The city's eclectic style takes one's breath away - Byzantine stone walls, Ottoman minarets, and Roman aqueducts all jostle together, as if the entire world has been stuffed into a pocket, and every shake reveals a story.

The sea breeze from the Bosphorus, carrying a salty scent, gently caressed us, ushering us into this living museum

Geographically, the strait separates the two banks, while in daily life, they are two distinct halves.

The Bosporus divides the city into two, with the west bank being Europe and the east bank being Asia.

The ferry slowly moved forward, as the minarets and tall buildings on both shores lit up one by one, as if engaged in a silent conversation.

The respiration of the old city

From the ferry terminal, you can see the dome of Hagia Sophia within ten minutes' walk.

This 1,500-year-old marvel, which once served as a church, a mosque, and a museum, has now reverted back to being a mosque.

Under the dome, the mosaic paintings shimmer with golden radiance in the sunlight. The "Madonna and Child" mosaic is the most stunning. The blue robe of the Virgin Mary is made up of Venetian glass fragments from the 16th century. Under the sunshine, the entire painting seems to breathe.

After leaving Hagia Sophia, the six minarets of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque stand quietly, with the tiles as blue as the reflection of the Mediterranean Sea.

The six minarets are unparalleled in the world, representing the pride of the Ottoman Empire. Under the glow of the setting sun, the six minarets cast six beams of light and shadow, akin to six harps playing an eternal symphony for the city.

Walking west from the Blue Mosque, you can see the tall walls of Topkapi Palace.

In this 400-year-old Ottoman palace, the Sultan's golden crown, adorned with 3,000 diamonds in the treasure room, reflects a rainbow-like glow when the sun shines on it.

The harem is a hidden treasure: Persian roses bloom in the garden, and there are cat paw prints in the cracks of the stones - the cat owner was once a frequent visitor to the harem.

As you head south towards the Topkapi Palace, the stone arches of the Basilica Cistern, a palace of underground water, come into view.

In the dark room supported by 336 stone pillars, the water surface reflects the stone pillars, making it feel like entering Alice's Wonderland.

Resonance between water and light

Departing from Topkapi Palace and sailing down the Bosphorus, this is the best way to understand the soul of this city.

Boarding the ship at sunset, the lights of palaces on both shores are lit up one by one, as if a carpet of diamonds had been scattered across the ground.

After reaching the strait demarcation line, the ship entered Asia from Europe. The sea breeze gently caressed the ship's hull, and the waters of the Golden Horn Bay transformed the minarets of the mosques into shimmering golden patches.

The ripples stirred up by the stern of the boat resemble a flowing Milky Way.

After getting off the boat, we entered the Fatih District, where there is Istanbul's "Lulu Cat Cafe"

The orange kittens lazily lounged on the wall, the sun shining on them, making their fur shine. Seriously, this place is a cat's paradise.

After leaving Fatih, the Valens Aqueduct spans the street, resembling a Roman-era rainbow.

The ancient dragon bone, which provided water to over a hundred thousand citizens 1,500 years ago, has now become a must-visit spot for cats and tourists.

Sunlight shone through the arches, casting elongated shadows, as if we could see Roman soldiers carrying buckets walking by, their footsteps blending into the wind.

Istanbul doesn't leave you speechless in shock, but rather, it makes you suddenly realize that life can be so simple while you're walking around.