The ancient town of Xitang [Jiaxing]

Cobbled streets, old buildings, and arch bridges over canals, the lovely rowboats lingering on the river, the sweet songs sung by the leisure and comfortable residents and the lively lush grass waving on the age-old tiles… this is Xitang water town, a charming and quiet ancient town far away from the noisy modern atmosphere. On the hazy and romantic morning, one can taste the fresh air with the sweet smell of water and light fog; in the evening one can appreciate the rosy and gorgeous clouds with the sun setting in a blaze of glory.

There are 104 bridges of varied structures, all built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. “Some looks like rainbows over the river, and others like long flutes.” Standing on one of the bridges with a beautiful umbrella in a light rainy day, girls will definitely feel like drowning into deep meditation in the picture. Local residents live an easy and ordinary life in comfort and peace, just as what their ancestors had done thousands of years ago. The elderly play with their grandchildren on bridges and in lanes, and women wash vegetables and clothes in the rivers running beside their houses, which has made people from the big and industrial cities feel relaxed. Besides, it also appeals to the tourists that almost everything of the town is running on the river or on both sides of the river. Shops, markets, restaurants and hotels are built beside the river, which lets the tourists sink in the smell and sight of the water whenever and wherever.

Foods：Although being a small town, Xitang can easily let the tourists linger with its tasty specialties and delicious foods of local flavor. Here, the most Chinese featured diet culture has co-existed with the local customs and habits. Both folk dishes and the snacks on the streets and lanes have the flavors in southern part of the Yangtze River. Qiantang Restaurant, a famous elegant restaurant located to the north Yongning Bridge, has long been praised. Sitting in the distinctive and pleasing hotel with friends, tasting a bowl of pleasant wine of unique Chinese flavor, listening to the water flowing and the paddles rowing outside the window, watching people leisurely washing clothes beside the river…isn’t it the wonderful time you have been dreaming of?

Entertainment：Different from the big cities, Xitang water town has not so many modern entertainment facilities. The most attractive entertainment for the tourists is to go fishing with local residents on their boats. It is so interesting when you catch a vivid fish on the river of the picturesque ancient water town. Besides, when the night falls, waves of sweet folk songs will fly around the town, loud and low, pleasant and lingering, mysterious and melodious. Then the girls paddling appear, on the river, on their boats, happily singing, on their way home.

Shopping：Local specialties are the principal choice on the tourists’ shopping lists in Xitang. The “Liuyuehong” crab, the “Bazhen” cake, which has surprisingly medical effects, the well-known Jiashan yellow wine which was originally made in Qing Dynasty, are popular with people home and abroad.

There are direct non-stop buses from Shanghai tourist terminal center to Xitang at weekends. The bus sets out at 9:00 a.m from the Shanghai Stadium and the Hongkou Football Stadium and returns at 16:00 p.m from Xitang bus station. The ticket of the tour(including the prices of bus ticket and the admission of the scenic spot) is about ￥85RMB. Normally there are other direct buses starting from the Long-distance bus station in the north district of No.80, Gongxing Road. The buses set out at 7:50 a.m and 13:30 p.m every day.
It takes about 25 to 30 minutes to drive from Jiashan to Xitang by taxi. It can easily be found in the water town even it is as late as 9 PM, and the start-off charge of the taxi is just ￥5RMB. Besides, there are 12 lines of buses running from Jiaxing North Bus Station to Xitang every day, the journey of which takes about 50 minutes and the bus ticket costs ￥6RMB.