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Wuzhen

Wuzhen lies at the junction of two provinces, three prefectures and seven counties. During the Spring and Autumn period, when the states of Wu and Yue were at war, the King of Wu stationed troops here to guard against Yue invasions, and the name “Wushu” (乌戍) is said to come from this. In the Qin dynasty it fell under Kuaiji Commandery, and in the Tang dynasty under Suzhou Prefecture. The name “Wuzhen” first appears in the 872 Suojing Mingwang Temple Stele, which may mark the beginning of the town's history under the name “Wu.” As one of the six famous water towns of Jiangnan, Wuzhen's four old streets, to the east, west, south and north, cross in a “十” shape, forming a dual-grid layout of parallel river and street, with water and land side by side. Many Ming and Qing buildings survive here, and the old houses built along the rivers, together with the stone bridges spanning them, create the charm of a Jiangnan town of little bridges, flowing water and ancient homes. Xizha's old street is one of the best-preserved Ming and Qing architectural complexes in China. Other highlights include the Xiuzhen Temple Opera Stage, the Shuangqiao (Double Bridge) scenery, the Liangyuan historic sites, and a Tang dynasty ginkgo tree. In short, Wuzhen's beauty is something you must savour slowly, with care.

Dongzha Scenic Area ¥110; Xizha Scenic Area ¥150; combined Dongzha and Xizha ticket ¥190 · 1–2 days

Xitang

Among the Jiangnan water towns, Xitang stands out for its covered walkways and old alleys. The covered walkways are the eaves of houses along the street extended out over the river, supported by rows of round pillars, forming an architectural feature much like a covered bridge; it is also called “yi luo shui” (一落水). Shipi Alley is the emblem of Xitang's old alleys. Originally a passage reserved for the male servants of wealthy households, it has become one of Xitang's sights, a striking sign of how times have changed. Besides the covered walkways and old alleys, Xitang's roof-tile ends and azaleas are also worth noticing. Many Ming and Qing buildings survive in Xitang, so the earliest residential roof-tile ends date to around the late Ming or early Qing. In traditional architecture the roof-tile end was originally a tiny detail, yet it carries a great deal of cultural meaning. Xitang's residential roof-tile ends include the four-plum-blossom eave tile, the spider-web eave tile and the Republic-of-China commemorative coin tile, among others. Xitang families have long grown azaleas, and there are 145 azalea varieties in the town today.

Combo ticket ¥95 (covers Xiyuan Garden, Zhongfu Hall, Button Museum, Roof-Tile End Exhibition Hall, Root Carving Art Museum, Ni Residence, Ming-Qing Woodcarving Museum and other sights). Night tour ticket ¥60 after 17:00 · 1–2 days

Mao Dun's Former Residence

Mao Dun spent his childhood and adolescence in Wuzhen and lived here in his youth. The real-life models for the characters he wrote about can all be found here, and his novels are a faithful portrayal of every aspect of old Wuzhen. Lizhi Academy, in the east of the town, is where Mao Dun studied as a boy. It is now the Mao Dun Memorial Hall and a national key cultural heritage site.

0.5 hours

Digang Ancient Village Scenic Area

Digang Ancient Village has all the water-town charm of Nanxun, yet few visitors come, and it is peacefully quiet. Surrounded by water on all sides, with rivers criss-crossing its streets, its grey-brick, black-tiled walls, weathered by time, reflect the thousand-year history of this village. It fully deserves the praise of the noted writer Shu Yi: “This is the finest town in Jiangnan.”

Nanxun Ancient Town Scenic Area

Nanxun is one of the six famous water towns of the Jiangnan region. Nanxun's founding dates back to the Southern Song dynasty. In modern Chinese history it was also a rare town of immense wealth, its prosperity from farming and sericulture ranking first in western Zhejiang, as the saying goes. Although Nanxun is not far from Jiangsu's ancient towns of Tongli and Zhouzhuang, its architecture differs considerably from theirs. Jiaye Hall (a renowned private library in China) and Xiaolian Villa (a celebrated private garden in Jiangnan) are the most representative sights of Nanxun's old town. Together with the sizeable number of water-town residences in the old town, they have earned Nanxun an outstanding reputation.

Combo ticket ¥85 (covers Xiaolian Villa, Jiaye Hall Library, Zhang Shiming's Former Residence, Liu Family Tihao, Zhang Jingjiang's Former Residence, Nanxun History Museum, Qiushu Lane, Baijian Lou Residences, Guanghui Palace and Wenyuan Garden), available at any of these attractions. Boat ride ¥100 per boat, each boat seating up to 8 people · 0.5–1 day

Xiyuan Garden

Xiyuan Garden's Zhu Nianci Fan Calligraphy Art Museum displays over one hundred fan paintings by master craftsman Zhu Nianci. The Hundred Seals Hall holds one hundred seal stamps carved by seal engravers from China and abroad, depicting one hundred scenes of Xitang, including the Ten Scenes of Pingchuan, the Eight Scenes of Xitang and Xitang's time-honoured brands. Many of the sights' names are captured within these small seals, giving them a distinctive charm.

0.5–1 hour