小桥流水人家 (xiǎoqiáoliúshuǐrénjiā): little bridges, flowing streams, village houses

From Ma Zhiyuan's (马致远) Yuan-dynasty sanqu 《天净沙·秋思》: 枯藤老树昏鸦，小桥流水人家，古道西风瘦马。夕阳西下，断肠人在天涯 — 'Withered vines, old trees, evening crows; small bridges, flowing streams, village homes; ancient road, west wind, thin horse. The setting sun goes down; the heart-broken wanderer at the edge of the world.' Often called 'the ancestor of autumn-sorrow verse' (秋思之祖).

usage

The phrase has become synonymous with idyllic Jiangnan towns (Wuzhen, Zhouzhuang, Tongli, Xitang). Widely used in travel writing, real-estate marketing, and poetry about pastoral retreat.