Stepping into the Old Dreams of Jiangnan in Jinxi

Jinxi is located in Kunshan, about an hour's drive from Suzhou. Nearby are Zhouzhuang and Tongli Ancient Towns, with similar scenery, but Jinxi is relatively smaller, so there aren't as many visitors. I first noticed Jinxi Ancient Town from someone's video, and immediately felt it embodied the Jiangnan water town atmosphere I was looking for. It truly didn't disappoint. Jinxi is not only small, but locals still live within the ancient town, giving it a vibrant, authentic feel without obvious commercialization. When we arrived that afternoon, we wandered casually through the streets. By the time we entered the ancient town proper, night had fallen and most tourists had left. Many shops were closed, and some elderly women were chatting and preparing vegetables in front of their doors, making us feel like we had wandered into someone's home. Nighttime Jinxi is peaceful and beautiful - you can capture wonderful scenery from any spot. We decided to stay another half day to see some views again in daylight. Early the next morning, we crossed the bridge to Lianchi Zen Temple and saw Chen Fei's Water Tomb. Later, we walked to the residential area of the ancient town and sat by the shore listening to elderly locals chat about their daily lives. Though we couldn't understand their dialect, I hoped I could have such a lifestyle when I'm older. Around ten o'clock, we returned to the ancient town and found a teahouse where we quietly enjoyed tea while listening to the owner livestream and share tea knowledge - truly the relaxed lifestyle that working people dream of. We stayed at the Xingcheng Hotel just outside the ancient town, only steps away from it. We enjoyed white-cut chicken and steamed white fish at Manjianglou Restaurant, along with silver fish with scrambled eggs. We also tried the crispy chicken from the ancient town and sock-bottom pastries from Xiao Mao's. The prices were reasonable and everything was delicious. So, Jinxi is perfect for working people to escape and unwind for a short time, away from the crowds.