XiTang

A soft glow from red lanterns fills the evening sky as you stroll down the narrow lanes in this thousand-year-old water town. Among Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, you’ll observe the traditional lifestyles of XiTang’s residents. Here you’ll see woman washing their clothes and possibly their dinner in the river, and local children playing in the small lanes. While an influx of tourists arrive every morning, it is not as busy as other

Location and Cost

Located in Jiashan County, in northern Zhejiang Province, XiTang is about 3 hours from Shanghai by car. Admission is RMB 60, which includes entrance to all the museums and scenic spots.

Attractions

Button Museum – This museum is home to the biggest button in the world. Here, you can see ancient buttons as well as modern ones on display, and even watch a button be made from shell using traditional equipment.

water towns, and normal life for the people of XiTang seems to remain unchanged.

Yellow Rice Wine Display Hall – Learn about the winemaking process in this museum.

Root-carving Museum – This museum contains some exquisite carvings from roots.

Longtangs – Xitang contains 122 longtangs, which are small lanes off the main waterway. Be sure to wander to Shipi Lane, which is only one meter wide and 68 meters long.

Covered Corridors – This feature makes Xitang unique when compared to other water towns. Due to the rainy climate, each family erects a ceiling over the stone path in front of their home. They connect to form covered corridors. At night, with the rain falling among the glow of red lanterns, you feel as if you are walking in an old movie.

Ancient Bridges – Nine rivers run through Xitang, which explains the 104 wooden or stone bridges in the town. Cross as many as you can, and be sure to see the Lying Dragon Bridge.

Other attractions include a Chinese Tile Museum, a Chinese Fan Museum, a number of ancient residences and Xiyuan Garden.

Foods

Recommended Snacks

Bazheng Gao (8 Treasures Cake) – Sweet snack made from glutinous rice flour combined with 8 medicinal herbs

Qianshi Gao – Similar to 8 Treasures Cake, but contains only sweet olive (osmanthus) blossoms

Huashen Tang - Peanut candy

Zhima Tang – Sesame candy

Dingji Maiya Tabing – Dingji malt cake

Recommended Dishes

Bai Si Yu - Braised Baisi Fish – bean curd, cooking wine, ginger, spring onions

You Dun Cai Xin - Cabbage hearts braised with oil

Hun Dun Lao Ya Bao - Casserole with duck and wonton

Mao Dou Ling Jiao - Green soybean with water chestnuts

You Yan Xie – Steamed crab in oil and salt

Shopping

As XiTang has not been spoiled by a large number of tourists and vendors, there is not much to purchase aside from the local snacks. Take home a bottle of yellow rice wine (Huangzhou), a package of 8 treasures cake (Bazheng Gao) and possibly some artwork depicting the local scenery.

Accommodation

Xitang Holiday Restaurant Accommodation 0573-4567388

Kaixun Grand Restaurant Accommodation 2 stars 0573-4564888

Yuyuan Garden Grand Restaurant Accommodation 0573-4564927

Phoenix hotel Accommodation 0573-4561858

Xinxin hotel Accommodation 0573-4560299

Transportation

Train to JiaShan

This is probably the most efficient way to travel, because it can allow you more freedom and flexibility. Take the train from Shanghai to JiaShan (approx. 1.25 hours) leaving from the Shanghai South Railway station at the Jing Jiang Park Subway Station (line 1). Numerous trains leave each day, and a hard seat is approximately RMB 8. Buses leave regularly for XiTang from the JiaShan bus station around the corner from the train station. The 15-minute ride costs RMB 3.5, and taxis to XiTang cost RMB 25-30.

Bus from Shanghai Stadium

A bus to XiTang departs at 9 a.m. on weekends from the Shanghai Sightseeing Bus Center located under the no. 5 staircase at Gate 12 of the Shanghai Stadium (666 Tianyaoqiao Lu; 021/6426-5555; www.ChinaSSBC.com).

Price for round-trip bus ticket including entrance fee: RMB 120