Read the history of China, and you’ll start to notice something pop up frequently.
Nurturing yet destructive, meandering yet flowing ever eastward – it is the Yangtze River.
Along with its twin Yellow River, the Yangtze has shaped Chinese history across thousands of years in a dizzying number of ways, from agriculture to trade and even culture!
And nowhere is this more apparent than the Jiangnan region.
Jiangnan
South of the Yangtze River, Jiangnan is a cultural and geographical region that is centered around China’s southeastern coastal cities, particularly the cluster of cities that surround Shanghai.
Thanks to swathes of fertile land along with robust trade along the massive Yangtze, it was (and still is) a prosperous region full of bustling port cities and canal towns, the latter of which is known as water towns (水乡shuixiang).
Water Towns
Photo: Stefan Fussan
Dating back to the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, Jiangnan’s water towns were, as their name suggests, built next to the region’s many rivers or lakes as commercial, trade and transportation hubs.
Characterized by long, winding canals navigated by various sampans and barges along with quaint, white houses with black eaves crisscrossed by narrow streets, they are the quintessential classical town in the minds of most Chinese.
Though no longer as prominent as they once were due to the march of time and technology, these water towns have been experiencing a modern revival as charming tourist destinations. If you want to travel back in time to ancient China, then strolling or sailing through a water town is a great way to do so.
And, it just so happens we have a list of the most romantic, classic and picturesque water towns in China’s Jiangnan region. Have a look!
Zhouzhuang (周庄)
Starting off with a classic, we have the nearly millenia-old hamlet of Zhouzhuang (周庄).
One of the most prestigious water towns thanks to its official 5A tourist attraction ranking, Zhouzhuang has all the hallmarks of a water town – tightly packed houses and mansions crisscrossed by a network of canals and a series of bridges.
What makes it stand out though, are its bridges and manors.
For bridges, look no further than the Twin Bridges, two perpendicular stone bridges with one modest bridge leading up to another grander arched bridge. An icon of the town, they were popularized by the famed Realist painter Chen Yifei, whose paintings depicted a lifelike yet moody Zhouzhuang draped in heavy contrasts between light and shadow.
The other star attractions here include the classical mansions of Zhouzhuang’s past rich and famous such as the manor of Ming Dynasty tycoon Shen Wansan, which features an opulent grand hall, antique wooden furniture and a curious coin-shaped entrance. There’s also the vast Zhang manor that has up to 70 rooms, a garden accessible by canal and its very own opera stage!
Overall, if you can avoid peak hours or seasons, Zhouzhuang is a tourist trap that’s worth falling for.
How to get here: Bus rides to Zhouzhuang from Suzhou and Shanghai are available.
Tongli (同里)
Surrounded by five lakes and just a stone’s throw away from the wondrous Grand Canal, Tongli is a series of seven small islands intersected by almost 15 rivers and canals.
Founded during the cultural heights of the Song Dynasty, Tongli’s charm simply oozes out of its classic Chinese gardens, which emphasize the three natural elements of stone, water and greenery alongside buildings dedicated to the arts.
The most celebrated of Tongli’s gardens is the Tuisi Garden or Garden of Retreat and Reflection. Although it is a later 19th century Qing creation, the lush greenery, tastefully arranged rock structures and cozy pavilions that surround its emerald green lake are no less mesmerizing.
Thanks to its location next to the rich capital Suzhou, Tongli has also attracted many scholars or retired officials in the past to settle down and build impressive dwellings. Many of them have survived the ravages of time to this day, such as Jiayin Hall – a Ming-era mansion of regal wooden halls and courtyards – and Chongben Hall with its cozy and exquisitely decorated interiors.
Tongli is also awash in bridges, with its three famous ones being the Taiping, Changqing and Jili bridges – all less than 50m apart. Perhaps because of their vital function and lasting quality, there’s even a custom where locals walk across all three for auspicious events like weddings and childbirths in order to ward off bad luck!
How to get here: Tongli can be accessed by train from Suzhou or a bus ride from Shanghai.
Mudu (木渎)
Mudu’s start is a poetic one.
Legend has it that King of Wu founded the town in an attempt to please the beauty Xishi. To do this, he had the rivers blocked by piles of wood, hence the name Mudu for “gathered wood”.
Ever since then, this water town has gained a reputation for its historical gardens.
One of said gardens is the Yanjia Garden, a pleasant courtyard-sized garden that features paths and pavilions to chill out in amidst a pleasant landscape. Once the home of the esteemed scholar Shen Deqian and wealthy local Yan Guoxin, it is now maintained by the third generation of the Yan family.
Another of Wudu’s garden greats is the Hongyin Shanfang Garden, a green paradise that even comes with a Qing Emperor’s approval! Thanks to its combination of northern and southern landscaping and greenery, the Qianlong Emperor would frequently visit the garden to enjoy tea, poetry and plays during his journeys south of the Yangtze, leaving reluctantly once the sun set. This happened so often that locals would end up christening it as the Emperor’s private garden! Hardly seems fair, considering that it was actually the scholar Xu Shiyuan’s personal garden!
How to get here: Shanghai and Suzhou both offer bus rides to Mudu.
Nanxun (南浔)
Nanxun isn’t as popular as the earlier entries, but that just means more of the town for yourself!
Unlike most other towns which can feel a bit touristy, Nanxun still has most of its residential areas intact. Once the few tour groups depart, you’ll see normal residents shopping for groceries, doing laundry or just chitchatting with neighbours – giving it a timeless charm all its own.
A major silk producer back in the day, Nanxun was the birthplace and home of many cultural and artistic figures, which is reflected in its grand estates, libraries and gardens. Most of said buildings also combine a curious blend of Chinese and Western architecture, such as the residences of the Zhang Shiming and Liu Tiqing – which boast a curious combination of Western brick facades with dark wooden Chinese interiors.
Of course, Nanxun also has its classical Chinese gardens. Right next to the Jiayetang Library, There’s Xiaolianzhuang or Lotus Manor, which boasts a villa overlooking a lake garden filled with lotus leaves. The Wenyuan gardens also offer lakes and rivers lined with verdant trees, not to mention cultural memorials and halls.
Another refreshing contrast that Nanxun has with its water town brethren are its wider canals, which give visitors plenty of space to appreciate the scenery along its banks. A great viewpoint to appreciate Nanxun’s canals is on the Tongjin Bridge, an unusually tall bridge that’s a great selfie spot on its own right! The stretch along Baijianlou or “Hundred Houses” is also famed for its classic Jiangnan water town scenery.
How to get here: From Huzhou, take a bus or car to Nanxun.
Xitang
If you’d like to get the water town experience without going too far out of your way, then Xitang is the obvious choice.
Located in the Yangtze Delta region next to metropolises like Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai, there are so many rail and bus connections to it that you have no excuse not to visit!
First off is Xitang’s famed Yanyu Corridor, a unique covered corridor that hugs a canal. Stretching for almost a kilometer, the corridor’s wooden roof helps locals and visitors shields themselves from the sun and rain as they enjoy the idyllic sights of boats rowing past bridges and waterfront houses. And don’t worry about getting tired – some sections come equipped with benches to rest your feet!
Being a water town, Xitang isn’t exactly swimming in real estate, so narrow and sometimes claustrophobic streets are a common sight here. But you’ve probably never seen a street or lane as narrow as Shipi Lane! Crossing over an ancient sewer wedged between two residences, Shipi Lane’s narrowest point comes to a whopping 80 centimeters. Better not put on weight before your visit!
Ever wondered how buttons were made? If you have, then stop by Xitang’s quirky China Button Musuem, where traditional and modern ways to craft and use this ubiquitous but underappreciated tool are explored.
How to get here: From Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou, take a train to Jiaxing Station and then board a bus to Xitang.
So, this is just a small sample of the many famed water towns of Jiangnan. Though each of them share common traits like picturesque canals and tiled buildings, each of them still has their own quirks that make them worth visiting!
Still looking for more China adventures? Then check out our list of five classic Chengdu attractions or our pick of China’s most spectacular peaks and canyons. And before you visit, don’t forget to download some Chinese apps from our Traveller’s Guide to Apps in China!
Written with information gathered by Rin Matsumoto.
Sources
suzhoukankou.com – 江南水郷
http://www.suzhoukankou.com/page/p2.html
China Discovery – Top China Water Town near Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou
https://www.chinadiscovery.com/travel-guide/china-water-towns.html
Lonely Planet – Canal life: a guide to China’s most picturesque water towns
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/eastern-china-water-towns
Cathay Pacific – See the pics! 8 of China’s most photogenic ‘water towns’
https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_MY/inspiration/travel/see-the-pics-8-of-chinas-most-photogenic-water-towns.html
Baidu – 江南水乡
https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E6%B1%9F%E5%8D%97%E6%B0%B4%E4%B9%A1/1280361
suzhou.gov.cn – Tongli Town
http://www.suzhou.gov.cn/szsenglish/jnsxgzlm/201611/f75eb778acb74af38269982b9f5348fc.shtml
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