Shanghai Village Cafe 15｜Liyao Village, Didn't Expect Weekend Traffic Jams

Last autumn, Liyao Village was truly bustling. The golden rice fields and fiery red persimmon trees outside the village cafe attracted many young ladies to strike poses. Half a year later, I thought the hype might have cooled down, so I visited on a weekend. Wow! To my surprise, the popularity remains—the hundred-meter-long parking strip along the main road into the village was completely packed. —————————————————— ["Middle" Age Seeks Solitude, Indifferent to Worldly Affairs] I've never been one for crowds, which is why I often head to the countryside rather than the city on weekends. Later, I realized this is a classic middle-aged mindset, seemingly driven by a subconscious desire for inner peace. Yet, after frequent escapes to the open fields, I wonder if I’ve truly gotten closer to the wilderness within—or if I’m just barking up the wrong tree? . When others stumble upon my notes and check my IP location, they might think I’ve somehow turned an international metropolis into an 18th-tier county town filled only with villages, ancient towns, and village cafes. On top of that, my daughter has picked up my "bad" habit. She recently told me she prefers visiting village cafes over our earlier outings—where she’d complain, "Dad, why do you always take me to ancient towns? I’d rather go to amusement parks." When I asked her, "What’s so fun about village cafes?" Her answer: "They have yummy snacks." Apparently, the kiln-baked bread from last time successfully hooked her taste buds. —————————————————— [Village Cafes｜Qingpu VS Fengxian] After visiting Fengxian, it suddenly struck me that, at least in terms of village cafes, Fengxian can rival Qingpu. Take Qingpu's Hemu Village versus Fengxian's Liyao Village—both have thriving rural businesses, with more shops opening over the past two years. While commercial growth brings convenience, too many visitors can erode the unique tranquility of the countryside. . This time, I went to a cafe tucked deeper inside Liyao Village, which was quieter compared to the ones near the entrance. I ordered a snack set with fried chicken, onion rings, and two coffees. The flavors were on point, and the latte was particularly good. . Alright, time to drive another 40+ kilometers back home.