Nanxun Ancient Town
南浔古镇
A “Chinese-Western fusion” ancient town, once the richest in Jiangnan. It is home to Xiaolian Villa, the Jiaye Library and silk merchants’ mansions such as Zhang Shiming’s former residence, along with the gardens and Western-style buildings left by the Qing-era “Four Elephants and Eight Oxen.”
Nanxun Ancient Town is in Nanxun District, Huzhou City, about 70 km from Moganshan and 100 km from Hangzhou. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, it grew wealthy through the export of Jili silk. It produced the wealthy families known as “Four Elephants, Eight Oxen and Seventy-Two Golden Dogs,” the Liu, Zhang, Pang and Gu families. As a result, the town’s highlights are not its waterside streets but its mansions and gardens of immense wealth, many of which incorporate Western architectural elements. Since 2001, the outer areas have been open free of charge, while the core sites are sold as a combined ticket.
Must-sees: Xiaolian Villa was the private garden of the Liu family, with a lotus pond, an imperially granted archway and a family temple. The lotus is especially beautiful in summer. Jiaye Library is a famous library built by Liu Chenggan in the 1920s. Its collection once reached 600,000 volumes, and the pond and garden in front are peaceful. Zhang Shiming’s former residence (Yide Hall) is the finest example of Chinese-Western fusion. Behind the Chinese reception hall are a French-style ballroom, stained-glass windows and fireplaces. Liu’s Ladder House (the “Red House”) is a Roman-style brick Western building. Zhang Jingjiang’s former residence presents the life of Zhang Jingjiang, an elder statesman of the Republican era. Hundred Rooms is a riverside row of Ming-dynasty housing with long corridors, built for servants. Its white walls and dark tiles are reflected in the river. It is the most photogenic waterside scene in the town, and it is most beautiful in the evening.
Route: South Gate (Xiaolian Villa), Jiaye Library, Liu’s Ladder House, Zhang Shiming’s former residence, Zhang Jingjiang’s former residence, then Hundred Rooms. On foot, this takes about 4 hours. You can also take a river boat (about RMB 100 per boat) to see Hundred Rooms from the water. The combined ticket costs about RMB 95.
Transport: Take a bus from Huzhou Station or Nanxun Bus Station. Direct coaches run from Hangzhou and Shanghai to Nanxun, a trip of about 2 hours. Driving is the most convenient option. From Moganshan, it takes about 1 hour by car.
Notes: You can stay overnight in the ancient town to experience its nightscape. Nanxun specialties include xiuhuajin (a leafy green vegetable), shuangjiao noodles and dingsheng cake. On weekends and holidays, the ticketed sites are crowded.
Opening hours
Sights 8:00–17:00 (17:30 in summer); old town streets open all day
Nearby sights
- Feiying Pagoda
- Xiaoxi Street & Yishang Street
- South Taihu & Sheraton "Moon Hotel"
- Xinshi Ancient Town
- Taihu Longemont Resort
- Xiazhu Lake Wetland
- Discovery Adventures Moganshan
- Yucun Village (Moganshan Town)