Walking into the courtyard, a delicate and pleasant fragrance fills the air. Bamboo leaves hang down from the walls, creating a natural curtain. In a clear pool of water, moss-covered turtles leisurely swim around. The flower beds are adorned with a mix of bonsai arrangements, embellished with vines and vibrant green bamboo, creating a small and charming space. This is Niuniu’s “Peaceful Courtyard,” located in Xiaxinzhai Village, Tangxi Town, Wucheng District.

“My real name might not be familiar to everyone, so let’s go with Niuniu.” Over a year ago, Niuniu registered an account on the TikTok platform as “Niuniu’s Nostalgia.” With a focus on traditional culture elements such as Jinhua’s ancient architecture, his videos create an immersive experience that captivates viewers.

Niuniu, who is 49 years old this year, was born and raised in Tangxi. “My father went out to earn a living when he was 18, and he returned only after retiring. After pursuing education, I’ve been working away from home,” shared Niuniu. This is why Niuniu identifies himself as a “second-generation traveler.” He has had various roles including training, journalism, sales, and now he’s a businessman. Years of hard work have finally brought him to a point where livelihood is no longer a concern. Seven years ago, his family of four settled in Singapore.

After years of overseas residence, what remains close to the heart and persistent in dreams is that tranquil hometown. Two years ago, Niuniu returned to his old house, where he paved cobblestones, nurtured flowers and plants, built a gazebo, and revamped the vegetable garden at the entrance of the aged dwelling.

Over the past 20 years, Niuniu has nurtured a profound hobby – exploring ancient villages and historic architecture. Whenever the opportunity arises, he brings his family along to wander through these age-old settlements. Niuniu shared, “Touring these ancient villages across three generations – grandparents, parents, and children – is a form of nostalgia with my father and a means of cultural inheritance with my son.” After extensive travels and observations, Niuniu attempted to capture his experiences through video recordings.

Fueled by his genuine fondness for the historical architecture of his hometown, Niuniu took on the role of operating a TikTok account. He became an enthusiastic promoter of his hometown’s allure, capturing videos of the ancient villages he had explored and presenting them to his audience. From the Yiwu Guyue Bridge from the Song Dynasty to the exquisite Dongyang wood carvings and the historic architectural complex of Zhuge in Lanxi, Niuniu’s videos consistently offer glimpses of the enchanting historical heritage of Jinhua.

The short videos have captured the interest of many online users, sparking discussions about architectural styles and genres in the comments section. Seeing an expanding audience appreciate the ancient buildings of his hometown brings Niuniu a deep sense of contentment. “This shows that traditional culture is deeply ingrained in the Chinese people. I’m proud to share this with many through short videos,” said Niuniu.

“If you don’t walk in the wilderness, you won’t comprehend your own insignificance; if you don’t wander through history, you won’t grasp the brevity of life,” Niuniu remarked. His aspiration is to document 10,000 old houses, explore 1,000 ancient villages, and compile a story of emotions through a decade of journeys. (By Tang Xuyu)

走进院子，一股淡雅的清香扑面而来，竹叶相互掩映从墙垣间垂下，一汪清水里，披着青苔的乌龟漫无目地游着。花坛盆景错落，藤萝翠竹点缀其间，小巧又别致。这就是牛牛的“即心小院”，位于婺城区汤溪镇下新宅村。

“说我本名，可能大家比较陌生，还是叫牛牛吧。”一年多前，牛牛在抖音平台注册账号“牛牛的乡愁”，以金华古建筑等传统文化为主题的拍摄，让人身临其境、流连忘返。

今年49岁的牛牛是个土生土长的汤溪人。“我父亲18岁外出谋生，退休后才回来。我外出求学后一直在外打拼。”因此，牛牛称自己是“游二代”。干过培训，当过记者，做过销售，现在是商人，多年的努力总算让他可以不为生计发愁。7年前，他一家四口到新加坡定居。

侨居海外多年，魂牵梦绕的还是那个生活惬意的家乡。前两年，牛牛回到老屋，铺青石、种花草、建凉亭，改造了老房子门口的菜园。

过去20年，牛牛有个最大爱好——探访古村落和古建筑。在有条件的情况下，他就带着家人去古村走走。牛牛说：“祖孙三代游古村，带着父亲是一种怀旧，带着儿子是一种传承。”走多了、看多了，牛牛尝试着用视频记录所见所闻。

带着对家乡古建筑的情怀，牛牛开始经营抖音短视频账号，化身家乡的美好推荐者，把自己探访过的古村落拍成视频展示给人们。建于宋代的义乌古月桥、精美的东阳木雕、兰溪诸葛的古建筑群……在牛牛的视频中，总能让人看到金华充满魅力的历史身影。

短视频吸引了不少网友，他们在评论区讨论建筑的风格、派别。看到家乡的古建筑被越来越多的人看见，牛牛感到十分欣慰：“这说明传统文化像鲜血一样流淌在国人的血脉中，我能用短视频让更多人看见，很自豪。”

“不在旷野中行走，就不知道自身的渺小；不在历史中神游，就不知道人生的短暂。”牛牛说，他的目标是拍摄10000幢老房子，探访1000个古村落，用10年的游历写一本关于情怀的故事书。（记者 唐旭昱 实习生 黄馨玉 王书怡 文/摄）