Nanxun Brief

On the list of Records of Gardens South of the Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River is Nanxun, the only town containing a total of five large gardens. Nanxun boasts numerous historic sites and enchanting natural landscapes, and has both a rich cultural heritage as well as the poetic, waterside charm seen in areas along the Yangtze. Enjoying revered cultural and natural resources, Nanxun is known as the birthplace of many talented historical figures. During the Song, Ming and Qing dynasties, 41 successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations came out of Nanxun.

With a history of over 700 years, Nanxun is also a place full of historical interests. The town is described as "thousands of households gather here on this water town market, and fishing boats and merchant vessels call at it side by side".

It is widely believed that Nanxun contains the largest group of ancient buildings of any of the southern water towns in China. Lots of heirs of the town's most prominent citizens still live in most of these buildings. It is not uncommon to find four or even five generations of a family living in one building. Withstanding several centuries of war and turbulence, the buildings are amazingly well-preserved; stretching along 400 metres on both banks of the ancient canal which divides the town, the huge buildings still function as residences for locals. Small, exquisite gardens are another special attraction of Nanxun, and Xiaolian Zhuang, or Liu's Garden, is one that certainly should not be missed by visitors.

Nanxun has kept the scenic views of a water town well preserved with its ancient houses while developing an atmosphere of modern times with high-rises mixed in here and there. The streets which run along the rivers criss-crossing each other create a unique view reminiscent of Venice.

With the development of the new economy, the infrastructure has been greatly improved in drainage, power supply and telecommunications. Newly built streets like Tai'an Road and Jiaye Road have become the new commercial centers of the ancient town.

In recent years, a number of cultural and recreational facilities have been built, including an indoor swimming pool, an exhibition hall, ball courts, and a children's park.

As for the best traveling tip--it is easy for a visitor to see all these tourist sites in a single day, though, to enjoy the town fully at a pace close to its own requires a stay of at least a few days.