"The big alleys number three thousand six, the small alleys like cows' hair."
This isn't just a saying; besides having lots of people, the ancient city has the most alleys.
It's truly alleys connected to alleys, alleys within alleys, alleys overlapped with alleys. Some places appear to have a path, but are actually dead ends, and strangers can easily walk into a "dead alley."
In Zhou Jiao's artistic words.
These alleys, long and winding, with no one knowing where the next turn is, are like a lifetime. Where will be the next exit, and where will be the new beginning?
Of course, according to Zhang Guoqing, an alley is just an alley. How can it be compared to the unpredictable life? Walk enough, become familiar, and you'll naturally know them like the back of your hand.
Not to mention if you take a wrong turn, just pull a local resident from those narrow intertwined lanes, and he/she will gladly give you directions.
