Xitang Ancient Town Travel Guide

The beauty of the Jiangnan region has been passed down from ancient times to the present, because the beauty of the Jiangnan region remains a popular tourist destination from the past to the present. Jiangnan has always been a place endowed with beauty, not only with talented men and beautiful women, but also with many beautiful women. Xitang Ancient Town is located in Jiashan County, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, at the junction of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, 11 kilometers from Jiashan County, and is an ancient town with a thousand years of history and culture. As early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods, it was the meeting place of the Wu and Yue kingdoms, hence its names “Wugen Yuejiao” and “Yuejiao Renjia”, and it is one of the birthplaces of ancient Wu and Yue culture and one of the six major ancient towns in Jiangnan. Xitang is the most popular of the six major ancient towns in Jiangnan and is known as the “Living Millennial Ancient Town”. The biggest difference between Xitang and other ancient water towns is that the streets along the river in the town have verandahs, which are nearly a kilometer long, like the corridors of the Summer Palace. When traveling in Xitang, you won’t get wet in the rain, and the sun won’t shine on you on sunny days.

Arrival and Departure

Xitang is located in Jiashan County, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. There are no airports or train stations in the county. Tourists arriving by air can take the airport of Hangzhou or Shanghai. Trains and buses can first arrive in Jiashan, then transfer to a bus to Xitang, about 20 minutes. From Shanghai to Xitang, you need to take a bus from Shanghai South Station or the Passenger Transport Terminal, which takes about 2 hours. From Hangzhou to Xitang, you need to take a bus from Jiubao Passenger Transport Center, which takes about 2 hours to reach. Inside Xitang Ancient Town, the main mode of transportation is walking, or you can take a wooden boat for sightseeing.

Scenic Spot Type: Rural

Best Season: Best in March-April. Spring is the best time to visit Xitang. In April, Jiangnan is misty with drizzle, and it is very pleasant to stroll through Xitang in the rain and admire the cherry blossoms. Xitang in summer is quite hot, but walking along the Smoke and Rain Long Corridor can avoid the sun, and you can also taste the local specialty “June Crab” which is only available at this time. Autumn in Xitang is a place where the sweet fragrance of osmanthus flowers fills the air. Here, you can experience the tranquility of autumn. In Xitang, winter also has a special charm, where you can experience the taste of the ancient town’s Spring Festival with the people of the water town.

Recommended Trip Duration: 2-3 days

Ticket Price: 100.00 yuan (including 11 small attractions within the ancient town)

Opening Hours: Open all day, Small attractions opening hours: Monday to Friday 07:30~17:30, Saturday to Sunday 07:30~18:30.

Address: Xitang Town, Jiashan County, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province

Telephone: 0573-84567890

About Food

Thousands of years of agricultural civilization and the simple lifestyle of the people of Xitang have created the local simple food culture. The dishes in Xitang are delicious and emphasize health preservation. Xitang, a water town, naturally uses seafood as its main ingredient. The dishes are generally small and exquisite, with a sweet and salty taste. The characteristic dishes of Xitang include steamed white thread fish, sending children dragon hooves, etc., and stinky tofu and gorgon nut cake are also popular with tourists. Most of the restaurants in Xitang are concentrated near Beizha Street, specializing in local dishes, costing about 40 yuan per person. Some of the more famous restaurants include Yi Jiangnan, Xiangtang, Laopin Fang, etc.

About Shopping

Shopping in Xitang is mainly focused on local products and handicrafts with a local flavor. Some of Xitang’s special snacks, such as gorgon nut cake, eight-treasure cake, yellow wine, etc., can be brought home, and of course, many handicrafts are also the first choice for shopping. There are various items for sale in the various shops within the ancient town scenic spot. You can choose what you like best. There are also many shopping malls outside the scenic spot in the town.

1. Eight-Treasure Cake

Eight-treasure cake is made with eight herbs, such as yam, tuckahoe, gorgon nut, rice kernel, malt, hyacinth bean, lotus seed, hawthorn, and then refined with glutinous rice flour and white sugar. The cake is greenish-black and crispy, with a sweet taste, making it a famous snack in Jiangnan. Compared to Western desserts, Jiangnan’s traditional desserts are more pure and original in taste. They are sold in food stores both inside and outside the scenic spot. You can try before you buy. If you like it, take some home.

2. Jiashan Yellow Wine

People from Xitang love to drink a little yellow wine whenever they have the chance. Therefore, there are many yellow wine workshops in Xitang Town. Founded in the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, the largest yellow wine production base in the country is located in the Jiashan Winery in Xitang, producing more than 20 varieties of Fenhu series, including Huadiao, Shanliang, yellow wine, etc., with a mild wine character, mellow taste, and unique flavor, with Shanliang being particularly outstanding. You can buy authentic and affordable Jiashan yellow wine at the regular supermarkets in the town.

3. Blue Printed Cloth

While wandering around the ancient town, you can buy a blue printed cloth scarf, which can be worn around your shoulders to keep warm at night or used as a decoration to match your clothes. You can also buy blue printed cloth fans, ornaments, etc. Blue printed cloth comes in a variety of patterns, is durable, and exudes a classical flavor. If you like it, take it away.

4. Handmade Souvenirs

Various shops in Xitang Ancient Town scenic spot have unique notebooks, postcards, and other small souvenirs, as well as decorative items such as small bells and small shoulder bags with ethnic characteristics, making it a shopping paradise for those who appreciate literary and simple elegance.

Good Shopping Places

Inside Xitang Scenic Spot

There are many shops in Xitang Scenic Spot, each selling unique clothing, handicrafts, decorative items, small souvenirs, and other items, as well as more famous specialty food stores such as Futang Food Factory, An Niu Steamed Meat Shop, Lao Ma Steamed Meat Shop, Xiangfu Zongzi Workshop, etc. These can provide a concrete location for your shopping plans. Remember to pay attention to your wallet while shopping.

Outside Xitang Scenic Spot – Youlu Road Shopping Street

There are many supermarkets on Youlu Road in Xitang Town, such as Nonggongshang Supermarket, Century Lianhua, Pacific Mall, Golden Paris Mall. These malls are popular shopping destinations for locals, and they also sell some local products at clearly marked prices, making them a highly recommended place to shop.

Local Activities and Festivals

I. Characteristic Activities

The entertainment in the town, in terms of variety and completeness, cannot be compared with big cities, but the water town has its own unique and refined elegance and charm. In addition to the regular cinemas, video halls, and dance halls, there are Fuju Lou Cultural Club, Chen’s Old House Bar, Hongting Bar, Sui Yuan Xiaozhu Bar, Langqiao Meng Bar, etc. inside the scenic spot. Three attractions, Xiyuan, Button Museum, and Zhang Zhenggen Sculpture Museum, also offer some characteristic activities such as “Jiangnan Silk and Bamboo” and “Water Town Community Opera”.

1. Boat Tour

Take a boat tour of Xitang at night, watching the red lanterns lined up on both sides of the river, the bustling crowds, creating a sense of fashion and classic combination. At night, you can release various sizes of lotus lanterns in the river, which is very interesting. The Xitang night tour project is open on weekends and holidays, until 8:30 p.m. For details, please inquire at the boat dock in Xitang Ancient Town.

2. Bar Encounters

Xitang also has a bar street (Tangdong Street), where ancient and modern blend together. It’s not like the urban nightlife, full of bright lights and revelry, crowded with people who want to get drunk. It’s simple here, a guitar, a keyboard is enough.

Walking along the bar street, bars are lined up next to each other, each with a red lantern and strings of wine bottles at the door, and the exterior walls are decorated with various flirtatious sayings. Hongting, Banjiao, Tang Dynasty, Xifeng Shoushi, Guang Huishengyue, Xitang Fengyin, the names are all different, but it seems a bit homogeneous, most of them are singers playing and singing some familiar songs. Of course, guests can also go up and sing themselves, which is much better than using karaoke accompaniment.

3. Releasing River Lanterns

Releasing river lanterns has always been a traditional activity in Xitang on auspicious days. Nearly a thousand lanterns of different shapes and sizes adorn the surface of the water in Xitang, changing with each step, adding a beautiful touch to Xitang. Each lantern carries a wish, shining brightly along with the dotted red lanterns under the winding kilometer-long verandahs, creating the most charming scenery in Xitang’s night.

II. Characteristic Festivals

1. Visiting Shengtang

The “Visiting Shengtang” during the Spring Festival is always lively. From the Spring Festival to the Lantern Festival on the 15th of the first lunar month, people from the town and nearby villages come to Shengtang to burn incense and pray for blessings. Temporary toy stalls, food stalls, and various juggling acts are concentrated here. On the fourth day of the first lunar month, each shop “greets the head” and “exchanges gold ingots”, and there are also lion dances, lotus dances, and other activities, a lively scene.

Time: From Spring Festival to the Lantern Festival

Location: Shengtang and surrounding streets

2. Temple Fair

The third day of the fourth lunar month is the Temple Fair in Xitang. At that time, there are various stalls on the street selling local products and various items. The crowd is surging, and it is very lively. Various “shelters” are set up on the streets of the town, and all of them use azaleas as offerings before the gods. Flower lovers visit and admire azaleas and exchange skills.

Time: Third day of the fourth lunar month

Location: Xitang Town

Travel Tips

1. People from the north may not be accustomed to the humidity here when they first arrive in Xitang. It is hot in summer and cold and humid in winter, which can easily lead to acclimatization problems. Please pay attention to heatstroke prevention in summer and keep warm in winter.

2. When traveling to Xitang in summer, be sure to bring “mosquito repellent”, and you can also spray it on your clothes. Also, bring sunscreen and heatstroke prevention items.

3. You don’t have to worry about memorizing the routes of Xitang scenic spots. Xitang is really not big, and the main attractions are all on both sides of the river. You can naturally walk around the river.

4. It is best to stay overnight in Xitang. The greatest charm of the ancient town lies in the early morning, dusk, and night. You might want to go to the covered bridge at night, the quiet river, and the hanging red lanterns will surely give you an unforgettable experience.

5. You can hire a rickshaw to act as a tour guide in Xitang Ancient Town. The rickshaw rider acts as both a driver and a tour guide, and they also know many private attractions, which may bring you unexpected discoveries. A rickshaw costs about 15 yuan. If they charge a high price or ask for extra money on the way, don’t take it.

Recommended Travel Routes

1. Classic One-Day Tour

Trip Highlights: Beautiful scenery and humanistic charm.

When you come to Xitang Ancient Town, stroll through the verandahs, walk along the longest Shipi Alley, visit Zhongfutang, and finally see the Xiyuan, a house with Jiangnan characteristics.

D1 Zhang Zhenggen Sculpture Museum → Anjing Bridge → Burn incense Hong → Ni Mansion → Shengtang → Smoke and Rain Long Corridor → Zuiyuan → Huanxiu Bridge → Shipi Alley → Zhongfutang → Xiyuan → Button Museum

Arrive at Xitang Scenic Spot in the morning and enter the scenic spot from Ji Jia Alley near the second parking lot. First, visit the Zhang Zhenggen Sculpture Museum and appreciate the art of root carving. After leaving the Sculpture Museum, walk to West Street, and you will see Anjing Bridge. Take a break on Anjing Bridge and look out over the entire river and pond. Then, continue walking east along West Street to Burn incense Hong, where there are Ni Mansion and Shengtang, two attractions that showcase the ancient houses and temples of Jiangnan. Then, return to Tangdong Street, continue north, and reach Anxiu Bridge.

After crossing Anxiu Bridge, you will reach the Smoke and Rain Long Corridor. This is a bustling area, where the ancient charm of small bridges and flowing water continues. By now, your stomach will be rumbling. There are many snacks and restaurants along the river where you can have a hearty meal and take a nap by the river.

After lunch, stroll along the corridor to Zuiyuan, and finally return to West Street after crossing Huanxiu Bridge. On West Street, there are four attractions in succession: Shipi Alley, Zhongfutang, Xiyuan, and Button Museum. Finally, return to the second parking lot.

Dining: There are many Xitang delicacies near the Smoke and Rain Long Corridor, such as steamed white thread fish, lake crabs, all delicious. In addition, there are also dishes such as sending children dragon hooves, June red, and chaotic old duck stew, as well as special cakes such as eight-treasure cake.

Accommodation: The accommodation conditions in Xitang are good. There are many private guesthouses inside the scenic spot. The price of rooms facing the water is much more expensive, at around 200-300 yuan. However, rooms not facing the water are not far from the core streets, and they are also quieter, with prices around 100-200 yuan.

2. Classic Two-Day Tour

Two days is the most suitable for visiting a Jiangnan town like Xitang. Visit unique museums, have a blast on the bar street, stroll along the ten-mile long corridor, and walk into the Jiangnan gardens. This route is suitable for foodies who love excitement.

D1 Zhang Zhenggen Sculpture Museum → Button Museum → Anjing Bridge → Burn incense Hong → Ni Mansion → Shengtang

Arrive at Xitang Scenic Spot in the morning and enter the scenic spot from Ji Jia Alley. First, visit the Zhang Zhenggen Sculpture Museum and the Button Museum, and take home a handmade shell button made by the master as a souvenir. After leaving the museum, walk along West Street, cross Anjing Bridge, take a break, and then go east to Burn incense Hong, carefully experiencing the cultural heritage of the nearby Ni Mansion and Shengtang. Then, return to Tangdong Street. By now, it’s evening. Choose a guesthouse to stay in near Tangdong Street. Tangdong Street is a famous bar street. At night, just have fun and let loose.

Dining: There are many delicacies on Tangdong Street. You can go to Songzidaiyue Tower and taste authentic Xitang dishes such as braised eel carp, fried eel curd, steamed white thread fish, sending children dragon hooves, etc.

Accommodation: It is recommended to stay in the ancient town so that you can enjoy the night view. Rooms facing the water may be more expensive, around 200-300 yuan.

D2 Smoke and Rain Long Corridor → Zuiyuan → Huanxiu Bridge → Shipi Alley → Zhongfutang → Xiyuan

After a night of fun, enjoy a good sleep until noon. Have some Xitang dishes on Tangdong Street or nearby West Street. Don’t eat too much, leave room for your stomach, otherwise you will regret it. Then, head straight to the bustling Smoke and Rain Long Corridor. Stroll along the corridor and sweep through all the snacks on the street until you reach Zuiyuan. Finally, return to West Street after crossing Huanxiu Bridge. West Street has various cakes, small wontons, beancurd, etc. You can eat as you walk. Step into Shipi Alley, take a look at Zhongfutang, and tour Xiyuan. You’ll be reluctant to leave Xitang Scenic Spot.

Dining: There are snacks on West Street and the Smoke and Rain Long Corridor. You can sweep through them all, such as stinky tofu, malt sugar, small wontons, eight-treasure cake, lotus leaf steamed pork, etc.

3. Literary Three-Day Tour

Trip Highlights: Literary and romantic. Xitang is not big, but it is suitable for staying for a long time. Its charm lies in the “many bridges, many alleys, many verandahs”. Savor it slowly and it will leave a lasting impression.

D1 Zhang Zhenggen Sculpture Museum → Button Museum → Anjing Bridge → Burn incense Hong → Ni Mansion → Shengtang

Arrive at Xitang Scenic Spot in the morning. At the entrance, you can see root carvings, buttons, roof tiles, and other folk collections. Then, stroll slowly along West Street, enjoy food, and admire the scenery. Cross Anjing Bridge, find a teahouse in Burn incense Hong, and relax for a while. Tour Ni Mansion and Shengtang and stay in Tangdong Street. At night, listen to the slow rock music in the bar and drift off to sleep.

Dining: There are many snacks on West Street in Xitang, such as stinky tofu, small wontons, fermented rice glutinous rice balls, etc. You can find a small restaurant and taste authentic Xitang snacks.

Accommodation: Stay near Tangdong Street in Xitang Scenic Spot, listen to the slow rock music in the bar at night.

D2 Wolong Bridge → Yongning Bridge → Smoke and Rain Long Corridor → Songzi Laifeng Bridge → Zuiyuan → Huoguo Sui Liang Wang Temple

Wake up early and experience the morning scenery of Xitang. Walk along Tangdong Street all the way north, cross Wolong Bridge, and return. Buy some stinky tofu and beancurd from the street vendors for breakfast. Cross Beizha Street, climb to Yongning Bridge, and enjoy the scattered and orderly small buildings, the high-legged horsehead walls, and the people sketching by the river, all blending into the beautiful scenery. Then, stroll along the Smoke and Rain Long Corridor, passing by various snacks and specialty shops.

There are many restaurants by the river. After lunch, you will reach Songzi Laifeng Bridge, which is the boat dock. You might want to take a gondolier boat for a ride. Then, visit Zuiyuan and Huoguo Sui Liang Wang Temple.

After dinner, the highlight of the day is coming. The night view of Xitang is very attractive. Release lanterns near the long corridor, watch the community opera, and listen to the field songs. If you are in the mood, you can take another boat ride. Lanterns, moonlight, arch bridges, and long corridors, you have it all. Stay near West Street.

Dining: There are many restaurants near the Smoke and Rain Long Corridor where you can taste Xitang’s home-cooked dishes.

Accommodation: Stay at a guesthouse near West Street. Walk by the river at night, enjoy the night view, release river lanterns, and listen to community opera and field songs.

D3 Huanxiu Bridge → Shipi Alley → Zhongfutang → Xiyuan → Five Girls Theme Park

The last day is more relaxed. You can stroll leisurely along West Street. The food and handicrafts are still dazzling. Walk through the alleys, visit the ancient houses. If you are interested in the courtyard, you can visit Xiyuan, Wang Mansion, and Xue Mansion on West Street. They are ancient and elegant. After lunch, exit the scenic spot from the main entrance and go for a walk in Five Girls Park near the scenic spot’s ticket office. Before leaving Xitang, don’t forget to buy some yellow wine and eight-treasure cake from the supermarket on Youlu Road to take home for your family. Take the flavor of Jiangnan and embark on your journey home.

Dining: There are many restaurants and noodle shops near West Street, which are converted from folk houses. You can choose a restaurant with a good reputation and taste authentic Xitang dishes such as sending children dragon hooves, steamed white thread fish, and wonton old duck stew.