Huzhou Nanxun Old Town
Huzhou Nanxun Old Town
4.5
7:55 AM - 4:33 PM
Monday
7:55 AM - 4:33 PM
Tuesday
7:55 AM - 4:33 PM
Wednesday
7:55 AM - 4:33 PM
Thursday
7:55 AM - 4:33 PM
Friday
7:55 AM - 4:33 PM
Saturday
7:55 AM - 4:33 PM
Sunday
7:55 AM - 4:33 PM
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Raymond W
Townsville, Australia4,535 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
One of the most widely promoted tourist attractions of the Yangtxe River Delta Area are the so-called canal towns. These towns typically boast whitewashed houses with black-tiled roofs, courtyard gardens of osthmanus trees and weirdly shaped rocks, and picturesque old stone bridges over narrow canals. "Gondolas" offer a ride along narrow canals, providing a chance to step back into the region's watery past. You can experience these things at quite a number of towns, but for several reasons Nanxun is the pick of the crop.
First and foremost, this town is simply less commercialized than many of its competitors. In other words, it is more authentic and soulful. Old people still sit in little restaurants here playing mah-jong and drinking tea, and most of the food offerings are local specialties. The two parts of the old town are split by a vegetable market, showing that this is still a lived-in town, not just a sterile museum piece.
Secondly, the town has an interesting mix of European styles which makes this place a little different from the other canal towns. Liu's House, for example, features a classical portico and a red-brick residence with French balconies and stained glass in the windows. Due to the proximity to tehlate 19th century boom in Shanghai, Western influences began to circulate amongst the elite families here and their mansions are often offer a unique mix of Western ballrooms and Confucian family altars.
The 100 yuan entrance ticket is quite steep, but you can easily spend half a day or more here if you visit all the hsitoric houses and gardens that the ticket covers. It is a possible day trip from Shanghai, Suzhou or Hangzhou, or you could also stay overnight in the modern town of Nanxun.
First and foremost, this town is simply less commercialized than many of its competitors. In other words, it is more authentic and soulful. Old people still sit in little restaurants here playing mah-jong and drinking tea, and most of the food offerings are local specialties. The two parts of the old town are split by a vegetable market, showing that this is still a lived-in town, not just a sterile museum piece.
Secondly, the town has an interesting mix of European styles which makes this place a little different from the other canal towns. Liu's House, for example, features a classical portico and a red-brick residence with French balconies and stained glass in the windows. Due to the proximity to tehlate 19th century boom in Shanghai, Western influences began to circulate amongst the elite families here and their mansions are often offer a unique mix of Western ballrooms and Confucian family altars.
The 100 yuan entrance ticket is quite steep, but you can easily spend half a day or more here if you visit all the hsitoric houses and gardens that the ticket covers. It is a possible day trip from Shanghai, Suzhou or Hangzhou, or you could also stay overnight in the modern town of Nanxun.
Written October 14, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
xally85
Malaysia34 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
Spent a lot of times combing through different articles comparing water towns nearby Shanghai. After our experience in Qi Bao and Wu Zhen, we know what is most important: quietness and authentic. Less commercialism, and less tourist groups with flags and megaphone storming though the street!
What the articles said about Nan Xun is quite accurate. It is not as commercialised or crowded compared to others. Well, as the town is big, you can still find decent peace and quiet time in an area somewhere. Some of the tourist attractions have lost its uniqueness / antiquity due to heavy renovations, but others are still good.
The highlight for me is the Bai Jian Lou - a series of old houses but still lived by locals till today. Then the lotus villa! And just sitting on the bridge looking at the boats! Spend a night or two for a truly relaxing time. Along the street there are nice cozy little cafe where you can just chill...
The wave of commercialism is already coming in, especially on weekdays with groups of tourist with megaphones and flags! Oh how I hate the megaphones! But hopefully the locals still manage to maintain their unique culture despite all this! Must see!
There is a direct bus from Shanghai Long distance bus station at Zhong Xing Rd direct to Nan Xun and u can take a 'tricycle' with a driver to take you to the hotel. English is not spoken here at all, so best to go with someone who can speak basic Mandarin.
What the articles said about Nan Xun is quite accurate. It is not as commercialised or crowded compared to others. Well, as the town is big, you can still find decent peace and quiet time in an area somewhere. Some of the tourist attractions have lost its uniqueness / antiquity due to heavy renovations, but others are still good.
The highlight for me is the Bai Jian Lou - a series of old houses but still lived by locals till today. Then the lotus villa! And just sitting on the bridge looking at the boats! Spend a night or two for a truly relaxing time. Along the street there are nice cozy little cafe where you can just chill...
The wave of commercialism is already coming in, especially on weekdays with groups of tourist with megaphones and flags! Oh how I hate the megaphones! But hopefully the locals still manage to maintain their unique culture despite all this! Must see!
There is a direct bus from Shanghai Long distance bus station at Zhong Xing Rd direct to Nan Xun and u can take a 'tricycle' with a driver to take you to the hotel. English is not spoken here at all, so best to go with someone who can speak basic Mandarin.
Written August 9, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
adizzyfish
North Chicago, IL26 contributions
Jan 2012
Me and my family went to this old little town on the second day of the Chinese new year. We live in Hangzhou, so old towns of this style are not new to us. We didn't intend to explore every detail of Nanxun. Instead, we just planned to spend a day relaxing, walking around and getting away from all the crowdiness in the city.
The ticket to the town is marketed at 100 RMB that covers all the tourist attractions inside of the town, but you can get a better deal with 60 RMB at http://www.lvmama.com/product/30891 Yet, it turns out that you can get FREE entrance to the town if you decide to stay in one of the hotels inside of the town, in which case you do have to pay separately for the attractions if you want to see what's inside.
We stayed in 赏玉阁会所 (http://www.shangyuge.com/abouts.asp), boy, they have a private hot spring! That saved us a bundle because we were planning to have a detour to a hot spring spa. Asides that, their decoration is very old-fashioned. My parents liked it very much.
We walked along the river. The town is smaller than we thought. Many old buildings and houses were very well maintained, and a few others were under renovation. Since it was during the Spring Festival, the whole town was very festive. The stalls along the road were selling all sorts of candy, food, and souvenirs. If you're up for it, try some fried stinky tofu. What a treat! :P
We didn't go into any of the attraction sites, so we guided ourselves through the town fairly quickly. If the weather were warmer, we'd sit outside along the river and have some local tea and enjoy the view. All in all, it was a great getaway during the holidays, and my parents say they'll visit the town again with their friends when summer comes.
The ticket to the town is marketed at 100 RMB that covers all the tourist attractions inside of the town, but you can get a better deal with 60 RMB at http://www.lvmama.com/product/30891 Yet, it turns out that you can get FREE entrance to the town if you decide to stay in one of the hotels inside of the town, in which case you do have to pay separately for the attractions if you want to see what's inside.
We stayed in 赏玉阁会所 (http://www.shangyuge.com/abouts.asp), boy, they have a private hot spring! That saved us a bundle because we were planning to have a detour to a hot spring spa. Asides that, their decoration is very old-fashioned. My parents liked it very much.
We walked along the river. The town is smaller than we thought. Many old buildings and houses were very well maintained, and a few others were under renovation. Since it was during the Spring Festival, the whole town was very festive. The stalls along the road were selling all sorts of candy, food, and souvenirs. If you're up for it, try some fried stinky tofu. What a treat! :P
We didn't go into any of the attraction sites, so we guided ourselves through the town fairly quickly. If the weather were warmer, we'd sit outside along the river and have some local tea and enjoy the view. All in all, it was a great getaway during the holidays, and my parents say they'll visit the town again with their friends when summer comes.
Written February 6, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chinatravelbug
Shanghai, China1 contribution
Jul 2011 • Solo
I live in nearby Shanghai with easy access to the area's numerous water towns. I've been to the most popular ones, including Wuzhen and Zhujiazhao, and have always felt they were 'staged' for tourists. The homes are cleaned up and refurbished to give one the feeling of what it may have looked like a thousand years ago, but there is no heart and soul to the place, and as bus loads of Chinese tourists crowd through the narrow lanes, the experience is far from peaceful.
Nanxun, perhaps due to it's location a bit farther from Shanghai, has managed to retain it's original heart and soul. This town marked the beginning of the silk road, and thus became home to many affluent Chinese businessmen. Therefore, the foreign influence resulting from silk road trading is evident in the culture and architecture. It's fascinating to wander through these elegant estates and gardens, but you really need to have a guide to educate and entertain you on the stories behind the walls. I called the Nanxun Tourism Center directly to request one, as the travel agencies typically provide disappointing service. They put me in touch with Michael Wang, who is a native of Nanxun and grew up in the watertown. He not only has university-level english skills but an in-depth knowledge of the the town's history and culture. As an added bonus, he can provide some guidance and insight into other aspects of Chinese culture, such as painting, calligraphy, or tea. He captivated me with his interesting stories and bits of trivia that only a local would know, and even recommended a delicious lunch prepared by a local chef. What really impressed me was before he ordered the food, he asked if I had any food allergies, disliked msg, etc, -he paid attention to every detail! If you are trying to decide which water town to visit, please have your travel agency get in touch with Michael to host your tour. You won't be disappointed!
Nanxun, perhaps due to it's location a bit farther from Shanghai, has managed to retain it's original heart and soul. This town marked the beginning of the silk road, and thus became home to many affluent Chinese businessmen. Therefore, the foreign influence resulting from silk road trading is evident in the culture and architecture. It's fascinating to wander through these elegant estates and gardens, but you really need to have a guide to educate and entertain you on the stories behind the walls. I called the Nanxun Tourism Center directly to request one, as the travel agencies typically provide disappointing service. They put me in touch with Michael Wang, who is a native of Nanxun and grew up in the watertown. He not only has university-level english skills but an in-depth knowledge of the the town's history and culture. As an added bonus, he can provide some guidance and insight into other aspects of Chinese culture, such as painting, calligraphy, or tea. He captivated me with his interesting stories and bits of trivia that only a local would know, and even recommended a delicious lunch prepared by a local chef. What really impressed me was before he ordered the food, he asked if I had any food allergies, disliked msg, etc, -he paid attention to every detail! If you are trying to decide which water town to visit, please have your travel agency get in touch with Michael to host your tour. You won't be disappointed!
Written July 22, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessica V
6 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
My partner and I visited Nanxun on a Sunday and had braced ourselves for the throngs of tourists we had read visit Watertowns on weekends. We were pleasantly surprised by how few tourists there were when we arrived. We caught the bus from shanghai south bus station (50 Youan each one way, bring a copy of your passport to book tickets) at 7.20am and arrived around 9.20am. The throngs of tourists did arrive - by 11.00am the town was a bit too busy for us to enjoy but we felt satisfied having had a bit of time sans masses. The town is beautiful and retains its charm even with the crowds. There are some beautiful gardens and plenty of ancient Chinese architecture. We didn’t feel the need a whole day in Nanxun and returned to Shanghai in the afternoon by about 3.30pm. Would recommend going early and on a weekday if possible.
Written June 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruth C
84 contributions
Sep 2015 • Solo
Nanxun old town is a beautiful and calm renovated section of canal and buildings that were the historical centre of the town. Entry is RMB100 for a day, and this includes entry to the area of the old town as well as around 10 historic buildings in the area. I think children under 120cm get in for free, but I didn't have any with me to test this out on! English is not widely spoken in Nanxun, and I get the impression that very few Western tourists visit. However, the main signs and displays in the town and historic buildings were in Mandarin and English.
The old town is essentially 2 stretches of canal with historic buildings on either side, some of which are restaurants, cafes, shops etc., some of which are renovated historic buildings to look around, and some of which people still live in. I found it to be a very peaceful and relaxed place and I stayed for 2 nights, although you could see everything in a day if you wished. If you are staying in a hotel in the old town then you get free entry to the area itself, although you will still need to buy a day ticket if you wish to visit the historic buildings.
Aside from the historic buildings to visit, there are boats that you can hire to take you on a trip down the canal (starting at RMB100 per boat, for up to 8 people - you pay more to go on a longer route - try to share with someone else if there are just one or two of you). The old town area has been renovated, but still seems to have retained its charm - it isn't too 'perfect'! The people seemed very laid back and I wasn't hassled at all by any shop keepers or cafe owners, which can often be the case in tourist places. I did get stared at a bit and a couple of people asked for my photograph or tried to make conversation with me (unsuccessfully, since I speak barely any Chinese - but they were very good humoured about it) - as I said, I think Western tourists are still a little uncommon here.
A couple of the historic buildings are a short walk from the old town area, and as you leave the 'old town' you can see how the other stretches of canal still have people living in the traditional buildings today. On my second day there it rained for almost the whole day, but this was fine as I spent the day looking around the old buildings and relaxing in cafes with views over the canal, and the rain lent the area a certain charm. At around 11am I encountered some large groups of tourists with tour guides, but in most part it was really quiet and didn't feel overly touristy.
It is a very beautiful and tranquil place and worth a visit. Take your camera, as there are many great photo opportunities (and if the beauty of the place isn't enough, there are a few stalls where you can hire traditional-style Chinese outfits to put on and take photos of yourself by the river!) Also take your mosquito spray - there is a lot of water here, so without protection you probably will get bitten.
I visited from Shanghai. It took just under 2 hours on a public bus from Shanghai Long Distance Coach Station, and then a taxi to the old town from Nanxun station. I definitely recommend getting a taxi from the station (or a tuk tuk 3-wheeler taxi, if you dare!) as, contrary to what I had read, it is actually not that easy to find the old town form the bus station. Getting the bus there was really easy, but some locals helped me with my journey back as Nanxun station is a bit more basic than Shanghai, and therefore harder for someone who doesn't speak Mandarin to navigate. Everyone was very helpful though, so it was fine! There seem to be lots of buses to and from Shanghai every day, although I couldn't find a way to book a return ticket (a Mandarin speaker may be able to help with that) and you will need to know the name of the Shanghai bus station you want to go to for your Nanxun-Shanghai ticket (or show the people at the station your Shanghai-Nanxun ticket and they will be able to work it out from that).
The old town is essentially 2 stretches of canal with historic buildings on either side, some of which are restaurants, cafes, shops etc., some of which are renovated historic buildings to look around, and some of which people still live in. I found it to be a very peaceful and relaxed place and I stayed for 2 nights, although you could see everything in a day if you wished. If you are staying in a hotel in the old town then you get free entry to the area itself, although you will still need to buy a day ticket if you wish to visit the historic buildings.
Aside from the historic buildings to visit, there are boats that you can hire to take you on a trip down the canal (starting at RMB100 per boat, for up to 8 people - you pay more to go on a longer route - try to share with someone else if there are just one or two of you). The old town area has been renovated, but still seems to have retained its charm - it isn't too 'perfect'! The people seemed very laid back and I wasn't hassled at all by any shop keepers or cafe owners, which can often be the case in tourist places. I did get stared at a bit and a couple of people asked for my photograph or tried to make conversation with me (unsuccessfully, since I speak barely any Chinese - but they were very good humoured about it) - as I said, I think Western tourists are still a little uncommon here.
A couple of the historic buildings are a short walk from the old town area, and as you leave the 'old town' you can see how the other stretches of canal still have people living in the traditional buildings today. On my second day there it rained for almost the whole day, but this was fine as I spent the day looking around the old buildings and relaxing in cafes with views over the canal, and the rain lent the area a certain charm. At around 11am I encountered some large groups of tourists with tour guides, but in most part it was really quiet and didn't feel overly touristy.
It is a very beautiful and tranquil place and worth a visit. Take your camera, as there are many great photo opportunities (and if the beauty of the place isn't enough, there are a few stalls where you can hire traditional-style Chinese outfits to put on and take photos of yourself by the river!) Also take your mosquito spray - there is a lot of water here, so without protection you probably will get bitten.
I visited from Shanghai. It took just under 2 hours on a public bus from Shanghai Long Distance Coach Station, and then a taxi to the old town from Nanxun station. I definitely recommend getting a taxi from the station (or a tuk tuk 3-wheeler taxi, if you dare!) as, contrary to what I had read, it is actually not that easy to find the old town form the bus station. Getting the bus there was really easy, but some locals helped me with my journey back as Nanxun station is a bit more basic than Shanghai, and therefore harder for someone who doesn't speak Mandarin to navigate. Everyone was very helpful though, so it was fine! There seem to be lots of buses to and from Shanghai every day, although I couldn't find a way to book a return ticket (a Mandarin speaker may be able to help with that) and you will need to know the name of the Shanghai bus station you want to go to for your Nanxun-Shanghai ticket (or show the people at the station your Shanghai-Nanxun ticket and they will be able to work it out from that).
Written September 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dongpurou
Shanghai, China53 contributions
Dec 2012 • Family
This is one of the relatively least visited water towns in the area. You won't find the huge crowds that swarm Zhouzhuang, Tongli or Wuzhen here, but don't expect to find only peace and quiet either, as it's pretty commercial all the same.
The ancient town is in fact part of a new, modern, big urban district lying east of Huzhou city. It's about 2 hours easy ride from Shanghai.
The town itself is beautiful though, with nice canals and houses with lots of red lanterns. The scenic spot is nice to stroll along, visiting the garden and mansions, which combine Chinese and Western architecture.
I found the nicest part of the old town north of the main scenic area, a place called Baijianlou in Chinese (百间楼), or the "100 room complex". Along this canal, the houses are not restored and kept their ancient, local charm. Chinese old town style life style still exists here and can be seen along the canal with small number of tourists.
The ancient town is in fact part of a new, modern, big urban district lying east of Huzhou city. It's about 2 hours easy ride from Shanghai.
The town itself is beautiful though, with nice canals and houses with lots of red lanterns. The scenic spot is nice to stroll along, visiting the garden and mansions, which combine Chinese and Western architecture.
I found the nicest part of the old town north of the main scenic area, a place called Baijianlou in Chinese (百间楼), or the "100 room complex". Along this canal, the houses are not restored and kept their ancient, local charm. Chinese old town style life style still exists here and can be seen along the canal with small number of tourists.
Written February 26, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
joyfulvien
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia330 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
Since Qing dynasty this small town along the river. Very well preserved ancient old town. Different from Xi Tang and Wu Zhen, this small old town still have many residents staying in the few hundred years building for many generations. Suggested to stay overnite there, u feel amazed to stay in few hundreds year inn and price is affordable and room is clean.
Night time is beautiful as well, walking Along the river and make u feel u back to ancient Qing dynasty. Worth to visit . Ticket is rmb 95, if u bought after 3pm u can use the ticket for next day as well.
Night time is beautiful as well, walking Along the river and make u feel u back to ancient Qing dynasty. Worth to visit . Ticket is rmb 95, if u bought after 3pm u can use the ticket for next day as well.
Written October 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CWYe
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia185 contributions
Apr 2017 • Family
We wanted to visit a quieter water village around Shanghai/Hangzhou area. After some research, we decided Nanxun is the place. It turned out we were not disappointed. Mind you every Chinese 5A tourist spots (a Chinese tourism board rating. 5A rating means a top tourist attraction) will attract its fair share of day trippers. Fortunately they are all gone in the evenings, and arriving only in late mornings. Staying two nights in the village we really get to see the best when not many tourists are around. The canals are beautiful during those times. There are real life people staying in the village. Wondering around watching people go about their business early morning is quite amazing. To us the most beautiful part of the village is outside the ticketing area, walk and follow a local market street, turn right to the 'hundred house' canal area. It is much more quieter and charming. The few historical houses of the rich and famous are worth visiting too. Turn out that this village was home to some of the richest Chinese merchants of that time. One thing worth mentioning. Nanxun is really quiet on weekday nights. There is hardly anyone on the street. There are a couple nice little bookstore/cafes next to a canal. It is really a great place to finish off your nights. Grab yourself a cup of coffee or tea, sit next to the cananl, enjoy a tranquil and peaceful night. Unforgettable.
Written April 19, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PJ_SYD
Sydney375 contributions
Oct 2015 • Friends
We travelled by bus from the main Shanghai Long Distance Bus Station (single ticket around RMB46) and the journey took about 80 minutes. From Nanxun bus station, it's an easy walk just across the bridge directly next to the station and you will see signs for the northern entrance after about 5minutes. Despite it being Golden Week, the northern part of the town was very quiet and peaceful with ordinary residents going about their daily business.
The whole historic part of the town is very charming with lots of photo opportunities, and seems to offer a glimpse of life in times gone by. At the southern end it becomes a lot more touristy with lots of visitors, tour groups with megaphones, etc.
Despite the crowds in some parts of the town, I still thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Nanxun and would highly recommend a visit there if you have time to make a day trip out of Shanghai.
The whole historic part of the town is very charming with lots of photo opportunities, and seems to offer a glimpse of life in times gone by. At the southern end it becomes a lot more touristy with lots of visitors, tour groups with megaphones, etc.
Despite the crowds in some parts of the town, I still thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Nanxun and would highly recommend a visit there if you have time to make a day trip out of Shanghai.
Written October 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi! wonder if it is advisable to visit the old town early jan? thanks.
Written June 30, 2019
According to your experience which is the best water town in the area ? I have only one day free for such a visit and I must choose only one town
Written February 5, 2018
Xitang, Wuzhen, Zhouzhuang, Tongli. Wuzhen is the nearest.
Written December 6, 2018
Is it very crowded to visit Nanxun Water Town on a Sunday?
Written January 30, 2018
Probably busier than a weekday, so if you do go during the weekend, go early or late to avoid the worst of the crowds, however it is still quieter than the other water towns I'd imagine
Written January 31, 2018
Hi, How do I get to Nanxun Water Town from Hangzhou Railway station? Thanks.
Written March 6, 2017
We took a tour to go there with China Highlights, booked in Internet and you pay to the guide or Pay pal . Now is working very well in China Apple maps in English , you write in English found the place and press directions, it is pretty accurate . Even tells you the tickets price , how to go to the next stop , fastest route , etc. Having I phone is kind of savior in China to move around .
Written March 7, 2017
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