Atlas of China
Xitang Water Town 西塘Xītáng
5A scenic area · Jiaxing, Zhejiang
About Xitang Water Town
A canal town about 10 km north of Jiashan, on the old border between the Wu and Yue states, whose preserved centre of Ming and Qing houses is threaded by nine waterways crossed by 27 stone bridges. Its signature is nearly a kilometre of tiled covered walkways running along the canal-side streets, with narrow alleys such as Shipi Lane between the houses. Xitang was in the first national list of historic towns in 2003, appears in the film Mission: Impossible III and has hosted a yearly Hanfu (traditional dress) festival since 2013.
How to get to Xitang Water Town
About 10 km north of Jiashan town and some 20 km by road from Jiashan South high-speed station; central Shanghai is roughly 1.5 hours away by road.
Nearby
- Zhouzhuang 周庄古镇 20 km
Jiangnan's most famous water town, famed for its Twin Bridges and merchant halls - Wuzhen Water Town 乌镇 40 km
Stone bridges and lantern-lit canals in a water town that's best after dark - Classical Gardens of Suzhou 苏州园林 50 km
Whole landscapes of rock, water and pavilion folded into a city block - Former French Concession 原法租界 60 km
Plane-tree streets, garden villas and shikumen lanes for Shanghai's best city walk
Also within 20 km: Jinze Ancient Town 金泽古镇 (10 km), Tomb of Wu Zhen and Plum Blossom Hermitage 吴镇墓 (10 km), Fengjing Ancient Town 枫泾古镇 (10 km), Jiashan Library and Museum 嘉善图博中心 (10 km), Shanghai Grand View Garden 上海大观园 (10 km), Chen Yun Memorial Hall and Liantang Ancient Town 陈云故里·练塘古镇 (20 km).
On the map
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Open Xitang Water Town on the map