous, but its history is more than 2,500 years.
It is said that the small bridges and flowing water in the water towns of Jiangnan are similar to the pink wall Dewa; Qiandeng makes a fuss in "different places" and strives to create a historical and architectural style that is different from other places.
Thousand Lights, formerly known as "Thousand Dun", fought for hegemony in Wuyue in the Spring and Autumn Period, and the mound built here was the "First Thousand Dun"; In the local dialect, "dun" and "lamp" are the same sound, and over time, the name was changed to "thousand lamps".
Qin Wangshan in the northwest corner of the town is related to Qin Shi Huang. It is said to be a mountain, but it is actually a beacon built by piling up earth; According to legend, Qin Shi Huang came here on his southern tour and once climbed the sea to sacrifice to the sea.
The Qinfeng Pagoda on the south side of Qinwang Mountain is the symbol of a thousand lamps. Pavilion-style brick and wood structure, the tower is seven-storey, 38 meters high; Graceful, slender and beautiful, such as a beauty Ting Yuli; The breeze blows and the brass bells jingle, and the sound is beautiful and intoxicating.
Yanfuchan Temple, where Qinfeng Pagoda is located, the thousand-year-old ginkgo in front of the Daxiong Treasure Hall is flourishing, and the Jade Buddha Hall enshrines the reclining Buddha of Shakyamuni.
Not to mention the chessboard pattern of "parallel land and water, adjacent river streets", nor the water village style of "small bridges and flowing water"; Just by looking at the combination of the Yudujing Bridge, Fangjing Bridge and Hengsheng Bridge, we have traveled all the way through the three dynasties of the Song, Ming and Qing dynasties.
The "stone street" paved with more than 2,000 bluestones about 2 meters long runs through the ancient town from north to south, connects branch alleys from east to west, and has a length of 1.5 kilometers as the largest ancient town in Jiangnan; The sewer under the stone slab leads to the river port, and although the rain is pouring down, there is no water on the street, and the rain will dry out as soon as it stops.
Walking quietly on the stone street is a different kind of fun and enjoyment. Quiet alleys, bluestone slabs stretch along the gray eaves, and the lamps on the corner of the intersection are hazy and gentle; The stone pavement has been hurriedly polished by thousands of years of steps to smooth and round, the sound of water dripping under the stone slab, intertwined with the gentle Kunqu song wafting out of the teahouses along the street, and the soft language of Wu Nong in the shop, this is the unchanged town sound for hundreds of years...
Qiandeng is the hometown of Gu Jian, the originator of Kunqu opera. In his memorial hall, on the small stage on his day off, there will be ticket holders and enthusiasts performing Kunqu opera, lingering, beautiful and distant, gentle and gentle singing, and you can feel the breadth and depth of Kunqu opera art.
In the Thousand Lantern Hall, more than 1,000 kinds of lampstand lampholders from ancient times to the present day are collected; On the ancient theater stage, the warm and soft clean sound of Jiangnan Pingdan, the reverberation of the beam.
Qiandeng also has a famous Gu Yanwu, an outstanding thinker in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Visiting his former residence, without exploring his profound learning and philosophical thoughts, just the deafening and resounding eight-character famous saying "the world rises and falls, and the husband has the responsibility" has inspired generations of benevolent people to rise up, which is enough to let the world see that Jiangnan is not only weak and gentle, but also has a strong bone.
At the beginning of the night, the thousand lights appear more quiet and serene, beautiful and simple, and the refreshing cool breeze is mixed with a humid breath; The moonlight floats on the surface of the river, the night boats paddle by, and the moon shadow spreads out layer by layer to both sides under the shallow light, ripples, dissolving in the night of the ancient town, scattered in the long and ethereal sound of silk and bamboo.
At this moment, the lights are in full swing. Standing on the bridge, rows of lanterns hang under the corridor, faintly, and the thousand-year-old Qinfeng Pagoda is far away.
Thousands of homes are bright, thousands of homes are lit, and the lights shine through the window pavilions of one household, illuminating the winding river, and also reflecting the soft ancient charm; The ancient town in front of you has become a veritable "thousand lights".
That night, I slept in the bed and breakfast by Qiandengpu, and the thousand lanterns in my dream were raining lightly, and in the smoke and rain, it seemed to come to Dai Wangshu's poem "Rain Alley", and saw the boat rowing slowly, "a smoke and rain pillow Jiangnan"...
Poetry:
Qinfeng Pagoda stands in pavilion
The town's temperament is extraordinary
Three bridges in series connected to Song Mingqing
The sound of bamboo on the stage is melodious and melodious
The world rises and falls
Jiangnan iron bone is also strong
Wait until the lights are on
Thousand lamps looked back