Nanxun Ancient Town

The ancient town of Nanxun is located in the center of the Yangtze River city clusters. It adjoins Taihu Lake to the north and neighbors Suzhou -- the city of classical gardens -- to the east.

Currently under the jurisdiction of Huzhou, East China’s Zhejiang province, the town is a scenic area of 2.18 square kilometers, of which more than 160 hectares are designated as protected area for its delicate traditional dwellings and gardens.

What to see here

1. Baijian Buildings

Literally meaning “a hundred buildings”, the Baijian Buildings were constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) by the commission of a high-ranking official for the womenfolk and servants of his extended family.

The buildings compactly line the winding canal for some 400 meters, with bridges linking the two banks. They are designed tall or low to make the fullest use of space, and have connected covered corridors and staircases leading to the waterway for the utmost convenience of the residents. .

Hundreds of years have passed, and the buildings still retain their original look and style. On clear days, their beautiful silhouettes are reflected in the water. Stopping at one of the bridges or cruising along the canal, you will marvel at the profile of these rolling dwellings standing closely to each other with their roofs both high and low.

They are noted as one of the best preserved riverside dwellings in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River dating between the 14th and 20th centuries.

2. Library of Jiaye Hall

Established by the bibliophile Liu Chenggan (1881-1963) during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the library was designed with a garden layout infusing both Eastern and Western characters. It was home to nearly 160,000 books in 60,000 volumes during its heyday, many of them rare editions.

3. Xiaolian Garden

The Xiaolian Garden was built in 1885 by the local business tycoon Liu Yong (1825-89) as his private garden. With brooks, bridges, lotus ponds and rocks, it unfolds like a painted scroll with both natural beauty and artificial landscapes.