Fish mouthYu Zhou, once a bustling wharf, is now submerged in the modern urban jungle of steel and concrete.
Yu Zhou Ancient Town is located at a crucial intersection of water and land transportation, where the waterway leads into Chongqing and out to Hanyang, while the overland route connects to more than ten towns such as Fusheng, Longxing, Shichuan, and Tongjing. In the past, boats were bustling on the river while caravans flowed on the land. According to a special construction report from the Jiangbei County Government in the 25th year of the Republic of China, 'Renli and other towns and markets obtained a large amount of goods from Yu Zhou Tuo.' It was a gathering place for merchants and a hub for the distribution of goods. Many wooden boats used to dock here overnight and set sail at dawn. At the same time, merchants and goods from towns such as Tongjing, Shichuan, Longxing, Shujia, Tianbao, and Fusheng also entered and exited the Yangtze River through Yu Zhou. There were wooden boat gangs, horsedrawn carriages, and mule caravans on the docks, transporting goods for merchants.

Encountering elderly people on the street, they all reminisced about the former prosperity of this place, where shops lined both sides of the road and people bustled about. Now, however, there are only ruins and broken walls. The elder guarding the grain station also recounted the grand scenes of the past. Yu Zhou's grain station was the largest in Jiangbei, with ticket windows crowded with people.

Though there is sadness, there is also a longing for a new life, which is the sentiment of every resident of this once prosperous but now desolate ancient town. The elders also remind me to promote Yu Zhou Ancient Town more, hoping to see it revitalized.