The six famous ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River include Zhouzhuang, Tongli, and Luzhi in Jiangsu, and Xitang, Nanxun, and Wuzhen in Zhejiang. These six ancient towns are also water towns with very deep cultural heritage. These six ancient towns are concentrated in the southeast of Taihu Lake. The six ancient towns are representatives of the ancient water towns in the south of the Yangtze River, with both common features and unique characteristics. The most representative areas of the Han water town culture in the south of the Yangtze River are unique in the world and famous both at home and abroad for their profound historical and cultural heritage, elegant and elegant water towns, and simple Wunong folk customs.
1. Xitang Ancient Town:
The largest ancient town among the six ancient towns in Jiangnan, located in Jiashan County, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province!
1. The origin of the town’s name: It is said that during the Spring and Autumn Period, Wu Zixu of the State of Wu developed water conservancy and transported salt. He dug Wuzitang and diverted water from the north of Xushan Mountain (12 miles southwest of present-day Jiashan County) directly to the territory, so Xitang Also known as Xutang. Because the terrain of Xitang is flat, it is also called Pingchuan and Xietang.
2. Famous scenic spots: "Three Duo" (many bridges, lanes, and sheds)
Xitang is famous for its many bridges, lanes, and sheds. The folk customs in Xitang are honest and honest, the sound of oars is melodious, and the unique humanistic accumulation of ancient Chinese traditional culture is everywhere. Xitang Ancient Town has protected the harmonious relationship between man and nature and is a holy place for experts to study "Jiangnan Water Town Folk Culture"; a base for artists to depict "Jiangnan Water Town Folk Culture"; and a pure place for tourists to taste "Jiangnan Water Town Folk Culture" . Xitang Ancient Town attracts people from all over the world with its unique cultural temperament.
History of the ancient town: Xitang is an ancient town with a history and culture of thousands of years. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it was the place where Wu and Yue met, so it was known as "Wu Gen Yue Jiao" and "Yue Jiao Family". During the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, a large number of villages had been built, and people built houses along the river and lived by the water; in the Southern Song Dynasty, the villages gradually grew in size and formed markets; in the Yuan Dynasty, markets began to be built along the water and gradually formed market towns, and commerce began to flourish; in the Ming Dynasty, businesses began to flourish; During the Qing Dynasty, it developed into an important handicraft and commercial town in the south of the Yangtze River. "The water of the Spring and Autumn Period, the towns of the Tang and Song Dynasties, the architecture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the modern people" are the most appropriate descriptions of Xitang.
2. Wuzhen
1. Origin of the town name: In the Qin Dynasty, Wuzhen belonged to Kuaiji County, with Chexi (now Shihe) as the boundary, Wudun in the west, and Wucheng County, with Qingdun in the east, belonging to Youquan County, and the situation of dividing and conquering Wuzhen began. In the early years of Yuanfeng (1078), there were records that it was divided into Wudun Town and Qingdun Town. Later, it was renamed Wuzhen and Qingzhen to avoid the name of the clan. When Guangzong of the Southern Song Dynasty ascended the throne, his name was a strange character. He added "xiang" next to the vertical center and pronounced "dun", so the word "dun" was not used in the world. From then on, Wudun was called Wuzhen. In May 1950, Wuzhen and Qingzhen merged and were called Wuzhen, which belongs to Tongxiang County and Jiaxing City until today.
2. Famous attractions: Mao Dun’s former residence, Jiangnan Hundred Bed House
Mao Dun’s former residence, Mao Dun lived here from 1974 to 1981.
The Jiangnan Hundred Beds Museum is a museum specializing in the collection of ancient beds from the south of the Yangtze River. It is located at No. 210 East Street, Wuzhen, also known as the Zhao Family Hall. It covers an area of ??about 1,200 square meters and contains dozens of Ming and Ming Dynasties. Excellent ancient Jiangnan beds from the Qing and modern times.
History of the ancient town: During the Spring and Autumn Period, Wuzhen was the border between Wu and Yue. The State of Wu stationed troops here to defend against the State of Yue, so it was named "Wushu".
3. Nanxun Ancient Town
1. The origin of the town’s name: In the third year of the Taiping Xingguo reign in the Northern Song Dynasty (978), it was called Xunxi because of the riverside, and it was still used until Ningzong of the Southern Song Dynasty (1195) ~1224) dynasty; during the Lizong period of the Southern Song Dynasty (1225~1264), documents recorded that "Nanlin was a settlement, and the wealth of mulberry farming was in the right part of Zhejiang Province." Because merchants gathered in the south of Xunxi River and there were many houses, it was called Nanlin; In the year of Chunhu (1252) when the town was established, it was named Nanxun after the names of Nanlin and Xunxi.
2. Famous scenic spots: Jiaye Hall Library, Liu's Xiaolian Village, and "Nanxun Three Ancient Bridges".
Jiaye Hall Library, adjacent to Xiaolianzhuang across the river, was built in 1920 by Liu Yong's grandson Liu Chengqian. It was named after the Kowloon gold plaque "Qinruo Jiaye" presented by Qing Emperor Puyi.
The building is large in scale and has a rich collection of books. The original library and garden are integrated into one. It is famous for its collection of ancient books. It is one of the famous private libraries in modern China and is a nationally protected cultural relic. After liberation, the original owner of the library donated it to the Zhejiang Library. The library served as a public library and a tourist attraction to receive readers and tourists from all over the world.
Liu's Xiaolianzhuang is the private garden, family temple and charity village of Liu Yong, the richest man in Nanxun during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. It is located to the west of Nanzha Wangu Bridge in Nanxun Town, with Partridge Creek to the north and Jiazhou to the west. The Yetang Library faces each other across the river. It was originally the temporary funeral home of the Liu family. Starting from the eleventh year of Guangxu (1885), flowers and willows were replanted around the pond, lotuses were replanted, terraces and pavilions were arranged, and the family temple was built. It took 40 years and was completed in 1924. . It named itself "Xiaolianzhuang" because of its admiration for Zhao Mengfu, a calligrapher and painter of the Yuan Dynasty, Huzhou Lianhuazhuang.
The "Three Ancient Bridges in Nanxun" are Guanghui Bridge, Tongjin Bridge and Hongji Bridge. Guanghui Bridge is located near the original site of Zhennanzha Chamber of Commerce and spans the Shihe River. This bridge is a single-hole stone arch type. The year of its founding has been lost, and it was renovated twice during the Qing Dynasty. The bridge is 18 meters long, 33 meters wide, and the arch is 53 meters high. There are 24 steps up and down. The arch stones are laid vertically and jointly in parallel. There is also a pair of exquisite stone lions at the bridge. To the north of Tongjin Bridge is the west end of East Street, and to the south of the bridge is Xiatang East Street, which is located at the intersection of the cross-shaped water system. "Tong" means leading, and "Jin" means water. Due to the unprecedented prosperity of Nanxun Silk Market during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the bank of Tongjin Bridge became the silk center, and the famous "Jili silk" was transported to Shanghai by waterway and sold at home and abroad. Tongjin Bridge was built in the Song Dynasty and is a single-hole stone arch bridge. It was renovated three times in the Qing Dynasty. The current bridge is 28 meters long, 4 meters wide, and the arch is 76 meters high. There are 33 steps at the top and bottom. The arch stones are laid vertically and jointly in parallel sections. Hongji Bridge is located in Zhendongzha, commonly known as Xinqiao. The south side of the bridge is on Xiatang East Street, and the north side of the bridge is on East Street. The bridge was recorded in "Huzhou Prefecture Chronicles" during the Wanli Period of the Ming Dynasty, and it was rebuilt in 1805, the 10th year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty. The bridge is a single-hole stone arch bridge, 28 meters long, 35 meters wide, and 72 meters high. There are 33 steps up and down. The arch stones are laid in vertical rows.