• Xitang Overview
• Highlights
• Food
• Transportation
• Accommodation
• Recommeded Itinerary
• Travel Tips

• Tongli Water Town
• Wuzhen Water Town
• Zhouzhuang Water Town
• Luzhi Water Town

Xitang Overview

Xitang, one of the six ancient towns south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River is in Jiashan County, Zhejiang Province. Jiashan is in the middle of Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou (within 100km from each). The roads in Jiashan County are good with modern fast highways; National Highway 320 and Huhang Expressway run across the county. Jiashan Town can be reached by both coach and railway. Xitang is 10km (6 miles) north of Jiashan, 20 minutes by bus.

The major difference between Xitang and other ancient water towns lies in the ceilinged corridors (about 1,000 meters (1,100 yards) long) beside the river, which are just like the Summer Palace Corridor. The streets with the town’s shops are built along the river. In the past, famers and businessmen in water towns used the river as a street and boats as their vehicles. Much purchasing was done on the boats or banks. Thus, a special structure that linked the river and stores, as well as protected people from the sun and rain, was created-the ceilinged corridor, which was passed down from generation to generation and eventually became a tradition. The useful ceilinged corridor is a special feature of water towns. The 1,300-meter (1,400-yard)-long ceilinged corridor in Xitang has become a place for people to enjoying the ancient scenery and rest idly.  

Xitang covers an area of 1 square kilometer (0.4 square miles). The nine river courses across the ancient town divide it into eight parts, connected by 27 ancient bridges. The ancient town has always been like a changing folk tale of water town images: “houses on the river, bridges on the river, people on the bridges, boats under the bridges, stores on the bridge ends and reflections in water” through the generations.  

The major difference between Xitang and other ancient water towns lies in the ceilinged corridors (about 1,000 meters (1,100 yards) long) beside the river, which are just like the Summer Palace Corridor. » more

Special products of Xitang include: yellow rice wine, steamed pork wrapped in lotus leaves, cake of “eight treasures”, strong-smelling bean curd, Fen Lake crabs and glutinous rice dumplings.» more

Xitang is 90 km from Shanghai City, 100 km from Hangzhou City and 80 km from Suzhou City. The new class-A Shanjiang Highway runs by the town of Xitang, joining National Highway 320. » more

There are 3 kinds of inns in Xitang: ancient houses from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), riverside inns and modern hotels. » more

Take a boat from Futang Pier by Songzilaifeng Bridge. There are boats for rent in the daytime. There are tour boats in the evening. Boats depart when the seats are all taken. » more

The hottest time is in July, with an average temperature of 27ºC.The coldest time is in January, with an average temperature of 4.5 ºC. The frost--free period is 240 days. » more