Best time to travel
✅ The climate is pleasant in spring and autumn (March-May, September-November), which is suitable for strolling in the ancient streets and enjoying the flowers and scenery.
✅ In summer (June-August), lotus flowers are in full bloom in Xiaolianzhuang, but you need to pay attention to sun protection.
⚠️ Winter (December-February) has fewer tourists, making it a quieter time, but some outdoor experiences are limited.
🚗 Transportation Guide
1️⃣ High-speed rail: Get off at Huzhou Station and take bus No. 101 directly to Nanxun (about 1.5 hours).
2️⃣ Self-driving: Depart from Shanghai/Hangzhou, take the Shen-Su-Zhe-Wan Expressway (A9) to Nanxun Exit, about 2 hours.
3️⃣ Transportation within the scenic area: walking + Wupeng boat (it is recommended to take a boat in the evening to experience the night scenery of the water town).
🚤 The correct way to open the water town
• Public boat (3 yuan/person): From Shizigang Wharf to Silk Wharf, a 10-minute voyage allows you to see the essence of the water town.
• Night Cruise (30 yuan/person): Board the boat when the lights come on, and the lanterns on both sides of the river are reflected on the water, making you feel like you are traveling through time and space
• Hiking: Stroll along the Ditang Old Road, every step is a beautiful view
🏯 Cultural codes not to be missed
1. **Zhang Jingjiang's Former Residence**: The residence of a legendary figure in the Republic of China, hiding half of modern history
2. **Jiayetang Library**: the largest private library in modern China
3. **Liu's Ladder**: A blend of Chinese and Western aesthetics in a red brick building
4. **Xiao Lian Zhuang**: The lotus pond is as beautiful as a painting in summer, and the withered lotus leaves in winter are very artistic
🍜 Nanxun on the tip of your tongue
• Breakfast recommendations: Zhuangyuanlou’s double-topped noodles, the golden combination of crispy fish + braised meat
• Afternoon tea: Three courses of tea at Chunlan Tea House, experience traditional hospitality
• Dinner place: Xun pig trotters at Changxing Pavilion, soft and tasty
• Hidden menu: Dingsheng cakes sold on the street are the most delicious when they are made and sold right away
📸 Photographer’s private camera position
1. Reflection of Baijianlou in the morning mist (best between 6:00-7:00)
2. Boats passing by on Tongjin Bridge
3. The red arch of Liu's Ladder
4. Carved window lattices beside the lotus pond in Xiaolianzhuang
💡 Useful tips
• Tickets: 95 yuan for a combined ticket, but free entry in the early morning and evening
• Accommodation: Recommended Baijianlou Riverside B&B, 200-300 yuan/night
• Transportation: Take the high-speed rail to Nanxun Station and then take a taxi for 15 minutes
• Best season: March to May (springtime) September to November (autumn weather)
🌟 Nanxun’s unique little happiness
• Encounter an impromptu performance by a Pingtan artist on a street corner
• Discovered Tang and Song poems engraved on popsicle sticks
• Watch local grandmas washing clothes by the river
• When night falls, lanterns light up one by one
Nanxun is not for "checking in", but for "living". Here, you can:
- Spend the whole morning sitting by the river and daydreaming
- Follow the locals to buy vegetables at the morning market
- Listen to the stories of the past told by the old people in the old house
- Do nothing, just feel the time passing by
This guide doesn't have a tight itinerary, just suggestions on how to slow down. Because Nanxun taught us: the most beautiful scenery often appears at the moment you slow down.
Elizabeth Mitchell Rose-40