Xitang Water Town – A Living and Less-crowded Ancient Town near Hangzhou

Xitang Water Town is conveniently located in Jiashan County, about 90 kilometers from Shanghai, 110 kilometers from Hangzhou and 85 kilometers from Suzhou. This historic ancient town was listed as National AAAA Tourist Attraction. It is like an ancient piece of jade, glittering and translucent.

This ancient town has a history with more than one thousand years. As early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring State Period (770-221 B.C.), Xitang was a place of strategic importance on the boundary between Wu and Yue States and it was known as one of the birthplace of Wu and Yue culture. During the Yuan Dynasty (1271~1368), Xitang developed into a prosperous town. And during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368~1911), it was known as an important town for commerce and handicrafts in South China.

What attracts visitors most is the easygoing lifestyle that local residents have followed for thousands of years. Unlike the ancient towns of Zhouzhuang and Wuzhen, Xitang is not a authentic village that people in the town live ordinary and peaceful lives. The simple lifestyle may have disappeared in those now commercialized ancient town, but they fill every lane in Xitang. For travelers from modern metropolises, Xitang is a fantastic place to experience a feeling of simplicity and leisure. Xitang Water Town is like the limpid and melodious music of flute, and Appreciate with your heart!

Xitang is water village crisscrossed by nine rivers, divided into eight sections linked by old-fashioned stone bridges. There are 104 bridges in total. Among them, there are 11 old bridges built in Song Dynasty, including Anren Bridge, Anjing Bridge, Wufu Bridge, Yongning Bridge, etc. While Wolong Bridge, Wuchan Bridge and Songzi Laifeng Bridge built in Ming and Qing Dynasty are also famous. Some are looking like rainbow over the river, and others like long flute. Standing on of these bridges and looking at the traditional boats running through, one feels drawn into deep meditation on the past.

• Wolong Bridge: It is the most famous bridge in Xitang with 31.46 meters in length, 5 meters in width and 5.5 meters in height. First built in Ming Dynasty, it was a wooden bridge that many people slipped and got hurt. One man named Guangyuan had raised money for over 10 years to build a stone bridge for the locals. There are many streak on the stone which look like ripple of dragons.
• Yongning Bridge: it is the best place for photography which is at the conjunction of Ceilinged Corridors and “Qiantang Family”.
• Songzi Laifeng Bridge: It was first built in 1637 in Ming Dynasty. A legend goes that when the bridge almost had been finished, a curassow flew and stopped on the top of the bridge. Hence, it got Laifeng (phoenix coming) Bridge. When the bridge finished, the local residents living near the bridge gave birth to a son that local people called it Songzi (sending a son) Bridge. It is lucky bridge for new couples to wish for sons and daughters.

122 Old Lanes

Many of the shops and old houses in Xitang are built on the riverside. There are a total of 122 lanes, long and short, wide and narrow. The lanes are paved with stone planks, polished by the feet of pedestrians as well as hundreds of years of weathering. Wandering through the old lanes, you are like traveling through the channel of thousand year history, linking your modern life with old stories. You won’t miss Shipi Lane which it is the most famous lane with 68 meter long. It is paved by 216 pieces of three-centimeter flagstone. With the widest point at 1.1 meters and the narrowest point at 0.8 meters, it is hard for two people to get through. When you look up in the sky, you can feel Shipi Lane like “A Thread of Sky”. Moreover, there is the narrowest lane - Yemao Lane near Huanxiu Bridge; Sixian Temple Lane at Beilan Street is the longest lane; the widest lane is around Li Residence and the shortest lane is inside Yuqing Hall, with the whole length less than 3 meters.

Ceilinged Corridors

The ceilinged corridors are the featured architecture in Xitang. It is called ceilinged corridor that means the street with roof. Most of the streets of Xitang are with corridor sheds, making it very convenient for locals and visitors to shelter and rest. Most of the ceilinged corridors are in wooden and stone structure at a width of 2 to 2.5 meters. And the longest is 1300 meters. Travelers can go through ceilinged corridors at Beizha Street, Nanzha Street and Chaonandi Commerce Area.

Traditional Houses, Shops & Exquisite Artifacts

When you take a stroll in this ancient town, you can encounter many historical sites and exquisite artifacts. There are 11 scenic spots including Wuguniang Theme Park & Western Garden, Zhongfu Hall, China Button Museum, Jiangnan Eaves Tiles Exhibition Hall, Root Carving Hall, Huguo Suiliang King Temple, Saint Hall, Ni Residence, Ming & Qing Woodcarving Exhibition Hall, Zui Garden, China Wine Culture Museum. You can cover some or all of them when your time is allowed.

• Running Time: Day Cruise: 8:00 - 17:00; Night Cruise: 17:30 - 20:30; departure every half hours
• Cruise Duration: about half an hour
• Cruise Fare: CNY 20/pp and 150/boat (Each boat is limited to 6-8 passengers)

Taking a traditionally-decorated boat sailing on the water of Xitang is the highlighted experience. You are traveling through the old history of Ming and Qing Dynasties, viewing the black-tiled old houses passing by. The sun glow reflecting on the clear water gives you a feeling of tranquility and antique. Travelers can take boat at the Western Entrance, Eastern Entrance, Laifeng Bridge and Wolong Bridge.

• Western Route: 1. Western Entrance – Tang Family Lane – Laifeng Bridge; 2. Laifeng Bridge – Tang Family Lane – Western Entrance; 3. Laifeng Bridge – Tang Family Bridge.
• Eastern Route: 1. Eastern Entrance – Wolong Bridge; 2. Wolong Bridge – Eastern Entrance; 3. Wolong Bridge – Wolong Bridge.
• Night Route: Laifeng Bridge - Yongning Bridge - Huanxiu Bridge - Laifeng Bridge.

Photography

Xitang Water Town is an awesome place to take many great pictures. No matter you are professional photographers or travelers who love taking photos, there are many things for you to shoot. On a breezy day, shoulder a camera and ramble along the old street and begin your photography journey. The old lanes with the black tiled folk houses, the old bridges over the clear water, the boat sailing quietly on the canal, the misty ceilinged corridor, the bustling shops, the cats and dogs, the local people sipping tea…all can be your subjects. Don’t miss Yongning Bridge which is the hot place for photography to shoot the panoramic water village.

Yue Opera Performance

There is a water stage on the opposite side of Laifeng Bridge, where local people perform Yue Opera from morning till night. With their costumes and the environment of the water town, it gives people a sense of travelling through thousands of years.

Travelers begin your tour at Western Entrance. First take a walk to visit Wuguniang Theme Park (statues, pavilion, platform on the water) to listen to a vivid love story and enjoy farming song; move to Huguo Suiniang King Temple to feel the kindness of Mr. Seven Lord; enjoy the charming architecture and scenery by visiting Zui Garden; take a leisure stroll along ceilinged corridor and pass Songzi Laifeng Bridge; learn about Chinese wine at Chinese Wine Culture Museum; later, get to the Ming & Qing Dynasty Woodcarving Exhibition Hall to enjoy the exquisite wooden carvings of Ming and Qing Dynasties in Jiangnan Area. Take a leisure cruise and enjoy some quiet moment.

After that, try some local snacks and food at West Street. Pay a visit to Jiangnan Eaves Tiles Exhibition Hall to have a basic understanding about the eaves tiles of Ming and Qing Dynasties; enjoy the process of making button at China Button Museum; visit the largest private garden in Xitang – Western Garden and stroll along Shipi Lane and if you like, enjoy the root carving art in Zhangzheng Root Carving Hall.

The weather in Xitang Ancient Town is mild and humid, with four distinct seasons and abundant rainfall. The annual average temperature in Xitang is about 16℃. The hottest month is July, with an average temperature of 27℃. The coldest is in January, with an average temperature of 4.5℃. The precipitation mostly occurs from April to September each year, accounting for more than 65% of the annual rainfall.

Best Time to Visit: Xitang has the most pleasant climate in spring and autumn. From April to May is the most beautiful time in Xitang, taking a walk along the emerald riverside and enjoying the blossom of azalea. The ancient water town is overflowing with vigour everywhere. The rain mists crowned the peaceful town in autumn (September - November), amidst the picturesque southern. Visit Xitang in summer around the sixth month of the lunar calendar, you can taste the local special “June Crab”. After November (except during festivals), is the quietest season in Xitang.

Dressing Tips: Xitang has a big temperature difference between the morning and evening in spring and autumn, so do remember to bring a thin coat with you. Rain gears are also necessary for visiting Xitang in Spring and Autumn. As a water town surrounded by rivers, summer in Xitang is not so hot, but there are plenty of mosquitoes, so don’t forget mosquito repellents. Cotton-padded jackets and thick coats are recommended in winter.

Xitang Water Town itself has no railway station. Travelers can take train to Jiangshan County first and then transfer to Xitang. There are two railway stations in Jiangshan County, one is called Jiangshan Railway Station (12 km to Xitang) and another is called Jiangshan South Railway Station (21 km to Xitang).

• Trains are available from Hangzhou, Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai South, Nanjing, Jinan, Beijing, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Changsha and more cities to Jiashan Railway Station (嘉善站). After arrival, travelers can take bus K210 for about 1 hour to reach Xitang Water Town. If by taxi, it may cost around 40 Yuan for 20 minutes.
• Jiashan South Railway Station (嘉善南站) is the high speed train station that travelers can take G or D trains from Shanghai Hongqiao, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Hefei, Jinan, Beijing, Xiamen, Changsha and more cities to Jiangshan County. After arrival, travelers can take bus K222 for 80 minutes’ transfer To Xitang. If by taxi, it may take half an hour for around 70 Yuan.

By Coach

Travelers may also take a coach to get to Xitang from Hangzhou, Shanghai, Suzhou and Jiashan, etc.

Hangzhou – Xitang: It takes about 2 hours from Hangzhou to Xitang. Travelers can take a long distance coach at Hangzhou Jiubao Bus Station. Every day, there are about 10 coaches running from Hangzhou to Xitang from 07:00~18:00.

Shanghai – Xitang: It takes about 1.5 hours from Shanghai to Xitang. Coaches are available from Shanghai South Long Distance Bus Station and Shanghai Bus Station to Xitang Water Town from 07:30~18:00 every day.

Suzhou – Xitang: It takes about 80 minutes from Suzhou to Xitang. Travelers can take a coach from Suzhou North Square Bus Station at 07:20~17:30 or Suzhou South Gate Bus Station at 07:45~17:55.

Jiashan – Xitang: Jiashan Bus Station has coaches running between Hangzhou, Shanghai, Suzhou, Nanjing, Fengjing, Wuxi, Shaoxing, Ningbo and more destinations. From Jiashan Bus Station, travelers can take the K215/K216 bus to Xiang Water Town, which takes only 25 minutes.

Get around Xitang

No cars are allowed to enter Xitang Water Town, therefore walking is the major way to explore the small water town. Taking a cruise boat is another way to enjoy the beauty of the exquisite town. If you’re tired of walking, you can try rickshaws in the scenic area.

Take Advantage of China Discovery’s Efficient and Valuable Private Car Transfer

If you want to get rid of hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can take a private tour package which covers sightseeing, English-speaking guide and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Xitang Water Town with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on sightseeing.

If you have more questions about Xitang Water Town, please feel free to contact us and our professional travel consultants are here ready to help!

Ticket Package of Xitang Water Town: CNY 100/pp (including Wuguniang Theme Park & Western Garden, Zhongfu Hall, China Button Museum, Jiangnan Eaves Tiles Exhibition Hall, Root Carving Hall, Huguo Suiliang King Temple, Saint Hall, Ni Residence, Ming & Qing Wood Carving Exhibition Hall, Zui Garden, China Wine Culture Museum, etc.)

• Night Ticket: CNY 50/pp and will be available after 15:00
• Opening Time of Scenic Spots in Xitang Water Town: Winter Time 08:00-16:30; Summer Time 8:00-17:00

(Notice: The information given above is only for your reference. For the latest news, please feel free to contact us.)

2. Xitang Accommodation & Where to Stay

Living in Xitang can be far away from the city noise, and enjoy a kind of tranquility. There are three types of accommodation in & around Xitang Water Town, which are modern hotels, inns near the river side and ancient houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Most of the modern hotels are located outside the scenic area, while the most beautiful time of Xitang is in the early morning and late at night. Therefore, if you are planning to spend 1 night in Xitang, the hotels and inns along the riverside and the ancient houses from the Ming and Qing Dynasties in the scenic area are the best choices. There are more than 400 hotels, hostels and inns in Xitang water town, among which Xijiang Holiday Hotel, Qiantang Hotel, Hongtai Hotel, etc. are recommended.

3. Local Snacks

There are some famous dishes in Xitang Water Town, including Braised Baisi Fish, Yellow Rice Wine, Bazheng Cake, “June red” crab, water bean curd, meat braised with lotus, etc. Many hotels can offer nice dining condition with comfortable atmosphere.

Xitang water town is not large, generally travelers only need 0.5-1 days to visit all the essence of the ancient town. Therefore, Xitang is usually arranged as one of the destinations in a series of southern China tours. The most popular route is to travel to Xitang with Shanghai or Hangzhou. If you have enough time, a 6-8 day tour of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, such as Nanjing - Suzhou - Shanghai - Xitang - Hangzhou, is also recommended. Or if you are an ancient town addict, you may try to visit Zhouzhuang, Xitang, Nanxun and Wuzhen together for 4-6 days.

☛ 2 Days Poetic Hangzhou with Xitang Water Town Tour

☛ 3 Days Hangzhou & Suzhou Beauty Tour by High Speed Train

☛ 5 Days Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou West Lake Bike Tour

Some visitors also ride a high speed train to Huangshan to visit the world-famous Yellow Mountain. A Huangshan tour usually takes about 2-3 days around.

☛ 3 Days Huangshan Highlights Leisure Tour

Moreover, it is also a good idea to travel Xitang and other popular destinations in China, such as Beijing, Xian, Yangtze River, Xiamen, Chengdu, Kunming, etc. All our tours can be customized according to your interests, group size, needs, travel time, budget, etc. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us for a personal Xitang tour 2023/2024!