Shanghai Water Towns & Villages

Shanghai Water Towns & Villages

Fengjing Website:　www.shfj.cn With a history of more than 1,500 years, Fengjing ancient town was once a key connection between Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. There are many bridges, temple, famous people and lanes in the town. The town is also known as the   birthplace of the famed Jinshan Peasant Painting, which has won praise for its creative designs and bright colors that vividly represent the everyday life of the working people.   Qibao Website:　www.goqibao.com There is a 360-m long south-north boulevard in the center of Qibao ancient town. The North Square and the Bridge-head Square are the principal parts.   The southern section of the boulevard is a street of catering service, offering visitors with all kinds of delicacies, such as the traditional Qibao square cake, lamb meat, Haitang cake, etc. The northern section of the boulevard is a cultural, tourist and shopping street, offering special local handicrafts, arts and crafts and commodities from other places. There are also historical humanistic sights in Tangqiao and the Old Boulevard , where visitors may find the transitional traces from the traditional business in Old Boulevard to the modern ones in the south-north boulevard area. Here, the contradiction between the old and the new is easily resolved.   Zhujiajiao Add:　Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu District Tel:　+86 21 59242771 Website:　www.zhujiajiao.com Known as the “ Venice in Shanghai ”, it is a well-preserved waterside ancient town. It was already a country fair as early   as the Warring States Period, 1,700 years ago. During the Wanli years of the Ming Dynasty (1573-1617), with merchants flocking to the place and a growing population, it had become a prosperous town. There, we can still see the traces of the antique markets and streets of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The antique buildings and simple life-style of the town's people will give visitors a feeling of peace and rest.   Nanxiang Nanxiang has a history of nearly 1500 years. It's a business center from old times and was known as Silver Nanxiang. In 1991, it was listed as one of the four famous historical and cultural towns in Shanghai.   Located in the northwest part of Shanghai, Nanxiang is the south gate of Jia ding District and an important town of culture and business in South Jia ding. It has convenient traffic facilities both on the land and by river. Hu jia Highway, Huyi highway and Huning Railway runs vertically across the town and Yunzaobang runs horizontally across the town. The total area of the town is 33.4 square kilometers, among which 5.5 square kilometers is the town area. With a population of 48,000, the town has 19 administrative villages, 12 resident's committee and 163 villager group.   Nanxun Add:　Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province Website:　www.chinananxun.com Nanxun, just west of Shanghai, is one of southern China 's famous water towns with courtyard houses lining narrow streets, and canals crossed by stone bridges.     Wuzhen Location:　Wuzhen lies at the north of Tongxiang City . It faces Huzhou City to the west, Jiangsu 's Wujiang County to the north, and is the boundary area of two provinces and three cities. A county-level highway runs across the town, which links the provincial highway, No.320 and No.318 national highways and Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway. Wuzhen is     140 km away from Shanghai. Website:　www.wuzhen.com.cn Wuzhen, a town with a history of 1200 years, is just 50 minutes' drive from Hangzhou City . This small town, with its black tiled, tung oilpainted timber framework houses, that contrast sharply with its white walls and gray flagging, brings to mind a Chinese ink and wash painting. The river running through the town was once the main means of transportation for local people, but these days is little used, other than for festive celebrations, when bulk cargo is shipped in. The window sills of the houses on the banks of the river are further extended with boards, on which flowers, plants and bonsai bloom in the warm sunshine, adding a touch of life and color to this tranquil, old-style town.   Xitang Location:　Xitang is located in Shanghai Economic Zone where the economy is comparatively developed in China at the junction of Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province and Shanghai Municipality, 90km due from Shanghai on the east, 110km off Hangzhou on the west, 85km far to Suzhou on the north and 9km away from Jiashan Town seat on the south .It     is not only superior in geographic location,but also very convenient in water and land transportation,connecting 320 State Highway and Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway on the south and meeting 318 State Highway on the north with Hangzhou-Shanghai Grade A railway passing though the boundary. Website:　www.xitang.com.cn Xitang is level, densely distributed with rivers and has a very quiet natural environment.9 rivers converge in this town, dividing it into 8 sections, but many bridges link this water town together(anciently called as “nine dragon old pearl” and “wind from 8 sides”).Inside the town, there are many well-preserved architectural groups constructed during the Ming and Qing dynasties, which boast a higher artistry and study value, thus being highlighted by the experts at home and abroad studying antique buildings. Through a bird's-eye view of the whole town, green waves ripple everywhere and every family resides near water. In the morning, water flows beneath bridges, thin mist is like silk, pinkish walls on both banks stand tall and erect and tiled houses are reflected inversely in the water. In the evening, the setting sun shines slantwise, songs come from fishing boats, lamps flicker and the fragrance of wine drifts. The whole old town is like a poem and a picture. In this town, people will feel that they are seemingly in an earthly paradise. It is hard to know that people exist in the picture or picture exists in the heart of people.   Tongli Location:　Tongli is located on the bank of Taihu Lake and the shore of Great Canal, in Wujiang City , Jiangsu Province. Website:　www.china-tongli.com Tongli, a picturesque and elegant town, has become world-known for its having wonderful scenery, classic building and     precious relics. Tongli is a small town with a population of 50,000, covers a total area of 100 square kilometers. Surrounded by water on four sides, the place looks as if it were inlaid in the centre of five lakes including Jiuli, Yeze, Nanxing and Pangshan. The proper of this town is divided into seven blocks by fifteen streams. However, they have been combined into a complete whole by 49 bridges in different shape. With their dwellings built beside the stream, the locals all enjoy the convenience to travel by boat. In such a case, Tongli is acclaimed as one of the well-preserved ancient towns with water scenery in Jiangsu province.   Luzhi Location:　Luzhi is located in the east part of Suzhou City, it is 48 kilometers away from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport . Website:　www.luzhi.com.cn The history of Luzhi dated back 2500 years ago when King of Wu during the Spring and Autumn Period built his palace north of the     town. From Tang dynasty through Ming and Qing, many man of letters lived in this dreamland water town. Ming dynasty poet Gao Qi's poem "Scene of Pu Li" still accurately describe the scenery of Luzhi: "Long bridge short bridge with willows Front stream rear stream with lotus People watching banner over wine store risen Seagulls escort boats to home of fishermen." Luzhi is characterized by her water lanes and bridges some of the bridges dated back to Song dynasty 800 years ago. Luzhi is currently listed in UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List as “The Venetian Township South of the Yangtse River-Luzhi”.   Mudu Location:　Mudu is located on the western outskirts of Suzhou , east China 's Jiangsu Province. Website:　www.mudu.com.cn Mudu is a small city that dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Built at the foot of Lingyan Hill in the western     suburbs of Suzhou, the city once included more than 30 private gardens where wealthy officials, revered intellectuals and artists enjoyed the peace and ambience of canalside living. Its claim to fame is touted on a sign near the entrance to the old town: Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) visited six times.   Zhouzhuang Location:　At the south-east of Suzhou city and south-west of Kunshan city Zhouzhuang is located. Zhouzhuang is at the juncture of Kunshan city, Qingpu county in Shanghai and Wujiang city in Jiangsu Province. Website:　www.zhouzhuang.net     Known as a collection of beauty of China 's water town, Zhouzhuang, like a lotus on the water, is surrounded by rivers as Nanbeichi, Houxiang, Youcheyang and Zhongshi. There are many bridges as well, the most famous being Yong'an and Shide, alias Double Bridge, from which many artists have drawn inspiration, including the eminent painter Chen Yifei. Sitting on a boat, you may be carried away by the quiet and beautiful scene. At night when all streets are empty, you catch a glimpse of dim lights down the narrow lanes. Occasionally, the sweet peace is punctuated by the distant sound of laughter, and a harmonious environment is created. Zhouzhuang is also well known for its simple but unique architecture, which stands well up through 900 years. More than 60 percent of the current residences were constructed during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Hence, it's “a treasure of China ” described by Luo Zhewen, a notable architect. Moreover, Zhouzhuang boasts rich cultural resources like Grandmother Tea, and such simple local customs as fast boating.