This free millennium-old ancient town cured my mental exhaustion!

After losing my job, I took a trip to Anhui, climbed Huangshan and Tianzhushan, and on the way back, I had to transfer in Hefei. I took some time to visit Sanhe Ancient Town, which many say is heavily commercialized. I didn’t have high expectations, but in just two hours, I saw a different side of it and it healed my mental exhaustion. As soon as I entered the town, I saw the glistening bluestone slabs and crossed the three-county bridge that has stood for a thousand years. It seemed like I could feel the unique charm of "one bridge spanning two banks, roosters crowing in three counties." Looking at the white walls and black tiles, the clear water and light boats from the bridge, it was an elegant beauty that can only be seen in Jiangnan. Compared to the cubicle life I’ve had for the past seven years, this Jiangnan beauty showed me something different, as if telling me: life is a vast wilderness, and while you’re young, you might as well experience a different kind of life. Heading south, I accidentally came across a millennium-old temple, as if stepping into another world. The incense spread through the autumn and winter courtyard. It is said that this was once a refuge for Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, with yellow walls and red pillars, solemn and majestic. Passing by Dingji Rice Dumpling Shop, I bought a hot Sanhe rice dumpling. The crispy outer skin exploded in my mouth, and the crispiness overlapped with the fried oil cake I ate as a child. It’s just a pity the rice dumpling was a bit bland; I prefer it with some spice. Hopefully, new flavors will be developed in the future. 📌 Personal impressions ✨ Two hours was indeed rushed, and I didn’t have time to visit many attractions, but I could truly feel the beauty of the Jiangnan water town. If time allows, spend more time here. ✨ Although the ancient town is commercialized, Sanhe Ancient Town has very low prices, which is a pleasant surprise compared to other ancient towns. The Sanhe rice dumplings are really hot when freshly fried, so be sure to let them cool before eating. ✨ I regret not making it to the top floor of Wangyue Pavilion. I heard the sunset view is amazing and you can see the whole Sanhe Ancient Town. I hope someone can check it out for me.