Yuantouzhu: A Year-Round Tale of the Pearl of Lake Tai

In the early morning, Yuantouzhu is shrouded in mist, with the lake surface like a mirror reflecting the hazy mountains. Entering through the main gate of Yuantouzhu, walking along the lakeside path, you'll find dew-moistened bluestone slabs beneath your feet while hearing the gentle lapping of Lake Tai against the embankment. Here, there's no clamor, only the rustling sound of wind through the reeds, like the lake whispering. Spring at Yuantouzhu is painted in pink. Thirty thousand cherry trees stretch for miles along the lakeshore. Near Changchun Bridge, cherry blossoms fall like rain in the wind, while beneath the bridge, the clear lake water mingles with pink flower reflections, reminiscent of a scene from a Miyazaki animation. Though I deliberately avoided weekends, I still found myself pushed along by crowds of visitors. I opted to climb to the third floor of the Cherry Valley Viewing Platform, where I could finally maintain a perfect distance from the bustle while overlooking the entire sea of flowers. Summer at Yuantouzhu offers cool respite. We took a bamboo raft out onto the lake at Zhongdu Morning Mist, where fairy islands appeared and disappeared through the rising water vapor. The boatman hummed Wu folk songs as his bamboo pole startled a group of egrets, their wings skimming the water surface, creating rainbow-reflecting droplets in the sunlight. The plain wontons at the island temple became an unexpected delight of the trip, with their thin wrapping and fresh meat filling, dipped in perilla sauce, surpassing even the famous restaurants downtown. The "Ten Thousand Waves Rolling Like Snow" is most magnificent in late fall. Here, I found compensation for missing the mighty tides of the Qiantang River. Strong winds carried waves crashing against the lake embankment, dampening clothes but washing away autumn's languor. I lingered long before the "Embracing Wu and Yue" stone inscription, where moss nurtured by Lake Tai's moisture made the four vigorous characters appear even more ancient. At dusk, we chose to stay at a lakeside guesthouse. Opening the window, Lake Tai's breathing accompanied insect songs into our dreams. The next morning, our host served freshly caught white shrimp wontons, the scallions floating in the hot soup blending with the morning mist outside the window. At that moment, I realized Yuantouzhu's beauty lies not just in its natural scenery, but also in these peaceful moments of everyday life.