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Legendary story reflects Hangzhou’s magical charm
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HANGZHOU boasts of its glorious past. Over its 4,000 years of history, the city has been home to tons of notable figures, who flow like the southern reaches of the Yangtze River into Chinese civilization.
The literary temperament and traditions of Hangzhou long ago imprinted on my mind, and last year, intensified on my visit to the city with my mom. She was excited and proud to see the Leifeng Tower and the Broken Bridge, built in remembrance of the classic fairy tale “Legend of the White Snake.”
A television show based on this legend, once released, turned a hit overnight. I, then a primary school student, would go visit my neighbor who owned a television set, a rarity at the time, to watch every episode, before coming home relating it to my mom. She soon grew into a tireless fan of the show herself. She never expected she would climb up the tower, cross the bridge, and see these places with her own eyes.
The popularity of the show is completely reflective of the core Chinese family values of loyalty and commitment.
The story goes like this: a snake transformed into a woman meets a man on the Broken Bridge. They fall in love at first sight and get married. Later, a monk discovered the woman’s identity and separates the happy couple. Eventually, the pair are reunited.
Hangzhou is unique for its beauty and romance. Hangzhou’s beauty extends from ancient times into today. Strolling along the neat banks of West Lake on a sunny day, you feel the cool under the willow trees. Basking in the soft glow of the setting sun, you breathe in its romance from the pervasively pleasant air. People sit around under pavilions, in the middle are middle-aged singers. They exhibit a relaxed look and lifestyle. To them they seem to be free and insulated from the inconveniences of life.
Hangzhou stands modern and new. Its city beat is not that fast or competitive as cities like Shanghai, but that does not overshadows its luxury and elegance in low-key style, if you observe the densely arranged fancy stores and cafes around the West Lake area. The city is filled with the taste of life. It is not so commercial and indifferent in the minds of tourists and locals, nor that pressured by markets or industrial modern forces of any kind. It’s a city where you may have a slow heart and lead a slow-paced lifestyle.
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