Wandering in Songyang: A reflection of time in a quiet ancient village

On a morning in early spring, I stepped into Songyang County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, a small town that has been treated gently by time. The first stop of the journey is Chenjiapu, an ancient village hidden in the mountains. Chenjiapu is not like those overdeveloped tourist villages. It is quiet, ancient, and has a stubborn sense of time. The bluestone road winds around, with mottled old wooden houses on both sides. Zhongxiandi, Dexingdi, Dexindi...the ancient houses stand silently, as if they still retain the breath of the former owner's family. There are not many people in the village. Occasionally, a few old people sit at the door to bask in the sun. When they see us, they just smile and nod, as if we are just passers-by in the scenery. In the afternoon, the sun became warmer and we headed to the Heyang Ancient Residences. The ancient buildings here are more completely preserved, with exquisite layouts and exquisite brick carvings and wood carvings. Different from the quiet and aloof Chenjiapu, Heyang has a more lively atmosphere. Children's laughter could be heard from the old houses from time to time, and the smell of soy sauce and firewood wafted through the alleys. Standing in front of the window of an old house, I looked at the sunlight shining on the roof tiles, and my thoughts drifted back to the bustling daily life a hundred years ago. These ancient villages are not just tourist destinations, but more like an opened scroll of history, slowly telling the story of the years in the wind. This trip to Songyang was not full of noise, just time flowing quietly.