Flowing across time

The Grand Canal serves as an umbilical link that has nurtured the development of Wuxi's Qingmingqiao area from its infancy until today, Li Yingxue reports.

Every week, Feng Qiuxia and her husband visit her 88-year-old mother, who lives in Qingmingqiao, a historical block along the ancient Grand Canal in Wuxi, Jiangsu province. Together, they enjoy solace by the tranquil pier near the Wuxi Kiln Site Museum, where they watch the gentle flow of the river and the lively bustle of passersby.

Feng's mother earned her living firing kilns in her youth, and today, she continues to call this historical haven home.

"Life is much easier now, with better infrastructure and facilities," Feng says.