All ancient towns look the same, so what’s really worth visiting?

Almost all ancient towns nowadays are the same: braised pork, hand-strung beads, blue-and-white porcelain cloth, pearl harvesting from oysters... like a large assembly line. So why are we so obsessed with going to ancient towns? Is it because the five-day-a-week grind needs some recovery? And a low-energy ancient town might be the best choice? Is it staying in a scenic area, opening wooden windows to see sunlight piercing through the morning mist, with a rowing boat slowly approaching in the distance? Or is it walking to the edge of the ancient town to find some dilapidated old houses for photo shoots? So I think the itinerary should be to tear up the guidebook, avoid trendy shops, and aimless wandering might bring new discoveries. For example, this time I went to Xitang. My original homestay was canceled, so I ended up staying at the outskirts of the scenic area at Yan Yu Jiang Nan voco. But I found it’s just a 1-minute walk to enter the ancient town, and I easily caught the two free admission time slots after 5:00 PM and before 8:00 AM! I was able to capture the most beautiful blue hour and Xitang in the early morning without tourists. The front desk not only upgraded my room but also offered a travel photo shoot, where you can shoot hidden spots in the ancient town. Plus, the hotel’s environment itself is photogenic, with white walls and black tiles, sunken courtyards, and corridors similar to those in the ancient town. The breakfast offerings are also rich, with almost all Jiangnan delicacies available. Before checking out at noon the next day, I had a proper meal—Italian meat sauce pasta and tiramisu were especially outstanding, rivaling some trendy restaurants I’ve been to, maybe even better? 🤔️