ZhouZhuang

The village of ZhouZhuang is a jewel of history preserved in a land of orgiastic modernism, construction and development. Originally built in 1086, ZhouZhuang has been too often been described as "the Venice of China", "the number one water village of China" and the shining pearl of Shanghai". It is, however, despite the fancy names, truly beautiful, teleportive and fantastic. within moments centuries are washed away. The small village has been well preserved and is renowned for having numerous buildings dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. (Ming Dynasty 1368-1644; Qing Dynasty 1644-1911)

There could be a chronological paradigm if one chose to focus on all the cameras, video cameras and tourist groups scrambling after flag toting guides, but if choosing to ignore and avoid them, it is possible to be immersed and steeped in time and calm.

Washing hangs to dry, shoes are put on windowsills in allies and girls wash each others hair in the river. boats pass by, women sing while paddling. open restaurants sit vacant with fish swimming in tanks, miniature lobster crawling in bowls and vegetables spread out in buckets on the street. Women sit knitting in boats while they rest from a days work. men play cards in allies. in a red plastic bag resting on some stone steps of a bridge three fish flop helplessly and then rest and again flop frantically.

This day, as I imagine thousands of others, passed without incident. Life, like the river, keeps on flowing smoothly.