Zhouzhuang Ancient Town
Zhouzhuang - "China's No. 1 Water Town", has a long history that has created many scenic spots in the ancient town. The famous architect Luo Zhewen praised Zhouzhuang as "not only a treasure of Jiangsu Province, but also a treasure of the country." Zhouzhuang has a quiet environment and simple architecture. Although it has gone through more than 900 years of vicissitudes, it still completely preserves the architectural style of the original water town. Among the nearly 1,000 residential houses in the town, more than 60% of the buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties and the early Republic of China are still preserved, including nearly 100 ancient courtyards and more than 60 brick-carved gatehouses. The ancient style of Zhouzhuang folk houses still exists, and the most representative ones are Shen Hall and Zhang Hall. More than 60% of the town's residential buildings are still Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings. The ancient town of only 0.4 square kilometers has nearly a hundred classical houses and more than 60 brick-carved gate towers.
At the same time, Zhouzhuang also preserves 14 unique ancient bridges. Zhouzhuang is a world of water. The ancient town is surrounded by water, like a water lily floating on the water. The river forms a "well" shape. If there is a river or a street, there must be a bridge. Bridges form streets and bridges form cities. The bridges face each other and the bridges are connected, adding to the charm of Zhouzhuang, a water town. Zhouzhuang still has 14 stone bridges built in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, among which Shuangqiao, Fu'an Bridge, Zhenfeng Bridge and Fuhong Bridge are the most representative ones.
Best time: April to October every year, the scenery is better
Ticket price: 100 yuan, for student groups (more than 10 people) under high school (including high school) 50% discount with student ID card, 20% discount for college student groups (more than 10 people) with student ID card; 50% discount for seniors over 60 years old with valid ID; 50% discount for disabled persons with disability ID card; free admission for children under 1 meter, 1.1~1.4 meters Children receive a 50% discount; tickets are free of charge with national tour guide certificates, journalist certificates, valid military certificates, and driver's A licenses.
Transportation: Shanghai, Suzhou, Kunshan and Qingpu all have direct long-distance buses to Zhouzhuang.
Wuzhen Ancient Town
In the Jiangnan water town, there are many ancient towns like Wuzhen, which are as beautiful and peaceful as pearls. In addition to the small bridges, flowing water, waterside customs and exquisite and elegant residential buildings that everyone has, Wuzhen also has a rich historical and cultural atmosphere. This may be because it has the longest history and the most developed culture. Wuzhen was called Wudun in ancient times. In the Spring and Autumn Period, this place was the boundary of Wu Territory. It was first called Wuzhen during the Xiantong period of the Tang Dynasty.
Best time: Wuzhen’s climate is not much different from that of Jiaxing and Xitang. The most beautiful seasons of the year are spring and autumn. The most beautiful times of the day are early morning and evening. In the early morning, a thin mist will spread over the river, like a dream. In the evening, the sun sets in the west, the tourists disperse, and a living Wuzhen appears in front of you. The Fragrance Market is held in Wuzhen every year from the end of March to the end of April, and the scene of the "Fragrance Market" written by Mao Dun will be recreated, but tourists who like tranquility can avoid this period.
Ticket prices: Dongzha Scenic Area: 100 yuan/person Cruise: 80 yuan/boat (one-way charge, limited to 8 people/boat) Xizha Scenic Area: 120 yuan/person Night tour ticket price: 80 Yuan/person ferry (Visitor Service Center--Andu Fang) Free East-West Scenic Area Coupon Ticket: 150 Yuan/person
Transportation: Wuzhen does not have a train station. You can take Tongxiang or Jiaxing and then transfer to a bus to reach Wuzhen
Tongli Wuzhen
The most famous thing in Tongli is "One Garden, Two Halls and Three Bridges", all of which have antique shapes. The first garden is the Tuisi Garden, a famous garden in the south of the Yangtze River. This garden is carefully arranged in a small area, making the small garden give people a feeling of ever-changing scenery as you move around. The two halls refer to Chongben Hall and Jiayin Hall. The three bridges refer to Taiping Bridge, Geely Bridge and Changqing Bridge. Tongli is surrounded by five lakes, with winding streets and crisscrossing rivers, leaving behind many ancient bridges built in various eras. In the ancient town, the oldest bridge is Siben Bridge. It was built in the Southern Song Dynasty, more than 700 years ago. Although it has been hit by wind and rain, it still remains unchanged, spanning the clear river port. The name of the bridge "Siben" means "the country is based on the people, and the people regard food as their first priority".
Best time: April to October each year for better scenery
Ticket price: 80 yuan/person (except the Chinese Sexual Culture Museum)
Transportation: There are direct buses to Shanghai, Suzhou and Wuxian. There are also cruise ships running between Tongli and Zhouzhuang.
Xitang Ancient Town
Xitang, the largest ancient town among the six ancient towns, is located in Jiashan County, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, 11 kilometers away from Jiashan County. Take the train from Shanghai and get off at Jiashan. CMB to Xitang 3.5 yuan. Xitang is an ancient town with a thousand-year history and culture. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it was the place where Wu and Yue met, so it was known as "Wu Gen Yue Jiao" and "Yue Jiao Family".
Xitang is famous for its many bridges, lanes, and corridors. The folk customs in Xitang are honest and honest, the sound of oars is melodious, and the unique humanistic accumulation of ancient Chinese traditional culture is everywhere. Xitang Ancient Town has protected the harmonious relationship between man and nature and is a holy place for experts to study "Jiangnan Water Town Folk Culture"; a base for artists to depict "Jiangnan Water Town Folk Culture"; and a pure place for tourists to taste "Jiangnan Water Town Folk Culture" . Xitang Ancient Town attracts people from all over the world with its unique cultural temperament.
Best time: Suitable for all seasons
Ticket price: Xitang Ancient Town District Tour Ticket (including 11 scenic spots) 60 yuan/ticket, scenic spot ticket 30 yuan/person
Transportation: Take the train from Shanghai to Jiashan and get off, then take a minibus to Xitang
Luzhi Ancient Town
The first water town in China known as the "Venice of the East" Town - Luzhi, Luzhi Town is a well-deserved reputation as an outstanding ancient water town in China. It has a civilized history of 2,500 years. Especially its ancient culture, scenic spots, ancient bridges, ancient streets, ancient houses and ancient ginkgo trees with a history of more than 1,300 years are amazing. Why is it called Luzhi here? According to "Fu Li Zhi": Luzhi's original name was Fuli, which was named after "Fulitang" in the west of the town. Later, because there is a straight port in the east of the town, which leads to six places, and the shape of the water has a cool character like "甪", it was renamed "Lu Zhi". It is also said that the ancient one-horned mythical beast "Luduan" patrolled the land of China and found that this was a geomantic treasure land, so it stayed in Luzhi for a long time. The town has clear river water, elegant environment, dotted with historical sites, and historical landscapes, such as the cool breeze of duck marsh, the clear spring of branch office, Wusong Xuelang, the bells of seaweeds, the sunset of pagodas, fish lotus lanterns, and Xihui Xiaoshi, etc., which were summarized by our ancestors. Although most of the "Eight Scenic Spots in Fuli" have gone through the hardships of history and have been demolished, their grand splendor can still be found. Plenty of water and bridges are another feature of Luzhi Town. Luzhi has always been known as the "Bridge Capital" in the south of the Yangtze River. The one square kilometer ancient town originally had 72 and a half stone arch bridges from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and 41 of them are now in existence, with different shapes, characteristics and antiques.
Best time: April to October each year for better scenery
Ticket price: 60 yuan (all attractions)
Transportation: Available in Shanghai Direct long-distance bus service. Suzhou has direct bus No. 18. There are also direct tourist buses connecting Zhouzhuang and Tongli.
Nanxun Ancient Town
Nanxun, an ancient town in the water town, is located in the hinterland of the Hangjiahu Plain, bordering Taihu Lake to the north and Wujiang, Jiangsu Province to the east. The water and land transportation is convenient. National Highway 318 and Changhu Shenhang Channel cross from east to west. It is about 100 kilometers away from Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou. The town covers an area of ??34 square kilometers. In 1991, Nanxun ranked first among the 15 famous historical and cultural towns in Zhejiang Province. Nanxun Town has been recommended by my country to the United Nations as a world cultural heritage.
Best time: Nanxun has a north subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons, a mild and humid climate, and an average temperature of 16°C throughout the year. It is suitable for travel in all four seasons. Tourists should pay attention to avoid the plum rains and rains around June every year. Autumn rainy period in autumn.
Ticket price:
1. Full price ticket: 100 yuan/person (Xiaolianzhuang, Jiayetang Library, Zhang Shiming’s old residence, Qiushuli, Liu’s Ladder, Nanxun Town History Museum, Zhang Jingjiang’s Former Residence, Baijian Building)
2. Half-price ticket: 50 yuan/person (half-price for children between 1.1-1.4 meters, free for children under 1.1 meters)
3 , Cruise tickets: Each boat (one way) ranges from 100 yuan to 320 yuan, limited to 8 people.
Transportation: There are various types of buses and minibuses that frequently travel between Nanxun and the above four places. Shanghai Qiujiang Road Long-distance Bus Station has shuttle buses to Huzhou and Nanxun every day. The fare for ordinary buses is 17 yuan, and the fare for air-conditioned buses is 25-27 yuan. The journey takes about 2-2.5 hours. There is also a bus from Shanghai Hutai Road Long-distance Bus Station to Huzhou every hour or so, stopping at Nanxun on the way.
Hope this helps