Old Town of Xitang
» Shanghai, Jiang Su

西塘 越角人家

Xi Tang,Xitang Water Town

The quiet water, handsome bridges, and the reflections in the early morning and the rosy sunset, fishing boats and the glistening lights in the evening, form an amazing picture full of a sense of poetry which can only be seen in the south lower reaches of the Yangtze River. People in Xitang, whether local residents or travelers, feel that this is fairyland. They even have no idea as to whether people are wandering in the picture or the picture is moving in their hearts.

What used to be

Old Town of Xitang is a famous town with thousands of years of history. As early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (770 B.C. - 221 B.C.), it was a place of strategic importance on the boundary between Wu and Yue States, and it was thus known as the Bottom of Wu and the Corner of Yue. During the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), it 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 to see

Xitang is known for its bridges, lanes, and covered corridors. Xitang is level, densely distributed with rivers and has peaceful and beautiful environment.

Besides, there are well-preserved groups of buildings of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) with relatively high artistic quality and research value. It is famous for its large number of covered corridors, lanes and bridges.

The simple lifestyle and peaceful atmosphere may have died out in those now commercialized ancient towns, but they fill every lane in Old Town of Xitang.

The Covered Corridor

The covered corridor is the most well known scene in Xitang. It is also the most distinctive feature this historic town offers compared with other water towns. Consisting of many sections, the whole covered corridor is more than 1,000 meters (about 1094 yards) long, attracting visitors from all over the world with its particular charm.

Mostly, it is tile-roofed and built along the riverside, providing shelter for people to avoid either the baking hot sun or the rain. So, while walking in Xitang, you can never be caught in the rain or exposed to the searing sun. One section of the corridor is the most elegant, with its carved decorative patterns that are praised by tourists as being the height of artistic perfection. High-back davenports are situated on one side of the covered corridor, along the river, where passersby can rest. Walking along the corridor, watching the boats in the river, you will feel drawn into the meditation of the past.

The Lanes

Besides the covered corridors, the lanes here are a must-see. There are many lanes here, long and short, wide and narrow. Some are dark all the year round; some are simply the drain of two families; most of them were the main artery of the town in the old days.

Among all the different lanes, the narrowest is about 80cm (about 31 inches) wide and provides space for only one person to pass through at a time. The lanes are like ropes connecting the whole town into an organic net and no matter from which point you start, you can find any other place in the town. Amazing, isn't it?

The Bridges

The bridges to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River are like the hyperlink to the internet. They are indispensable not only in terms of convenience but also in terms of beauty. Waterways are interwoven in Xitang, so it is not surprising that many bridges cross over the rivers. Here the creative shapes of bridges are very different from each other.

What's more, beautiful legends about these bridges are still spread among the people. The craftsmanship of these well-preserved bridges is so masterly that they are indeed a feast for your eyes. Exquisite bridges dot the mirror-like rivers one after another, like flaring clusters of diamonds on the neck of the old town.

The Houses

In the old town of Xitang, people who live there are not rich, so no newer modern houses have been built there. That's maybe one of the reasons why the old constructions are preserved as a whole almost without damage.

In those archaic houses, besides the culture and value of the houses themselves, there are also displays of cultural relics or woodcarvings or eaves tiles collected by the house owner. To this day there are exhibitions of the ancient rare books of the owners passed down from generation to generation or rubbings from a stone inscription of a famous calligrapher.

Enjoy the simple lifestyle

Xitang is also attractive because of the easygoing lifestyle that local residents have followed for thousands of years. Unlike the towns of Ancient Town of Zhouzhuang and Ancient Town of Wuzhen, Old Town of Xitang is not a bustling place.

People in the town live ordinary, peaceful lives. The elderly play with their grandchildren on bridges and in lanes, and women wash vegetables and clothes in the rivers running beside their houses. The simple lifestyle and peaceful atmosphere may have died out in those now commercialized ancient towns, but they fill every lane in Xitang. For tourists from modern metropolises, Xitang is a place to experience a feeling of simplicity and leisure.

When to visit

The ancient town is open to welcome you the whole day.

Getting there

Normal Bus

Normal Bus Timetable: In Shanghai, you can wait in the waiting hall of the side of No. 5 gate of Shanghai gymnasium of Xuhui District, the bus to Jiashan County will start on time at 9:00 a.m. in every Saturday and Sunday. In Nanjing, you can wait in the east long-distance bus station and the bus to Jiashan County will set out on time at 2:40 p.m..

Something to pay attention to

There are buses from Jiashan County to Xitang about every 10 minutes and the whole journey will take you about 30 minutes.

Special Travel Bus Line

In Shanghai, you can wait in the Travel Collecting and Distributing Center of Shanghai. Here the bus will deliver at 8:35a.m. (every day, including the guide service) and return at 4:30p.m., or it will deliver at 9:00a.m. (only weekend, excluding the guide service) and return at 4:00p.m..

Attractions around » Shanghai, Jiang Su

Natural Scene

Natural Scene

Historical Site

Historical Site

Cultural Site

Cultural Site

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Nightlife

Day Entertainment & Sports

Day Entertainment & Sports

Shopping & Leisure

Shopping & Leisure

  Weather

  1. What should we need to know when visiting Shanghai in different seasons?
  2. What's the best season for traveling there?

  Transportation

  1. What about the transportation between Shanghai and its surrounding cities?

  Food

  1. What's the specialty of Shanghai cuisine?
  2. What are the must-eat Shanghai snacks? And what to notice?

  Shopping

  1. Where is the most famous area for shopping here?
  2. Where can we visit on our spare time?

  Travel

  1. How about Shanghai's nightlife?

  Other Hints

  1. How many airports do Shanghai have?
  2. What is the city code of Shanghai?

  • What should we need to know when visiting Shanghai in different seasons?

    The four seasons are easy to tell apart. The weather is pleasant, and the number of all kinds of products is large in Spring and Autumn.

    Every June and July is the mold rain season, so it is usually humid in hotel rooms. Umbrella is a necessary thing to bring with during the rainy weather.

    The coldest time is from late January to early February. Even though there is not much snow, warm clothes are still needed, because cold wind is always unendurable. Hotel rooms are equipped with air-conditions, so please stay warm in the room.

    It is usually super hot in July and August. Weather with higher than 35 C usually stays for about ten days, so that prevention from overheat is very necessary.


  • What's the best season for traveling there?

    After humid mold rain season and cold winter, there comes the Spring with blooming flowers, or the Autumn with falling red leaves, which are the best the seasons for trevaling.


  • What about the transportation between Shanghai and its surrounding cities?

    Travel line in the east China includes Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai. It usually takes about 2C3 hours to travel between cities. Medicine that prevents car-sickness is necessary.

    Multi-city traveling usually requires travelers to put up each night in different cities. Please take care of your belongings when checking out.


  • What's the specialty of Shanghai cuisine?

    Shanghai cuisine is a mixture of five different cuisines and western food. Apart from its local food, it also has Beijing cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Guangdong cuisine, Hunan cuisine, Yangzhou cuisine, Chaozhou Cuisine, Anhui Cuisine and vegetarian cuisine, etc.

    Of course, Italian food, Russian food, French food, Vietnamese food, Korean food and Japanese food can also be found in Shanghai.

    Local people like food with light seasoning and light sweetness. Rice is their main food. People that like strong seasoning can prepare their own seasonings.

    Travelers with special needs please give us notice before hand, so we can prepare for you earlier according to your requirements.


  • What are the must-eat Shanghai snacks? And what to notice?

    Shanghai Nanxiang Dumplings, Crab Roe Dumplings, Steamed Dumplings Filled with Minced Meat and Gravy, Fermented Rice with Pigeon Eggs, Rib Rice Cakes, Eggs Boiled with Five Ingredients, Five Ingredients Beans, etc. There are a lot of delicious local food.

    Please mind the sanitation when enjoying the tasty food.


  • Where is the most famous area for shopping here?

    The shopping heaven in Shanghai is Nanjing Road. It has a name of 'the number one shopping street in China.' Now all kinds of stores have been opened by all kinds of business people. There are not only old stores that have hundreds of years, but also modern shopping malls like Friendship Europe Shopping Mall, Mancton Square, HUalian Shopping Center, etc.

    Huaihai Road is as famous as Nanjing Road. Shopping malls are standing at each side of the road: Guangna World Center, Paris Spring, Meimei Shopping Center, Parkson, etc. World famous brand can all be found in the shopping malls, which make Shanghai a shopping center of world class.

    Sichuan North Road's stores offer reasonable prices, which attracts a lot of common people. Xizangzhong Road had developed food and travel industry.


  • Where can we visit on our spare time?

    Shanghai is where Chinese movie originated. It is also where a lot of international movie festivals take place. There are world-class theaters. Famous movies and latest movies can all be found in Shanghai's movie theaters.

    Huanyi Movie Theather on Nanjing West Road, Yongle Palace on Anfu Road are the most famous movie theathers in Shanghai.

    You can also go to teahouse. Different from traditional teahouse, the teahouse in Shanghai adds more modern atmosphere that attracts more and more young people.

    New theme parks and amusement parks in Shanghai are good choices too. Modern equipments and beautiful natural scenes will bring you to the ideal land.


  • How about Shanghai's nightlife?

    Bars, KTV and DISCO are indispensable in a busy city like Shanghai. Beautiful lights are like the reflection of the stars, lightening the whole city and bring the city endless liveliness.

    Blue Belt Night Club, Night Paris and the famous Big World are all well known and loved by young people. Dancing people and fragrant martini will make you forget about tiredness and start to enjoy the charm of Shanghai city.


  • How many airports does Shanghai have?

    There are two international airports in Shanghai, which are Hongqiao Aireport and Pudong International Airport.

    Hundreds of airlines are in service, which can reach to every big and medium city in China and some cities in each country.

    Air traffic is very convenient. Pudong International Airport is mainly for international airlines, while Hongqiao Airport is mainly for national airlines.


  • What is the city code of Shanghai?

    Shanghai's area code: 021


For tourists from modern metropolises, Old Town of Xitang is a perfect place to experience a feeling of simplicity and leisure. Lying in Jiashan County in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, it is level, densely distributed with rivers and has peaceful and beautiful environment. From a bird's-eye view of the whole town, one sees blue water sparkling almost in every point the eyes touch and reflections of the houses in the water.

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