A narrow canal runs between old houses and stone bridges, carrying the quiet rhythm of a Jiangnan region waterside neighborhood. /CGTN

Spring has brought blossoms to Xiemaqiao, adding a gentle warmth to the water town. /CGTN

A narrow canal runs between old houses and stone bridges, carrying the quiet rhythm of a Jiangnan region waterside neighborhood. /CGTN

A narrow stone lane stretches between old wooden houses, where light falls unevenly across worn slabs and everyday life moves quietly through the passage. /CGTN

A narrow canal runs between old houses and stone bridges, carrying the quiet rhythm of a Jiangnan region waterside neighborhood. /CGTN

A cat pauses at the entrance of a sunlit alley, adding a small, living detail to the old stone path. /CGTN

A narrow canal runs between old houses and stone bridges, carrying the quiet rhythm of a Jiangnan region waterside neighborhood. /CGTN

Spring has brought blossoms to Xiemaqiao, adding a gentle warmth to the water town. /CGTN

A painter captured weathered walls and tiled roofs, translating the old neighborhood into color and brushstrokes. /CGTN