Xuntang Ancient Town

Xuntang Ancient Town

Xuntang Ancient Town was built in the second year of the Republic of China (1913), located in Xuntang Village, Huazhuang Town, Binhu District. At that time, Qian Fengshu, the head of the Administrative Bureau of Xin’an Township, initiated its construction to facilitate local villagers’ shopping. The town was planned along the river, bustling with diverse businesses and shops densely lined up. Since the settlement is situated by the Xuntang River and surrounded by water on three sides, it was named “Xuntang Town.” It was one of the historically important towns in Wuxi, serving as a vital transportation hub connecting Huazhuang, Xuelang, Dafu, and Nanfangquan. It became a key site for goods trading and passenger distribution in southern Wuxi. Although it has endured wars and turmoil, the old street layout remains largely intact. It was also a center for silk cocoon procurement and processing. On market days (the 1st, 11th, and 21st of each lunar month), the town attracted even more visitors. Many historic buildings along the old street have been preserved over the long term. In late 2009, during the construction of Shangxianhe Wetland Park, over 100 meters of Xuntang Street were renovated and preserved. The south street currently has 3,218.1 square meters of buildings, and the north street has 2,219 square meters.

The history of Xuntang can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, when major waterways in the area included Liangtang, Xuntang, and Yuantang. In the Wuxi dialect, “tang” refers to an artificially dredged water channel, part of hydraulic engineering. Xuntang Old Street is located by a bend in the Xuntang River, surrounded by water on three sides like a peninsula, connected by five bridges: Xuntang Bridge, Qianxian Ferry Bridge, Houxian Ferry Bridge, Mao Wen Bridge, and Tanggan Bridge.

Though small in size, the town is rich in traditional charm and fully equipped. It includes tobacco and liquor shops, grocery stores, fabric sellers, blacksmiths, silk cocoon dealers, pork markets, restaurants, noodle shops, teahouses, stoves, fish, meat, and vegetable stalls, post offices, herbal medicine shops, and clinics—everything one could need. There is also a silk cocoon procurement and processing center. The south end of the street still preserves the site of the “Xuntang Town Fire Brigade” from the Republican era. Along the Xuntang River, historic buildings stand closely together, and the ancient streets remain well-preserved, vividly reflecting the prosperity of the old town in its heyday.

Address: Intersection of Hefeng Road and Shangxian Avenue, Binhu District, Wuxi City

Type: Ancient Town/Village

Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 hours

Transportation

Take bus routes 131 or 135 to the terminal, then turn right and walk straight to Xuntang Town. Alternatively, you can take buses 7, the Dafangqiao Special Line, or the Wangting Special Line to Zhenze Road (Gonghu Avenue) Station, though these routes are slightly farther.

By car: Hongxin Road – Gonghu Avenue

Admission

Free

Opening Hours

Open all day