Beizha Street in Xitang

Beizha Street in Xitang

Beizha Street is located within the ancient town of Xitang, with the famous Wolong Bridge at its end. The street is lined with various shops, guesthouses, and restaurants, making it a bustling and distinctive thoroughfare.

Wuzhen Beizhatao, as the name suggests, is situated to the north of Wuzhen, adjacent to Wujiang County in Jiangsu Province, at the junction of two provinces and three prefectures—the three prefectures being Jiaxing Prefecture, Suzhou Prefecture, and Huzhou Prefecture. The boundary line is an ancient canal, and there is a bridge over the canal called Taishi Bridge. Once you cross the bridge, you leave the province. In the past, if someone committed a crime in Beizhatao of Wuzhen and managed to escape across the bridge, they would be safe. Hence, there has long been a saying: “Beizhatao of Wuzhen, where there’s heaven but no sunlight.” This means there might be an emperor but no law, and so historically, Beizha has never been very prosperous, lagging behind the other three zha (sections). Even so, it remains an integral part of Wuzhen, with many stories of its own. Without Beizha, Wuzhen just wouldn’t be Wuzhen.

Address: Within Xitang Ancient Town, No. 27 Youdian West Road, Jiashan County, Jiaxing City

Type: Featured Street

Recommended visiting time: About 1 hour

Ticket information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Xitang scenic area ticket.

Xitang Town: Xitang, formerly known as Xietang, was established as a market town during the Ming Dynasty, bordering Yong’an and Qianshan townships. Initially named Xietang, it was later called Xitang. Legend has it that during the Spring and Autumn Period, Wu Zixu stationed troops here and dug the Wu Family Pond to improve water conservancy, channeling water from Xushan Mountain directly into the area, hence it is also called Xutang. Xitang Town is located in the northern part of Jiashan County, at the junction of three provinces and cities—Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu—boasting a superior geographical location and known as the “Corner of Wu and Yue.” It is 90 km east of Shanghai, 110 km west of Hangzhou, 85 km north of Suzhou, and 9 km south of Jiashan County seat. The central urban area lies at 120°53′ east longitude and 30°56′ north latitude. With both land and water... More detailed information about Xitang Town ++