In Europe, towns scatter like countless jewels on the land. Some nestle against mountains, some adjoin lakes, and others stand side by side with vast forests to wake up with robins. Living in such towns, people take every breath of air as inspired by their love for nature.

While in Zhejiang, the lifestyle in towns grows out of people’s affection for the hustle and bustle of cities. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, in particular, has witnessed prosperity with numerous Venetian houses on the banks since thousands of years ago. With the sound of sculling, merchant ships on the canal carry people’s hopes to and fro, while the music of Chinese opera lingers in the pavilions where the fragrance of tea fills the air, presenting a lifestyle of easy grace. Wisps of smoke rise from chimneys and lights are turned on in the comfort of homes … Thousands of years elapsed like this without changes, as if there has been an agreement between time and the people here.

Relentless hustle and bustle become a dream of the ancient towns, while the dream goes on to bring Zhejiang a touch of charming tenderness.