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 Attractions
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.
Longtangs – Xitang contains 122 longtangs,
which are small lanes off the main waterway. Be sure to wander to
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
Other
attractions include a
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
Bus from
A
bus to XiTang departs at
Price
for round-trip bus ticket including entrance fee: RMB 120