Tonight, Mom suggested going to the new Zhanqiao to watch the sunset. I had spent the afternoon stuck on bugs in an Android app and felt I probably would not solve them by evening, so we agreed to go out at night.
The new Zhanqiao was completed only last year, and I had no idea what it looked like. The last time I went to the seaside with my family was five or six years ago. I was still in middle school then, not that busy yet, but through high school and two years of university I had not gone back even once.
We set out at 6:30 in the evening. After five, my sister called and said she was coming home tonight, so the whole family could go together. After we arrived, she bought me two teppanyaki squids.
The sky was still bright this evening, and the sunlight was warm without being harsh. Walking on the new Zhanqiao, I saw fish painted along the path. I sank into the freshness of the sea breeze and the sound of waves striking the shore. Children ran around excitedly. Under the bridge, people carried lamps and buckets to dig for clams. Adults strolled at ease, chatting and enjoying the quiet moment. We also saw three deaf-mute people communicating in sign language.
Comparing what I saw along the way with my memories, I was amazed by how much Huangdao had changed. I remember that when I was in primary school, the seaside had only a low stone railing, and an old man was often there watching the shore; you could ask him about the tide times. Now the coast has new parks, naval sculptures, a hospital, a university, and broad roads. In a way, I have witnessed the traces of the city’s development.
The sun slowly sank, and the color of the sky shifted from bright blue to warm orange. On the sea, reflected sunlight made the water glitter like a layer of scattered gold. We quietly watched the sun disappear little by little beside the mountain, until the last line of light was swallowed by night.
After sunset we stayed a little longer, took some photos and videos, and then the whole family headed home with a sense of satisfaction and calm.
I hope that one day I can watch a sunrise by the sea.
