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And where there is water, there has to be bridges. More than 100 stone arch and beam bridges of different shapes and sizes connect the water town into one entity. Among these thousand-year-old bridges, a prominent one is Songzi Laifeng Qiao. The story goes that crossing it will bring one many sons and daughters.
During the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, Xitang was a commercial town with many shops lining the banks of the river. The roofed corridors of storefronts, extending up to 1,000 m, bear witness to this past. Once a place for trading, they now house shops, hostels, tea houses and restaurants.
After strolling for several hours, I stop by for a late lunch at a restaurant by the water, with a perfect view of the town.
However, I fail to finish it, thanks to its strong flavor.It is time to get back to reality.
It soon starts raining. The entire landscape is veiled in a thin mist with the rainwater falling and disappearing into the river.
The romance of the scene washes over me and I call to the waiter: "Please get me a bottle of the local yellow wine."
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