A Day Trip to Xitang! A Jiangnan Water Town with More Local Charm than Wuzhen

A Day Trip to Xitang! A Jiangnan Water Town with More Local Charm than Wuzhen || In everyone's heart, there lies a yearning for the water towns of Jiangnan. Especially for those living in the north, where snow falls upon the muddy ground, the misty and rainy Jiangnan is always a place of endless longing and imagination. Jiangnan is the damp oil-paper umbrella in Dai Wangshu's writings, and also the glamorous and melancholic peach blossom fan in Kong Shangren's works. But I have a special fondness for Xitang, with its strong sense of daily life. Xitang is a town of many bridges, lanes, and covered corridors. The corridors are built along the river, with houses topped with grey tiles. The stone bridges are low and solid, while the arch bridges rise and fall. The oar boats tirelessly shuttle through the waterways, and the simply furnished shops exude a quiet and serene atmosphere. Sitting under the corridor, one can overlook the wooden boats passing through the bridges; or in a teahouse by the shore, brew a pot of tea and quietly watch the crowd on the opposite bank. Strolling along West Street, wandering through the lanes, one can taste the delicious food. 🗺️ Route: Main entrance of the scenic area → Huguo Sui Liang Wang Temple → Zui Garden → Misty Rain Corridor → Songzi Laifeng Bridge → Anxiu Bridge → Yongning Bridge → West Street → Tile Culture Exhibition Hall → Button Museum → West Garden → Huanxiu Bridge → Shipi Lane → Wang's Residence. 🔴 Must-visit: ✅ Misty Rain Corridor: A corridor several hundred meters long, a unique structure of Xitang. There are also backrest benches along the river for resting. ✅ Huanxiu Bridge: A semi-circular arch bridge, through which one can photograph the ancient residences, creating a very poetic scene. Standing on the bridge, one can also take pictures of the oar boats. ✅ Yongning Bridge: From here, one can have a panoramic view of both sides of the river, see the quaint Misty Rain Corridor and the scenery of the boats. This place is also the filming location for Jay Chou's music video 'Tianya Guoke'. ✅ Shipi Lane: The most characteristic open-air alley in Xitang, with a narrow strip of sky above, known as Xitang's 'One-Line Sky'. ✅ Songzi Laifeng Bridge: A classic check-in bridge in Xitang, couples who cross it will have their wishes come true. The large white wall between the bridges is filled with tourists' love stories and heartfelt wishes. ✅ West Street: The busiest shopping street in Xitang, with many restaurants and specialty shops on both sides. ✅ West Garden: The largest private garden in Xitang, with a typical Jiangnan garden style. 🍱 Food Recommendations: Spring bamboo shoot siu mai, Malan head, The Number One Noodles in the World, Guan Lao Tai stinky tofu, Bazzhen cake. ‼️ Tips: 1️⃣ It is recommended to take the high-speed train to Jiashan South, then transfer to bus K222; or transfer from Hangzhou East Station to Jiashan South, or fly to Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport and then take a bus. 2️⃣ The scenic area can be entered for free before 8 am and after 5 pm. Spring in Xitang sees the blossoming of cherry blossoms, but they are nearing the end of their bloom now.