Nanxun Water Town Day Tour from Shanghai 8 Hours, Shanghai (SHALC-98)

After meeting your tour guide at the lobby of your hotel, you will be transferred to Nanxun water town. Your car will be a 7-seater, equipped with air-conditioner and driven by an experienced driver, who has driven between Shanghai and Nanxun more than 100 times.

Feel free to ask your tour guide any question about Nanxun, Shanghai or China during the 2.5-hour car ride. He or she will be more than happy to answer you!

Your tour guides Candy (left) and Julie (Right)

Little Lotus Garden

This garden was the private garden of one of the richest merchants in Nanxun. It took the merchant and his descendants 40 years to complete the project of designing the garden. Many tourists believe the garden even exceeds those in Suzhou, which has ancient gardens widely considered to be the most exquisite in China. Photographers will find lots of photo opportunities here.

Former Residence of Zhang Shiming

The Former Residence of Zhang Shiming enjoys a reputation of the best ancient compound in the South Yangtze River Area. The Western and Chinese styles mix perfectly in the buildings of the compound. The former luxury dance hall is the most attractive part in the compound. The ground tiles and paintings in the dance hall were imported from France. The Western-style interior decoration makes you feel like standing in a building in the 18th century’s Europe.

Liu Family Compound

This is another old site built by the merchant Liu, who owned Little Lotus Garden and the Jiayetang Private Library. From outside, the compound appears the same as other compounds in Nanxun, but inside it is decorated in completely Western style. Besides, the statues in the compound are exquisite.

Good to Know:

The three attractions listed above are recommended by us. However, if you find other activities or attractions that appeal to you, our guide can change your schedule for you. For example, you may want to enter a writing brush shop to admire Chinese calligraphy (No forced buying). Or you may want to watch a wedding show on water (The time of the show is flexible, so we can’t promise you can see it during your stay in Nanxun).

Dance Hall in the Former Residence of Zhang Shiming

In the minds of Chinese people, beautiful views can be food for the soul. This restaurant beside the river provides you with both beautiful river views and delicious local food. Enjoy yourself!

Good to Know:

After lunch, you will be transferred to the One-Hundred Residential Houses, the most attractive part of Nanxun. You can take a battery car (no extra fee) or a sculling boat (around 20 minutes, at your own expense and the price is around 160 RMB) to go there. The views during a sculling boat ride is much beautiful than sitting on a battery car.

One-Hundred Residential Houses

With a history of over 400 years, the One-Hundred Residential Houses are the most original still-extant part of Nanxun. Local people still live in the houses, which have been repaired many times during the last 400 years but have never been rebuilt. Furthermore, none of the houses is used as a tourist shop, so you can enjoy the history, culture and river views, without being disturbed by people buying and selling.

There are lots of ancient buildings in other water towns near Shanghai, but you can only see so many well-preserved ancient houses adjacent to each other in Nanxun. Besides, not so many domestic tourists are traveling in the area of One-Hundred Residential Houses. You can breathe fresh air and enjoy the river view and history without being disturbed by noise.

Local people often wash clothes beside the river in front of their houses during a clear day. That is the most authentic life style in a water town. If you are lucky enough, they may allow you to try it by yourself.

One-Hundred Residential Houses

You will be transferred back to your hotel in Shanghai after the tour. Due to traffic congestion, it may take 3 hours or more to reach your hotel. We suggest you bring something with you to eat in the car.