Ink-Wash Hongcun | Old Dreams, New Charm, Still Captivating

After several years, I stepped into Hongcun again, just a short 10-minute taxi ride from Banyan Tree Huangshan. The familiar ink-wash scenery remains that indelible Jiangnan painting in my heart. As I entered the village, South Lake greeted visitors with its iconic beauty. The lake, mirror-like, clearly reflected the ancient houses, weeping willows, and distant mountains along its banks. Students sat scattered by the shore, their easels set up and brushes lightly moving, capturing the ink-wash world before them—becoming the most vibrant and beautiful stroke in this flowing masterpiece. This crescent-shaped pond, known as the "Ox's Stomach," was bathed in the golden glow of sunset, gently illuminating the surrounding Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. The sky and earth seemed symmetrically folded, blurring the line between reality and reflection. Compared to years ago, Hongcun has indeed added some new touches—delicate Huizhou-style architectural fridge magnets, small fish lanterns that light up at night—tempting visitors to take a few home. What draws people to the Old Times Café is undoubtedly its viral photo window. The ancient wooden window frames a natural picture: Huizhou alleyways, mottled white walls, bluestone-paved paths, and the occasional passerby. Sipping a cup of rice wine 🍶 by the window, I became part of the painting myself. Has Hongcun changed? Yes, with more exquisite little shops and visitors seeking photo spots. But has it really changed? Perhaps not. South Lake’s reflections remain ethereal, the dusk at Moon Pond as intoxicating as ever, and the bluestone paths still bear the weight of time. It remains that poetic haven where hearts instantly quiet, as if stepping straight into an ink-wash painting.