Water towns around Hangzhou

There are numerous beautiful water towns and ancient towns surrounding Hangzhou. Wuzhen is renowned for its quaint streets, ancient dwellings, and rivers. Xitang showcases a vivid picture of life in the water towns of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River with its unique layout of rivers intersecting streets and water and land transportation operating in parallel. Nanxun is quaint and elegant, with small bridges and flowing water. These water towns not only boast a long history but are also rich in natural scenery and cultural landscapes, attracting numerous tourists to experience the charm and flavor of the regions south of the Yangtze River.

1.Wuzhen

Wuzhen, located in Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, is an ancient water town in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River with a history of 1,300 years. It is famous for its unique scenery of small bridges and flowing water, as well as its pink walls and black tiles. The town is crisscrossed by a dense network of rivers and bridges, and residents live by the water, forming a unique lifestyle in water towns. As the hometown of Mao Dun and one of the cradles of Chinese theater, Wuzhen not only possesses a rich cultural heritage, such as traditional arts like Pingtan storytelling and shadow puppetry, but also retains ancient floating markets, river-street landscapes, and traditional water town lifestyles, earning it the reputation of "the last water-side households in China."

Location and Transportation: Wuzhen is located in Tongxiang City, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, about 80 kilometers from Hangzhou. It takes about 1.5 hours to arrive.

Opening Hours: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Ticket Prices: East Gate Scenic Area: 110 yuan/person.
West Gate Scenic Area: 150 yuan/person.

Highlights of the Tour:

1)West Gate: West Gate is the most well-known area in Wuzhen, famous for its exquisite waterways, bridges, and ancient buildings. Main attractions include the Zhaoming Academy, Herbcolor Dyeing Workshop, and Sanbai Liquor Workshop. Visitors can experience traditional handicrafts and folk culture here.
Recommended Route: Entrance No. 1 → Wuzhen Grand Theatre → Mu Xin Art Museum → Herbcolor Dyeing Workshop → Joyous Hall → Zhaoming Academy → Dingsheng Bridge → Fu'an Bridge → Dragon-shaped Field → Matchmaker's Temple → Wuzhen Post Office → Renji Bridge → Ruyi Bridge → White Lotus Tower → Wenchang Pavilion → Nantang Bridge → Water Theatre → Yida Silk Mill → General Wu Temple → Ping'an Bridge → Needlework Street → Warm-hearted Marshal → Floating Market → Xuchang Sauce Garden → Entrance No. 1

2)East Gate: Compared to the West Gate, the East Gate is quieter and more pristine, retaining more of the original flavor of water towns. Here, rivers form streets, streets are connected by bridges, and houses are built along the rivers, forming a unique water town landscape. Main attractions include Mao Dun's Former Residence, Hundred Beds Museum, and Folk Customs Museum. Visitors can gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Wuzhen and the stories of famous people here.
Food: Taste the special snacks, roasted duck with soy sauce, and lotus seeds of Wuzhen, and feel the authentic flavor of the regions south of the Yangtze River.
Recommended Route: Xiangshan Hall → Mu Xin Memorial Hall → Hundred Beds Museum of Jiangnan → Folk Customs Museum → Gongsheng Fermentation Workshop → Hongyuantai Dyeing Workshop → Woodcarving Museum of Jiangnan → Yu Liuliang Coin Museum → Mao Dun Memorial Hall (Lizhi Academy, Mao Dun's Former Residence) → Xiuzhengguan and Ancient Theater → Shadow Puppetry Museum → Huiyuan Pawnbroker's Shop → Exit

2. Nanxun Ancient Town

Nanxun Ancient Town is a water town in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River with rich historical and cultural heritage. It is famous for its exquisite Sino-Western architectural blend and serene water town scenery. The town is crisscrossed by a dense network of rivers and bridges, and residents live by the water, forming a unique water town landscape. As one of the six major ancient towns in the regions south of the Yangtze River, Nanxun not only possesses a deep cultural heritage, such as silk culture and book collection culture, but also retains numerous historic buildings, such as Xiaolianzhuang Garden, Jiayetang Library, and Zhang Shiming's Former Residence. These buildings showcase the unique style and craftsmanship of Jiangnan dwellings during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Location and Transportation: Nanxun Ancient Town is located in Jiaxing City, about 100 kilometers from Hangzhou, with a driving time of about 90 minutes.

Opening Hours:
Peak Season (April 1st to October 31st): 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Off-Peak Season (November 1st to March 31st): 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Ticket Prices: 95 yuan/person

Highlights of the Tour:

1)Gardens and Libraries: Nanxun is renowned for its gardens and libraries. Xiaolianzhuang Garden is its largest private garden and is known as "the First Garden in the South of the Yangtze River."

2)Intangible Cultural Heritage Market: Nanxun Ancient Town regularly hosts intangible cultural heritage markets. Visitors can taste authentic Nanxun cuisine, experience traditional intangible cultural heritage projects, and feel the charm of cultural inheritance.

Recommended Route: South Gate of Nanxun Ancient Town → Xiaolianzhuang Garden (Jiayetang Library) → Zhang Shiming's Old Residence → Cross the Bridge → Liu's Stepped House → Silk Industry Hall → Lunch → Nanxun Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum (East Street) → Hundred-Room Building → North Gate of Nanxun Ancient Town

3. Xitang Ancient Town

The water town of Xitang is a beautiful painting of the regions south of the Yangtze River. The river flows slowly, with stone bridges spanning it, and white-walled and black-tiled dwellings scattered in an orderly manner, presenting a quaint and elegant appearance. The characteristics of Xitang Water Town lie not only in its picturesque scenery but also in its deep cultural heritage and unique folk customs. Here, a large number of ancient buildings such as ancient temples, monasteries, and dwellings have been preserved, and it is also one of the important birthplaces of opera in the regions south of the Yangtze River. Xitang Ancient Town boasts a rich cultural heritage, with various museums and workshops showcasing folk woodcarvings, roof tiles, costumes, buttons, calligraphy, and painting, attracting numerous tourists.

Location and Transportation: Xitang is located in Jiaxing City, not far from Nanxun, about 120 kilometers from Hangzhou, with a driving time of about 90 minutes.

Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Ticket Prices: 120 yuan

Highlights of the Tour:

1)Folk Customs and Night Views: Xitang is famous for its folk customs and night views, known as "the Most Beautiful Night in China." Taking a walk along the river at night and admiring the beautiful scenery of the ancient town under the lights offers a unique experience.

2)Hanfu Experience
Location: Gu Xidong Art Museum (Sixian Temple Lane)
Content: Visitors can put on exquisite Hanfu and take a walk in the ancient town, experiencing the life style of ancient scholars and gaining a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the ancient town.

3)DIY Gaiwan Tea
Location: Liuyunji Teahouse (No. 20, Lane 86, Tangdong Street)
Content: Visitors can choose from a variety of teas such as Jinjunmei, white tea, and Longjing to make their own Gaiwan tea. While tasting tea, they can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the ancient town and feel the leisurely life of water towns in the regions south of the Yangtze River.

4)Button Museum Visit and Button-making
Location: Xitang Button Museum
Content: Xitang is known as the hometown of buttons in China. Visitors can admire over a thousand buttons from the Han Dynasty to the modern era here and have the opportunity to participate in button-making, experiencing the charm of intangible cultural heritage.
Recommended Route: Jijia Lane → Yongning Bridge → Wolong Bridge → Sixian Temple Lane → Viewing Fish in the Flower Pond → Bridge of Sending Sons to Become Phoenixes → Mist and Rain Corridor → Huanxiu Bridge → Shipi Lane → Anjing Bridge → Burning Incense Street → Tangdong Street.