ur destination of this journey is the water culture museum of Pujiang River with the name of “Chun Shen Tang” written in elegant calligraph above the gate of the building. It stands amongst verdant trees inside a park located on a shoal of land in the middle of the river, from which Pujiang River unleashes its flow westwards. The museum “Chun Shen Tang” features “water culture”. Image of water is considered the incarnation of loftiness and integrity in traditional Chinese culture, which is shown by the couplet at the entrance to this museum of previous literati creation. Though the literal meaning is somewhat opaque to me, the couplet did convey me the message how water has nourished the land and the people and how we should be grateful.

This museum has been open to welcome visitors from all around the world since year 2014. On arriving at the gate of this museum, the first thing that comes to our eyes is the classic design of the building with a touch of modernity. The ebony curved roof and the brown wooden pillar being quite nostalgic, bright glass windows that stand straight betwixt those pillars are showing the unique sense of modern confidence and vigorousness. Into the hall, we are presented a picturesque wood carving telling the story of the water and men of the old times. The inside of this museum has extensive explorable room because of the underground area for visiting. Also, two subordinating halls on two sides of “Chun Shen Tang” also provide exceptional exhibition about water culture. In memorial of the great achievements on water projects of ancient celebrities such as Huang Xie and Lin Zexu, the exhibition gives every visitor the culture information by vividly presenting it through various modern technological methods such as 3D projection and online introduction. We have all learned something while enjoying the pleasure of visiting.

This day is suitable for visiting a place like this, sun high up in the blue sky with a few strips of light cloud. We step into a place looking like the yard or garden of the previous hall, with water streaming its way beneath a little stone bridge of antique gracefulness. With verdant trees and flowers dancing in the breeze, this delta does resemble the origin of a river of such greatness and nourishment. This spot is actually marked as the “0 point” of Pujiang River. On the other side, the vision is quite different. There stands a venerable pagoda where the god of river is believed to be confined. A status of awe and graveness in the image of a dragon seems to be telling the power of water and nature. The waving water keeps pushing towards the shore, making splashing sound onto the crags.

Towards evening, our trip comes to an end as the sun turns dimmer. Its reflection on the water surface breaks into pieces with waves pushing onwards. As a representative symbol of the local color of Songjiang, Shanghai, the museum and all others are very much impressive. Water culture is transmitted to every tourist explicitly by the display in the museum, and implicitly through the whole picture of nature and man combined.