The Top 9 Water Towns and Villages in China
When you want to travel around China, visiting the famous water towns is a good option to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and work. Here we present some of the most famous water towns in China, which are worth visiting to appreciate their beautiful and charming landscapes.
1. Tongli
Tongli is located next to Taihu Lake, with a history of more than a thousand years. The town is home to hundreds of gardens, temples and residences built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is known for its bridges, waters and houses. Among them, the Retreat and Reflection Garden was included in the list of World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
This beautiful riverside town typically shows the image of Suzhou in its heyday. All the houses face a network of crisscrossed canals, with dozens of stone bridges and a constant movement of transport boats. Some buildings are open to the public, such as Jiayin Mansion, former residence of the famous early 20th century actor Liu Yazi, known for his unique collection of gauze hats. The Retreat and Reflection Garden is also a place worth visiting, being a classic garden from the late Qing era.
2. Zhujiajiao
Zhujiajiao is located in the Qingpu district of Shanghai. Along both sides of the river, there are nine ancient streets and thousands of residences, among which the North Street, known as the Straight Street (Yixian Street), stands out, which is the first well-preserved street of the buildings of the dynasties. Ming and Qing. From the Fangsheng Bridge in the east to the Alley in the west, they are typical Jiangnan streets. Other must-sees include Cimen Temple, Tai'an Bridge, Zhuxi Garden and more.
3. Wuzhen
Wuzhen is located in Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, with excellent geographical location connecting Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai. It has a thousand-year history and is known as the last aquatic home of China. Due to its excellent geographical conditions and pleasant climate, it is known as the town abundant in rice and fish, as well as the cradle of silk. Since November 19, 2014, it has become the permanent headquarters of the World Internet Conference.
People usually visit the eastern and western areas, especially the western area. Popular attractions include Jiangnan Hundred Bed Pavilion, Museum of Folk Customs, Wenchang Pavilion, and Mao Dun House.
4. Zhouzhuang
Zhouzhuang is located in Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, and was declared a historical and cultural town in 2003, being a valuable heritage to display the water culture of Jiangnan. This small town, located on the banks of the Grand Canal between Suzhou and Shanghai, used to be a prosperous trading port for silk, ceramics and grains. Scholars and officials flocked here, and during the Yuan and Qing dynasties they built beautiful bridges and residences. The old town can be explored on foot or by boat through the canal. Highlights in the village include the Zhang Residence, with 70 rooms, the Shen Residence, with 100 rooms connected to the main building, and Chengxu Temple, a Taoist shrine from the Song Dynasty.
5. Xitang
Xitang is located at the confluence of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai provinces, and belongs to Jiashan county in Zhejiang province. Due to its fertile land, abundant production and temperate climate, it has become one of the cradles of the Wuyue culture. Xitang is one of the most important historical and cultural sites in China, large and well preserved. Highlights include the Ni Residence, Shipi Alley, Huanxiu Bridge, and Xitang West Garden.
6. Luzhi
Luzhi is located in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, and is an ancient city with more than 2500 years of history. Rivers, bridges, alleys, residences and sculptures abound here. This ancient town is surrounded by lakes, such as Cheng Lake, Jinji Lake, Dushu Lake and Yangcheng Lake. Famous places include Baosheng Temple, Jiangnan Cultural Park, Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall, and Shen Residence.
7. Nanxun
Nanxun is located in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, famous for raw silk from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is an ancient city of Jiangnan with both Eastern and Western architectural and cultural resources, enjoying the reputation of being a cultural sanctuary. It can be divided into three parts: the first is the central visiting area, such as Zhang Shiming's Residence; the second is composed of the Small Lotus Garden, the Jiaye Hall and the Wen Park. The latter includes the Residence of Zhang Jingjiang and the Garden of Hundred Plants.
8. Jinze
Jinze is located on the shore of Dianshan Lake, west of Qingpu area, and is the western gate of Shanghai. At the same time, Jinze is famous in Shanghai for its bridges, with distinguished calligrapher Qian Juntao calling it incomparable in the world. In addition, Jinze ancient town is a sacred place of Buddhism, especially Yihao Temple, built in the Song Dynasty, is famous in Jiangnan for its 5,048 impressive buildings. You can't miss the Tahui Bridge, Linlao Bridge, Puqing Bridge, among others.
9. Mudu
Mudu, also known as Duchuan and Xujiang, is located in the Taihu Lake valley. Not only is it a scenic area with the reputation of being the first town in Wuzhong and the most beautiful town in Jiangnan, but it is also known as the home of traditional Han ethnic crafts. Guanwa Pavilion is the first imperial garden in the top of the mountain, and Mount Lingyan is famous for Chinese Buddhism. In addition to the above, the Yan Family Gardens, Hongyin Residence, and Ancient Pine Park are also interesting places.
