Forgotten Corners Neglected by Tourists! Xiaima Bridge Ancient Town on the Suzhou-Shanghai Border, Han Shizhong Once Stationed Here
Jiangsu Shiqipu Port, also known as Da Shiqipu, is connected to Shanghai Qingpu District Zhao. It extends from Qingpu to the south and north to Kunshan Shiqipu entering the Wusong River. The river runs along the Suzhou-Shanghai border, shuttling through Kunshan and Qingpu areas. Shiqipu extends south 2 kilometers, and there is an Xiaima Bridge Town built on the riverbank. Perhaps hundreds of years ago, ancient people felt that this was a good river, so they built a beautiful town!
The ancient village of Xiaima Bridge retains a 500-meter-long ancient stone road, and there are approximately 5,000 square meters of Ming and Qing buildings, as well as the Xiaima Bridge built by the subordinates of Han Shizhong, a hero against the Jin Dynasty, and Ming and Qing-era filial piety archways, a century-old lychee tree, and a century-old yellow willow tree, which are typical examples of Jiangnan water towns.
The village of Xiaima Bridge is located in the Zhantou Town of Shiqipu Subdistrict. It was formerly called a town and is said to have formed in the middle of the Qing Dynasty, at that time it was a trading hub for nearby areas such as Shanghai Qingpu Zhao. The name of the town is derived from an ancient bridge called Xiaima Bridge. In the 1950s, the ancient town's commerce was still prosperous. Due to its location on the remote boundary of administrative districts, it avoided modern development and preserved the original flavor of the ancient town!
Old street is very quiet, only me a visitor, one person occupied the feeling of a whole ancient town......
There is water, there is people's living environment. People live here every day, inseparable from the water environment. In the old days, no matter what you did, it relied on ships to transport, showing the importance of the river. It formed a market trade gathering place and a river traffic hub, creating an ancient town!
The origin of Xiaima Bridge has different sayings. The annals say: 'When crossing the bridge, 'drive stones to build the bridge, hence named Xiaima''. Another says: During the Southern Song Dynasty, there was a conflict between Song and Jin, and Jin General Wan Yan Wutu led troops to inspect the terrain on Xiaima Bridge. Later, people called this bridge Xiaima Bridge. There is also a saying that Southern Song General Han Shizhong rested his troops here, and because there were plenty of aquatic plants, his subordinates rested here. In order to facilitate the transportation between the east and west of the Suzhou-Shanghai River, a bridge was built on the river, named Xiaima Bridge.
By chance, I found two Xiaima Bridges. The two bridges are located in front and behind, both called Xiaima Bridge! Why is Xiaima Bridge located outside the village and town? Locals say that during the Japanese occupation, the Japanese burned the houses north of Xiaima Bridge. Fortunately, the stone bridge couldn't be burned. It is said that the New Fourth Army fought guerrilla battles in Xiaima Bridge, adding to the brilliant history of Xiaima Bridge.
There are still traces of the past, such as shops, residences, and traffic in the old street. The river flows, houses are next to the river, and the water town's appearance of red walls and gray tiles is full of sight. Because of the terrain, it became a forgotten corner.
