Nowadays, it is said that there is a new trend of aggregation and integration in Hefei, and there is a joking saying that Hefei is neither east nor west, nor south nor north corners. I am currently in the old urban area of Hefei
In early summer, Hefei is sunny and rainy, and the cool air flows in and out at the corners of the city. This powerful and silent airflow originates from the abundant earth atmosphere, ethereal clouds, and vibrant vitality, as well as from lush green plants, crisscrossing rivers, and scattered lakes, reservoirs, and ponds. At four or five o'clock in the morning, birds of all sizes were chirping happily in the bushes outside the window, as if waking people up from their dreams without stopping. I currently reside in the old urban area of Hefei, located south of the Huancheng River. According to the past, this is a typical southern part of the city. As the city expands, the definition of the south of the city should also be updated accordingly. Due to the relationship between residence and work, I shuttle and move between the new and old south of the city, tirelessly like a ferry rower. No matter where the ferry goes, the sound of birds in the morning always lingers in one's ears. One day, around three or four o'clock in the morning, I woke up to the sound of birds and recorded a few minutes of bird sounds on my phone. The sound of birds is clear and flowing like a mountain spring, pleasant and refreshing, making people feel like they live in the forest. I like listening to the sound of birds. Once possessed, I ran to Science Island early in the morning to watch birds and listen to the sound. Science Island is located in the suburbs, surrounded by water on three sides, and is a prestigious research base. There is a pine forest on the island. That morning, a person walked deep into the shade, and the chirping of birds in their ears was as dense as a net, covering the whole person. The sound of birds is high and low, with some rushing and some soothing, some singing in groups and some singing alone. In the old urban area, there are many magnolia and camphor trees. The Italian poplar, which is disturbed by floating catkins, is gradually being replaced by other tree species. This early spring, when I drove along Mount Huangshan Road, I found that the Sapium sebiferum tree in the middle of the road had not yet grown leaves, while one of the sapium sebiferum trees I took a picture of was full of green. That Chinese tallow plant grows on the roadside of Wuhu, adjacent to Baohe Park. I took pictures with my phone and recorded its changes throughout the day and four seasons. It is not uncommon to see such differences in the same tree species within the same city, separated by five or six miles of road. The riverbank around the city is suitable for walking and taking deep breaths. I was only in my early thirties when I worked by the Huancheng River, which was a time of abundant physical strength. Sometimes after night shift, I turn from Huancheng Road to Tongcheng Road with a few colleagues, find a local restaurant or food stall, and have a chat. At that time, the nightlife in Hefei could not be described as colorful. Today, fashion and artistic atmosphere are becoming increasingly strong, and meticulously drawn check-in points are emerging like mushrooms after rain. From spring to summer, the old town and new streets all become lively. At lobster shops and barbecue stalls, the scene of crowds is recreated. In the darkness, the city is hazy, ambiguous, and meaningful. During the day, its bloodline trembles and ten thousand horses gallop unstoppably. A city is quite like a big tree, bathed in the wind and rain, both realistic and freehand, both similar and different. The people living in it are closely connected with the city, and they will live together for eternity. Hefei is shaping its personality with increasingly strong inclusiveness. Tracing back, it can be inferred that Hefei was the first place where the water flows met. Thanks to the Feishui River and the diversion of the Yangtze River to the Huaihe River, Hefei has been connected to Chaohu Lake and the Yangtze River from ancient times to the present. In the past, people jokingly said that Hefei was neither east nor west, nor south nor north. Nowadays, due to the connection
