Meihuazhou is a millennium historic town in Jiaxing City, where people can enjoy the slow time in south china, little has been known about it

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The place near water is apt to develop the poet in man. Not only because of the abundance of water in south china, but also Jiaxing City is near the canal, along the way, the names I hear are full of poetry, pondering is boundless — Meihuazhou Scenic Area is one of them.

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Meihuazhou Scenic Area is located in Fengqiao Town, the largest town in Nanhu District, Jiaxing City. The place name of Meihuazhou had a long history and continued to use till present since the Ming Dynasty. Meihuazhou is divided into five petals due to the twists and turns of large and small rivers, when viewed from above, it is like a plum blossom, so it is called the “Plum Blossom Chau”.

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Meihuazhou has a history of over 1500 years. After 1500 years of wind and rain vicissitudes of life, here is still well preserved and has been nothing short of a miracle. Today’s Meihuazhou, many buildings have been refurbished, in the scenic area, people can also see the 1500 year old stone buddha temple, millennium ginkgo tree, the old houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and so on.

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The buildings in the scenic area are built along the river, the five-petal land is connected by tiny bridges, white walls and gray tiles, endless green trees, endless flowing water, little boats shuttle on the river, Meihuazhou has the mostdistinctive features of Chinese Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze River) town.

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Being in the south of the Yangtze River is always surrounded by greenery, the scenic area is full of vitality as far as the eye beholds. The grass grow thicker, the trees grow taller, on this ancient lands with thousands of years of history, there is delicate and beautiful solidification, there is also free and wild growth.

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Although the long covered bridge supported by large logs is newly built, it retains an ancient cultural atmosphere. Meihuazhou Scenic Area does not have a great many tourists and noisy bars, it gives a feeling of ancient and tranquility.

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Surrounded by green trees, the waterfront landscape is beautiful, as into the picture of the beautiful and charming scenery of water villages in Jiangnan. The refreshing river flows quietly, the clean and tidy courtyard is quiet and peaceful, varying shades of blue also makes an impression.

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The bridge always means the connection to two places, being passed through as a medium, rather than a destination. Therefore, the bridge also has special lingering charm, it is not a full stop, but it is full of unknown ellipsis. There are many kinds of bridges over the rivers in Jiaxing City, whether it is old or newly built, these bridges have longevity because they are memorable for one reason or another.

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Meihuazhou is also the birthplace of Majiabang Culture, Songze Culture and Liangzhu Culture, because of its rich natural and cultural resources, it is now also a popular science education base, the river water ripple under the bridge, the small boats lie at the bank, the water village green sends out magical powers to make everyone ecstasizing. Not far away, there is a glimmer of light in the sky, the sunshines brightly through the pure and fresh air. Everything is so quiet, this almost makes one wish that time is stopped and this moment is frozen.

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The famous Two Bridges in Three Steps in Meihuazhou. According to legend, when Stone Buddha Temple was completed, the two rivers in front of the temple blocked the way for going to temple pilgrimages, therefore, the monks built two bridges at the intersection of the two rivers, since people who came down the first bridge only walked three steps on the second bridge, therefore, it is called the “Two Bridges in Three Steps”. According to legend, this bridge has a history of more than 1250 years and is one of the remaining ancient buildings in the scenic area.

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The Stone Buddha Temple was built in the reign of Emperor Suzong of Tang (757 AD), It is said that the villagers were farming here and dug up four stone Buddha statues with a grin, therefore, the temple was built and named “Stone Buddha Temple”.

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There are so many bridges in the south of the Yangtze River, the never-ending bridges, people never get tired of walking on the bridges, the small and exquisite bridges stand lightly above the rivers. The people walk by on the bridge, the boats shuttle back and forth under the bridge, the scenery of the water village quietly breaks into everyone’s dreams.

Liu li

Liu li

a freelance photographer, based in Taiwan.

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