Xitang Ancient Town is located in Jiashan County, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, at the junction of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, known as the "Corner of Wu and Yue", and one of the important birthplaces of Wu and Yue culture. The core area of the ancient town covers 1.01 square kilometers, with 250,000 square meters of well-preserved ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is famous for its numerous bridges, lanes and corridor sheds, featuring over 2,000 meters of Misty Rain Corridor, 27 stone bridges and 122 lanes. Its architectural layout retains the traditional style of Jiangnan water towns where people "live by the water", and it is known as a "living thousand-year-old town".
Historical Culture
The history of Xitang can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, when it was the border area between the Wu and Yue states, hence the name "Corner of Wu and Yue". It is said that during the Spring and Autumn Period, Wu Zixu presided over the excavation of Wuzi Pond here, built water conservancy projects, and laid the foundation for the water system of the ancient town. During the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, villages gradually took shape, and residents built houses along the water, starting a life of living by the water.
During the Southern Song Dynasty, Xitang had already formed a market, which developed into a town in the Yuan Dynasty with increasingly prosperous commerce. The Ming and Qing dynasties were the heyday of Xitang, becoming an important handicraft and commercial town in the Jiangnan region, famous for silk, textiles, wine-making and other industries. Historically, Xitang had a prosperous literary atmosphere, producing 19 Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), 31 Juren (successful candidates in the provincial imperial examinations), and 103 people with works handed down, demonstrating its profound cultural heritage.
As a living fossil of Jiangnan water town culture, Xitang completely preserves traditional folk activities, such as the "Red Sun-Drying Festival" on the 6th day of the 6th lunar month and the "Water Temple Fair" during the Spring Festival. Its "corridor shed construction technique" has been included in the list of intangible cultural heritage of Zhejiang Province.
Main Attractions
Misty Rain Corridor
The Misty Rain Corridor is a landmark landscape of Xitang Ancient Town, with a total length of 2,006 meters. It is a roofed street built along the river, composed of more than 100 eaves, which can not only provide shade and shelter from rain but also allow pedestrians to rest, being a unique architectural form of Jiangnan water towns. There are backrest benches under the corridor shed, and a red lantern every 50 meters or so. In the early morning when mist lingers or in the evening when the lanterns are lit, it presents a poetic scene of "misty rain and hazy atmosphere". In the middle section of the corridor, there is the China Button Museum, which displays more than 3,000 button collections from the Neolithic Age to the present, systematically presenting the 3,000-year history of button development.
Shipi Lane
Shipi Lane is known as "the narrowest lane in the south of the Yangtze River". Located in the middle section of West Street, it is 68 meters long and only 0.8 meters wide, with the narrowest part being only 0.6 meters. On both sides are 6-8 meter high fire walls. The ground is paved with 168 bluestones, and it is named "Shipi Lane" because the stone slabs are as thin as skin. The lane is dimly lit, with only a narrow gap at the top for lighting, forming a "ray of sky" light effect, making it a popular spot for taking ancient-style photos. The lane connects the mansions of two wealthy families, embodying the layout wisdom of Jiangnan dwellings with "four waters returning to the hall".
Songzi Laifeng Bridge
Songzi Laifeng Bridge was first built in the 10th year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty (1637) and rebuilt in the 48th year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1709). It is a three-hole stone arch bridge, 38.5 meters long, 4.8 meters wide and 7.5 meters high. There are guardrails on both sides of the bridge. The east guardrail is engraved with the characters "Songzi" (sending children) and the west guardrail with "Laifeng" (bringing phoenixes), hence the name. There are steps in the center of the bridge and slopes on both sides. It is said that newlyweds walking on the east steps can pray for children, and pregnant women walking on the west slope can ensure safety. This bridge is the most representative ancient bridge in Xitang and one of the best places to take photos of water town scenery. The bridge and its reflection in the water form a complete circle, implying "perfection".
Xiyuan Garden
Xiyuan Garden is a private garden of the Ming Dynasty, first built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, covering an area of about 4,000 square meters. It consists of rockeries, ponds, pavilions and towers, embodying the gardening concept of "though made by man, it seems as if created by nature". The garden is planted with ancient trees such as ginkgo and wisteria, and the pond is full of lotus flowers. In summer, the lotus leaves are lush, creating a quiet scenery. There is a Pingtan performance stage in the garden, where classic songs such as "Pearl Tower" and "Jasmine Flower" are performed daily from 14:00 to 16:00. Tourists can enjoy Jiangnan silk music while tasting Xitang green tea (30 yuan/cup). Xiyuan Garden is the filming location of Jay Chou's MV "Wanderer of the World", and its "moon gate framing" scene has become an iconic scene.
Tangdong Street
Tangdong Street is the commercial street of Xitang, about 500 meters long. On both sides are buildings in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with shops on the lower floor and residences on the upper floor. The street retains the traditional pattern of "shop in front and workshop at the back", gathering many time-honored shops such as "Lu's Wonton Shop" and "Qian's Tofu Pudding". At night, the 386 street lanterns are lit, and the red light reflects on the bluestone road, echoing with the reflection in the water, known as "Little Chihiro of Jiangnan". The "Xitang Bar Street" in the middle of the street combines traditional and modern elements, with folk performances at night, making it a good place for young people to relax.
Button Museum
The Button Museum is located in the middle section of the Misty Rain Corridor, originally "Xue's Residence" of the Republic of China period, covering an area of about 500 square meters, with 3 exhibition halls. The museum collects more than 3,200 buttons from the Neolithic Age's bone buttons, to the Shang and Zhou dynasties' jade buttons, Tang Dynasty's copper buttons, Ming and Qing dynasties' buttons, to modern various buttons, systematically showing the evolution of buttons from practical items to decorations. Among them, the Ming and Qing treasures such as "Hundred Sons Picture Buttons" and "Dragon and Phoenix Buttons" adopt hollowing and inlaying techniques, which are exquisite and show the superb skills of Jiangnan handicrafts.
Cuisine
Steamed Pork with Rice Flour
Steamed Pork with Rice Flour is a traditional famous dish in Xitang. It uses local black pork as raw material, cut into 5 cm square pieces, marinated with soy sauce and rice wine for 2 hours, wrapped with glutinous rice flour, then wrapped with fresh lotus leaves, and steamed for 45 minutes. The finished product has a strong lotus leaf fragrance, the meat is fat but not greasy, and the glutinous rice is soft and flavorful. "Dingji Restaurant" at No. 168 West Street is a century-old brand. Its Steamed Pork with Rice Flour is 28 yuan per serving, with a daily sales volume of more than 200 servings, being a must-try specialty for tourists.
Chan Yi Bao Yuan
Chan Yi Bao Yuan (cicada wing wrapped balls) gets its name because its outer skin is as thin as a cicada's wing. It is a unique traditional snack in Xitang. With tofu skin as the wrapper, the filling is a mixture of bamboo shoot dices, minced meat, mushrooms and shrimps, wrapped into 3 cm diameter balls, steamed and drizzled with sesame oil and light soy sauce. The Chan Yi Bao Yuan at "Ming Qing Shi Dai" (No. 35 Misty Rain Corridor) is the most famous, with 10 pieces per serving, priced at 20 yuan. It has a fresh and tender taste, reflecting the "fresh and crisp" characteristics of Jiangnan cuisine.
Qianshi Cake
Qianshi Cake (foxnut cake) is a traditional pastry in Xitang. It uses local qianshi (commonly known as "chicken head rice") and glutinous rice flour as raw materials, added with osmanthus, walnuts, sesame and other auxiliary materials, steamed and sliced. The finished product is off-white, with a soft and chewy taste, sweet but not greasy. "Zhaoda You Cake Shop" at No. 55 Tangdong Street has inherited five generations of craftsmanship. Its Qianshi Cake is an intangible cultural heritage of Zhejiang Province, with 6 flavors including original, osmanthus and walnut. Each box (250 grams) is priced at 15 yuan, vacuum-packed and can be stored for 15 days, being a popular souvenir.
Crab Roe Noodles
Crab Roe Noodles is a characteristic autumn delicacy in Xitang. It uses crab roe from Taihu Lake hairy crabs (each bowl uses crab roe from 3 crabs), stir-fried with ginger shreds and rice wine, then added with stock to make the sauce, poured over hand-pulled noodles. "Qian Miaoyun Restaurant" at No. 18 Tawan Street is famous for its Crab Roe Noodles, 68 yuan per bowl, which is better with sweet water green rice balls (5 yuan each). The restaurant also offers a "crab feast" set meal for two (268 yuan), including dishes such as crab roe tofu and steamed hairy crabs.
Lu's Wontons
Lu's Wontons is a century-old snack in Xitang, founded in 1908, famous for its thin wrappers and fresh fillings. The wonton wrappers are hand-rolled, as thin as paper. The filling is a mixture of pork, chopped green onions and shrimps. Each bowl has 10 wontons, boiled with bone soup, sprinkled with egg shreds and laver. The old shop at No. 12 West Street has a daily limited supply of 500 bowls, 10 yuan per bowl, being a favorite breakfast choice for locals, best tasted from 6:30 to 8:00 in the morning.
Tickets
Ticket: 95 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "西塘旅游" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The ancient town area is open 24 hours a day; each small attraction is open from 8:00 to 17:30 (admission stops at 17:00). In winter (November to February next year), it closes early at 17:00 (admission stops at 16:30).
Xiyuan Garden Pingtan performance time: 14:00-15:30 daily; Button Museum explanation service: once every hour (9:00-16:00), 20 minutes each time.
Tour Routes
One-day essence route: Arrive at Shipi Lane at 6:00 in the morning to take photos of the narrow lane in the morning mist (this time period is empty, with the best light); go to Yongning Bridge at 7:30 to watch the gondolas moving through the morning mist; stroll along the Misty Rain Corridor at 9:00 and visit the Button Museum (about 1 hour); visit Xiyuan Garden at 11:00 to enjoy the garden scenery; taste Steamed Pork with Rice Flour and Chan Yi Bao Yuan at Tangdong Street at 12:00; take a gondola (Wolong Bridge-Huanxiu Bridge section, 150 yuan/boat, can seat 6 people, taking 40 minutes) at 13:30; take photos at Songzi Laifeng Bridge at 15:00; enjoy the lantern night view at Tangdong Street at 18:00; take a boat again after 20:00 to watch the light reflections (night boat ticket 200 yuan/boat). The whole journey is about 6 kilometers on foot and 1 hour by boat.
Two-day tour route: Visit core attractions such as Misty Rain Corridor and Shipi Lane in the morning of the first day, experience "handmade button making" in the afternoon (30 yuan/person, about 1 hour), and enjoy the sunset in the evening; participate in "ancient town morning run" in the early morning of the second day (7:00-8:00, the scenic area provides a route map), visit the nearby "Farming Culture Museum" in the morning (1.5 kilometers from the ancient town), learn to make Qianshi Cake in the afternoon (25 yuan/person), and return at 16:00. This route combines sightseeing and experience with a slow pace.
Transportation
- High-speed rail: Take the high-speed rail to Jiashan South Station, then transfer to K222 bus (Jiashan South Station - Xitang Scenic Area) after exiting the station. It runs every 20 minutes from 6:30 to 21:00 daily, with a journey of 40 minutes and a fare of 5 yuan; or take the scenic area direct bus (15 yuan/person, once every 30 minutes) to reach the entrance of the ancient town directly.
- Bus: Take K215 bus (Jiashan Passenger Transport Center - Xitang) or K216 bus (Jiashan Railway Station - Xitang) in Jiashan County. It runs every 15 minutes from 6:00 to 18:30 daily, with a journey of 30 minutes and a fare of 3 yuan; from Jiaxing urban area, you can take K152 bus (Jiaxing North Station - Xitang), with a journey of 1 hour and a fare of 6 yuan.
- Self-driving: Starting from Shanghai, take Shanghai-Kunming Expressway - Shenjiahu Expressway to Xitang Exit, then drive 5 kilometers along Pingli Highway to the ancient town parking lot, with a total journey of about 1.5 hours; starting from Hangzhou, take Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway - Shanghai-Kunming Expressway - Shenjiahu Expressway, with a total journey of about 2 hours. The scenic area parking lot charges 5 yuan per hour. The East Parking Lot (capacity 800 vehicles) and North Parking Lot (capacity 500 vehicles) are both about 300 meters from the entrance. It is recommended to arrive before 8:30 during peak seasons.
Must-visit Attractions
- Misty Rain Corridor: The longest corridor shed in the south of the Yangtze River, 2006 meters long. The morning mist and evening lanterns create a beautiful scene. You can stroll and experience the water town life of "sheltering from rain in the corridor shed".
- Shipi Lane: The narrowest lane in the south of the Yangtze River, 0.8 meters wide, with a unique "ray of sky" light effect. It is a must-visit place for taking ancient-style photos. It is recommended to go before 7:00 in the morning to avoid crowds.
- Songzi Laifeng Bridge: The three-hole stone bridge and its reflection in the water form a circular landscape, implying perfection. It is a classic scene for taking Hanfu photos, better with gondolas in the shot.
- Xiyuan Garden: The Pingtan performance (14:00-15:30) in the Ming Dynasty garden shows Jiangnan culture. The "moon gate" where "Wanderer of the World" was filmed is a internet-famous check-in spot.
Travel Suggestions
- The best visiting seasons are March-April (with misty rain and rapeseed flower fields) and September-October (with clear autumn weather and plump crab roe). In summer, it is necessary to prevent heatstroke (the shade coverage rate in the scenic area is about 60%). Winter is relatively cold but has fewer tourists.
- For accommodation, it is recommended to choose "corridor shed homestays" in the ancient town (average price 260 yuan/night), such as "Mingju Fang" on West Street. It is within a 10-minute walk to various attractions, and you can experience the ancient town in the morning mist.
- Clothing suggestions: In spring, you can wear Hanfu (rental in the scenic area is 50 yuan/hour); in summer, choose light-colored clothes (more photogenic); shoes are preferably flat shoes (the bluestone roads are slippery).
- Catering consumption: The average cost of a main meal in the ancient town is 50-80 yuan per person, and snacks are 20-30 yuan per person. It is recommended to eat at old shops on "non-main streets" for more affordable prices (such as "Granny's Tea House" on Beizha Street).
Matters Needing Attention
- The rivers in the ancient town are relatively deep (with an average depth of 2.5 meters). When taking a boat, you must wear a life jacket (provided free of charge). Children must be accompanied by adults, and playing by the river is prohibited.
- The bluestone roads are slippery on rainy days, especially in Shipi Lane and bridge holes. It is recommended to wear non-slip shoes. Rain shoes can be rented at the entrance of the scenic area (10 yuan/pair).
- Carving or posting on ancient buildings is prohibited. The red lanterns in the Misty Rain Corridor are cultural relics under protection, and touching or picking them is prohibited. Violators will be fined 200-500 yuan.
- There are many tourists during peak seasons (March-May, October). It is recommended to make reservations in advance through the official WeChat account (reservations can be made 1 day in advance to avoid queuing).
- Some lanes in the scenic area are narrow. During peak hours (10:00-16:00), attention should be paid to giving way to others. Avoid staying for a long time when taking photos to prevent blocking the passage.