One of a number of ancient water towns south of the Yangzte River in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, Nanxun (Nánxún, 南浔) was once home to a number of prominent officials and merchants who constructed beautiful gardens and grand homes, some of which fuse traditional Chinese and Western architecture. Today, Nanxun is a quiet corner of Huzhou (Húzhōu, 湖州), a sprawling prefecture-level city of 2.5 million on the southern shore of China's third-largest freshwater lake Tai Hu (Tai Lake) near Zhejiang's border with Jiangsu.
Historic buildings like Baijian Lou still line the pristine green canals cutting through Nanxun, and the tourist hordes that have descended upon other more prominent water towns like Suzhou haven't made it to Nanxun yet, even though it's just a half hour drive from Suzhou and an hour and a half from Shanghai.
Along with five other Yangtze River watertowns, including Tongli and Wuzhen, Nanxun received a UNESCO Asian-Pacific Heritage Award, recognizing its preservation of historic architecture and adding it to a growing number of listed UNESCO sites in China.
While entry to Nanxun is free, entry to many of the tourist attractions are not. An RMB 60 ticket covers most of Nanxun's major attractions.
History
Though settled much earlier, Nanxun was established during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279 AD) when the imperial capital moved to nearby Hangzhou. The town's growing silk industry brought it prominence during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Trade shifted toward salt and, in subsequent years, rice, during the Qing Dynasty (1645-1911) and many merchants made fortunes and names for themselves, leaving behind exquisite gardens and expansive mansions like the beautiful Little Lotus Villa (Xiǎolián Zhuāng, 小莲庄), the private garden of a Qing official, or the massive Zhang Family Compound (Zhāngshímíng Jiùzhái, 张石铭旧宅), which features some of the Western architectural influence present in many of Nanxun's historic buildings dating from the late Qing.
Climate
Like much of the region, Nanxun is generally humid, with hot, muggy summers and dampy chilly winters which feel colder than the actual temperature lets on. Spring is generally the best time to visit, when the weather is milder, before Zhejiang's rainy season hits near the end of May. Fall can be lovely as well, and it's also freshwater crab season—a bit culinary event throughout the Yangzte River Delta region.
Zhejiang travel guide | Nanxun attractions
Nanxun flights (Shanghai) | Nanxun hotels (Huzhou)
Getting around
Nanxun isn't quite large enough to need much more than one's two feet to get around. However, boat rides (RMB 100 per boat) along the canals are a lovely way to experience the watertown.
To and from Nanxun
Air
An hour and a half by way of car from Nanxun, Shanghai's two airports offer both domestic and international flights. From Shanghai, Nanxun is just a hired car or bus ride away. Hangzhou's airport is about the same distance away, but with fewer international flights.
Bus
Nanxun is just over two hours away by bus from Shanghai South Long-Distance Bus Station (RMB 46, 上海长途客运南站, Tel: 86-21-5435-3535), Shanghai Long Distance Central Bus Station (RMB 48, 上海长途汽车客运总站, Tel: 86-21-6629-9116) and Hangzhou North Bus Station (RMB 43, 杭州北站, Tel: 86-571-8809-7761).
Buses from Suzhou South Bus Station (RMB 22, 苏州汽车南站, Tel: 86-512-6577-6577) take just over an hour.
Zhejiang travel guide | Nanxun attractions
Nanxun flights (Shanghai) | Nanxun hotels (Huzhou)