Nanxun Ancient Town

Nanxun Ancient Town

Nanxun Ancient Town is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction.

Nanxun Ancient Town is located at the junction of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, bordering Taihu Lake to the north and connecting to Suzhou City in Jiangsu Province to the east. Situated in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, it serves as the forefront of Huzhou’s connection with Shanghai. The town boasts convenient transportation, historically serving as a key hub for both land and water routes. G50 Shanghai–Chongqing Expressway, National Highway 318, and the Changhu-Shen Waterway run through the area. It is approximately 100 kilometers from major cities such as Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was a renowned silk town in the Jiangnan region, characterized by abundant cultural heritage and a fusion of Chinese and Western architectural styles.

Known as the “Land of Culture” and the “Home of Poetry and Literature,” Nanxun Ancient Town has produced many notable figures, such as the eccentric figure of the Republic of China Zhang Jingjiang, Zhang Shiming—one of the founders of the Xiling Seal Art Society—and the famous poet and essayist Xu Chi.

The Nanxun Ancient Town scenic area covers an area of 34.27 square kilometers. The protected area of the ancient town extends from the east side of Yiyuan Ruins in the east to Yong’an Street in the west, from the Jiaye Hall Library and Xiaolianzhuang in the south to Baijianlou in the north, with a protected area of about 168 hectares, including 88 hectares of core protection zone. The tourist area is divided into three main sections. The first section is the Nanxun tourist attraction cluster, featuring sites such as the Former Residence of Zhang Shiming and the Liu Family Tishan. The second section is the central scenic area, consisting of attractions like Xiaolianzhuang, Jiaye Hall, and Wen Garden. The third section is the northeastern block, primarily comprising the Former Residence of Zhang Jingjiang on Dongda Street and Baijianlou.

According to the , “It is rare in Jiangnan to find a single town that houses five gardens, all of which are grand structures.” During the Qing Dynasty, the wealth of Nanxun residents was categorized by the size of animals: those worth over 10 million were compared to elephants, those over 1 million to oxen, and those over 300,000 to golden dogs.

Nanxun has long been an economic and cultural hub of Huzhou. Since the Song and Jin periods, it has been famed for producing high-quality raw silk. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it became a typical Jiangnan silk town, with its Jili silk serving as the designated material for imperial weaving. In modern times, with the opening of Shanghai as a port, Nanxun was one of the first to be influenced by European and American culture. Silk merchants rose rapidly, producing notable historical figures such as Liu Yong, Gu Qianlin, Pang Yuanji, Zhang Jingjiang, and Jin Cheng. The ancient town is home to five national key cultural relics protection units: Jiaye Hall Library and Xiaolianzhuang, the Former Residence Complex of the Zhang Family in Nanxun, Zunde Hall, the Grand Canal (Nanjun section of the Jiangnan Canal, Nanxun Silk Industry Guild and silk merchant buildings), as well as 11 municipal-level cultural relics protection units including the Former Residence of the Pang Family, the Nanxun Grain Station Main Warehouse, Tongjin Bridge, Hongji Bridge, Ying Garden, Shuyuan Kuai Pavilion, Dong Family Shide Hall, and Shoujun Hall. There are also three municipal-level cultural relics protection sites: Xingfu Bridge, Tongli Bridge, and Xinmin Bridge, along with 21 historic buildings such as the Shengji Rice Shop, the Former Site of the Liu Family Jingde Hall, and the Former Residence of Zhou Qingyun. The traditional residences in the ancient town are elegant and uniquely refined, while the large mansions and gardens boldly and skillfully integrate Western architectural styles into traditional Chinese forms, creating a distinctive fusion of Chinese and Western residential architecture art in Jiangnan.

Nanxun boasts numerous historical sites and scenic spots, harmoniously blending with the natural landscape. It is rich in historical and cultural heritage, exuding a unique charm, while also radiating the poetic and picturesque ambiance of a Jiangnan water town.

Nanxun has long been a place of flourishing culture, producing generations of talented individuals and maintaining a continuous tradition of scholarship. As early as the Ming Dynasty, there was a saying: “Nine li have three grand secretaries, ten li have two ministers.” During the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties alone, Nanxun produced 41 successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations.

With a history of 745 years since its establishment, Nanxun experienced its economic heyday from the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty to the mid-Qing Dynasty. The town has a long and rich history, having produced 41 successful imperial examination candidates from the Song to the Qing dynasties. Notable historical sites include the Jiaye Library, the Xiaolianzhuang estate of Liu Yong, the Former Residence of Zhang Jingjiang, the Former Residence of Zhang Shiming, Baijianlou, and ancient stone bridges from the Song Dynasty.

In June 2001, the Former Residence Complex of the Zhang Family in Nanxun was designated as part of the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. In 2005, Nanxun Ancient Town was awarded the titles of the second batch of China's Famous Historical and Cultural Towns and a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction, becoming Huzhou’s first national AAAAA-level tourist attraction.

Admission Ticket

100 RMB per person (ticket valid for the day of purchase)

Transportation Routes

Self-Driving Routes

1. For travelers from Shanghai: Take A9 — Shanghai–Suzhou–Zhejiang–Anhui Expressway (exit at Nanxun) — Wuyue Road — Nanxun

2. For travelers from Hangzhou: Take Hangzhou–Ningbo Expressway to Shanghai–Suzhou–Zhejiang–Anhui Expressway — Shanghai–Suzhou–Zhejiang–Anhui Expressway (exit at Nanxun) — Nanxun / Hangzhou–Ningbo Expressway — Shenyang–Huzhou Expressway (exit at Lian Market Nanxun) — Huyan Highway — Nanxun

3. For travelers from Ningbo: Take Hangzhou Bay Bridge — Zhapu–Jiaxing–Suzhou Expressway (i.e., Suzhou–Jiaxing–Hangzhou Expressway) — Shenyang–Huzhou Expressway (exit at Lian Market Nanxun) — Huyan Highway — Nanxun

Nanxun Town: Nanxun is a prosperous and culturally vibrant Jiangnan ancient town, geographically located between 120°25’–120°26’ east longitude and 30°52’–30°53’20” north latitude. It sits on the shores of Taihu Lake, bordering Suzhou, and serves as the eastern gateway for Huzhou’s connection with Shanghai Pudong. The Changhu-Shen Waterway and National Highway 318 run through the town, offering superior geographical conditions and convenient land and water transportation. The town covers a total area of 141.3 square kilometers, encompassing 51 administrative villages and 10 residential communities, with a total population of 116,000 and arable land area of 122,500 mu. 2000... Detailed information about Nanxun Town++

Further Reading:

· 28th Batch of National AAAAA-Level Tourist Attractions (July 2015)