The torch passed through South Lake like this

These days, more than 2000 torchbearers from the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou are presenting the story of "poetry and painting of Jiangnan and vibrant Zhejiang" to the world through relay work. Previously, the person in charge of the Hangzhou Asian Games Torch Relay Command Center introduced that overall, this torch relay will comprehensively consider the correlation between the torchbearer and relevant points on the relay route, allowing people with stories to run in places with stories.

On September 10th, the flame of the Asian Games passed through the revolutionary holy land of Nanhu. 33 years ago, the Beijing Asian Games torch relay also entered Jiaxing. The South Lake Island, where red boats were moored, was the last stop of the torch relay. Waiting on the island are a group of energetic Young Pioneers. The youth of the past is now at the age of forty, and Jiaxing City, which was then crowded within the city's surrounding river, has also grown into a modern city.

Smoke and rain on the rooftop, where there used to be a starry fire. What kind of route is the torch crossing South Lake again? What kind of unknown story does it have?

Panorama of Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province

The Jiaxing transmission route is divided into three major chapters: "Jiangnan Ancient Charm", "Centennial Charm", and "City of Vitality", with a total length of 8.8 kilometers. The starting point is located at the Zicheng Ruins Park Square. In September, the sub city was covered in thick shade. As the national flag and the flag of the Asian Olympic Council floated in the azure sky, the first Olympic champion of Jiaxing, Wang Yilu, lit the torch here.

Why is the starting point a sub city? Taking a fire from the Liangzhu Ancient City Site Park, the torch symbolizes the light of civilization. Zicheng, spanning thousands of years, was first built in the Three Kingdoms period. It is a rare, well preserved, and well-developed site of county, state, and government offices in China, witnessing the changes of Jiaxing city and serving as a window for understanding Jiangnan culture.

The Ming Dynasty stone lion facing the city gate was once praised by netizens as the "most beautiful appearance of love"; The mottled old city walls are left with traces of gunsmoke, and the road is endless for prosperity and decline; During the Song Dynasty, Zhang Xian, a "civil servant" in Jiaxing, added a touch of melancholy with the phrase "clouds breaking through the moon and flowers playing shadows"... Jiaxing's temperament and the charm of Nanhu Lake float among the profound historical scales of thousands of years.

Choosing the starting point in Zicheng is not only for looking back, but also for looking up from afar. Zicheng is located on the central axis of Jiaxing's central urban area. The solemn ancient architecture has merged with the vibrant city, and the beautiful Nanhu misty rain and emerging Hecheng style are within reach.

Beside Zicheng, the Ring River connects to the Grand Canal. As a must pass route for the Asian Games torch, the Huancheng River is an excellent place for people to search for nostalgia and poetry, and is also a part of the Jiangnan Canal of the Grand Canal of China.

Every time you walk, you will always encounter the ancient charm of the water town and the fireworks of the canal. Amidst the swaying shadows of trees on both sides, scenic spots such as Xiexi Street, which floats with the fragrance of roasted wheat, the most prominent Three Pagoda Road, and the Moon River Old Street, which "unfolds a bowl of fireworks in the world," are dotted with it. Along with the sound of oars and sails on the river, they nourish the gentle water town culture.

Every few glances, one can always encounter the poetic and charming charm of Zhong Lingyu and outstanding people. The towns of the Tang and Song dynasties, the neighborhoods of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the 18 ancient towns scattered along the river, shimmer with the brilliance of the times in the continuous water arteries. Shen Zengzhi, a modern Confucian scholar, Zhu Shenghao, a Shakespearean drama translator, Wang Huzhen, a water conservancy expert, and Shen Junru, a patriotic and democratic figure... As the torch marched, it seemed to be clapping hands with historical figures.

Jiaxing citizens cheer and cheer for torchbearers on both sides of the road

"The joyous floats are particularly eye-catching, and the female workers of Jiaxi Union dressed in silk clothing showcase the achievements of Jiaxing's silk industry development..." This is a live commentary during the Beijing Asian Games torch relay in Jiaxing 33 years ago.

At that time, two floats from Jiaxing Silk Company participated in the parade, one showcasing Jiaxing Silk Textile Factory and the other showcasing Jiaxing Silk Knitting Joint Factory. The Jiaxing Silk Mill remains a major milestone in this torch relay, but many people may no longer recognize it because it is fashionable and beautiful today, with a trendy name - "Nanhu Tiandi".

No. 48 Nanhu Road, facing Huxin Island across the lake, is the original site of Jiaxing Silk Mill. This old factory, born in 1921, has once again become a new landmark of Jiaxing after experiencing national salvation, state-owned enterprises, mixed restructuring, industrial relics, and the current rebirth of Nirvana. Feng Lin, a "post-95" torchbearer at the "South Lake World" site, also participated in the ceremony to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, and participated in the torch relay in the witness place of the great changes in her hometown. She said frankly that she was kind and proud.

Here, it is both tall and down-to-earth. More than 50% of the brands are the first to enter Jiaxing, with an average daily passenger flow of over 150000, becoming a gathering place for Jiaxing's "consumption vitality". This not only retains the weight of the old Jiaxing, but also highlights the vitality of the new Jiaxing.

In fact, vitality has become one of the most recognizable words in the story of Jiaxing. Jiaxing, once known for its light industry, now has the ability to challenge cutting-edge technology. "The torch represents both hope and responsibility, just like our scientific research work." Gou Peng, a researcher at Nanhu Laboratory, took the baton and ran, saying that he wanted to hand over the answers of our generation of young researchers in the "bottleneck" project and technology.

Continuing forward, to the south of Nanhu is Jiaxing Sports Center. Canoeing national team athlete Li Dongdan is waiting on the south side of the sports center. This "95s" Jiaxing girl, born in Qianmatou Village, Xiuzhou District, grew up on the banks of the Grand Canal, will compete for the Asian Games stage and strive to achieve good results at the "doorstep" of the competition.

In recent years, sports talents have been constantly emerging in Jiaxing, and Jiaxing athletes have also won glory for their hometown on a higher stage. Even in rural areas, sports are still hot. Xu Jiadai, known as the "number one baseball village in China," played baseball on the international stage by rural children; The "Wang Chao" in Xiuzhou Wangdian has an international standard stadium; The "Mountain Cycling Race" in Haiyan Nanbei Lake is getting hotter every year

Zhejiang Jiaxing Nanhu Scenic Area Nanhu Revolution Memorial Hall III

A thousand miles away from my homeland under the moonlight, I stand alone at the Yanyu Tower in Jiaxing. The South Lake water has always been filled with the belief of patriotism and family. With the theme of "Red Boat Navigation, Building Dreams for the Future", the Asian Games torch crossing South Lake is a path of faith that inspires the original aspiration.

The Nanhu Revolution Memorial Hall is an important stop for this torch relay.The museum was built to commemorate the closing of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Nanhu. The original site was located at the Yanyu Building on the central island of Nanhu Lake, and the new museum is now a third-generation building.

A red boat, a holy land, a mission - the story of faith is passed down along the way. In front of the Nanhu Revolution Memorial Hall, the red preacher Yuan Jing took the torch and ran from her own unit to the next leg. "From the misty rain on a red boat to the towering ship, a big party was born on a small boat..." Over the past 20 years, she passionately told the story of a big party and a small boat.

In 1921, representatives of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China secretly transferred to Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing to light the red flame for China. Jiaxing Railway Station, Xuangongqiao, Chunbomen, Shizihui Ferry, Yuanhu Hotel... The road they have walked on has now become a major one to revisit in the new era.

There is a section of the Asian Games torch relay route that almost overlaps with the "Yida" route. The brick red old station building, which was rebuilt in a 1:1 ratio, is solemn and dignified with the shade of green trees. Listen attentively, as if you can still hear the echo of the train whistle that year.

As the city of charm, vitality, and roots is passed down, Jiaxing is changing its appearance. The torch ignited in Zicheng not only traversed the history of Jiahe, but also demonstrated the power of faith, igniting the fervent expectations of Jiaxing people for the Asian Games.