Ten ancient villages in China

Puzhehei, Yunnan

Located 11 kilometers from Qiubei county, Yunnan Province, Puzhehei Scenic Area is a basin scenic area with about 300 peaks surrounding the banks of the lakes. Local girls dressed in folk costumes adorned with jingling silver ornaments and embroidery; row the small wooden boats to send travelers along the winding 21-kilometer water corridor through Xianren Lake, Puzhehei Lake and Luoshuidong Lake. There are about 100 karst caves, most with two floors - a higher dry cave and a lower wet cave with an elevation of 1,450 meters.

Admission fee: 30 yuan

Transportation: take the tourist bus from Kunming Coach Station and arrive at Qiubei county in four hours. In Qiubei county, take the tourist bus to Puzhehei Scenic Area.

Wuzhen Water Town, Zhejiang

Located in Tongxiang city, Zhejiang Province, Wuzhen Water Town has a history of more than 1,000 years. It is embraced by the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal with rivers and canals crisscrossing in the town. In the town, visitors can find the ancient residential houses, stores and workshops by the river bank. Remaining unchanged, they lend an atmosphere of antiquity. Besides, the unique folk culture such as Hua Gu Opera, Shadow Play, and Gathering Pilgrim shows the rich tradition of the locality.

Admission fee: 60 yuan

Transportation: take a bus from Shanghai or Hangzhou to Tongxiang town; In Tongxiang town, there is a minibus to Wuzhen Water Town which leaves every 15 minutes from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Zhouzhuang, Jiangsu

Located in Kunshan city, Jiangsu Province and about 30 kilometers southeast of Suzhou, Zhouzhuang Village is a famous tourist destination and water town. It is endowed with profound culture, well-preserved ancient residential houses and strong local flavored traditions and customs. Because of this, it is named "Venice of the East". Having a history of more than 900 years, it still keeps the style and pattern of an ancient water village. The most famous attractions are the Hall of Shen's Residence, Fu'an Bridge and Double Bridge.

Food: Wansan pig's upper leg (or  "Wansan elbows" / "Wansan hoof") which originated in Wansan Shen's family in the Ming Dynasty. It is the must-serve dish for guests.

Other local snacks include Wansan cake, peanut cakes, sesame cakes, walnut cakes, green cake, salt and pepper cake, tiny cucumber, shrimp and a vegetable call "Chuncai", which is lived in water and is used in soup.

Major activities:

Dragon Boat Festival: during Dragon Boat Festival, a series of activities related to traditional Chinese culture are held in Zhouzhuang, such as "Daughter Going Home", "Welcome Ghost Boat", wearing scented sachets etc.

Tongli Ancient Town, Jiangsu

Tongli Ancient Town is an hour drive from Shanghai. Having a history of over 1,000 years, it is characterized by stone bridges and well preserved ancient architectures which include temples, houses and private gardens. As there are many small rivers crisscrossing the town, bridges play an important role to Tongli. Among the 49 bridges, the most famous three are the Taiping (peace) Bridge, Jili (luck) Bridge and Changqing (celebration) Bridge, which are regarded as sacred architecture by the locals.

Admission fee: 80 yuan (All-inclusive ticket)

Midseason: Mar.1 – May 31; Sep.1 – Nov.30;
Offseason: June 1 – Aug.31; Dec.1 – Feb.28/29

Transportation:

Tongli is only 18 kilometers away from Suzhou and 80 kilometers away from shanghai. The express bus from Shanghai to Tongli departs from shanghai stadium at 8 am, 9 am, 10 am and 11 am; the journey takes two hours. there are shuttle buses from Suzhou railway station or Suzhou bus station to Tongli, with the journey ranging 35-50 minutes.

Luzhi Ancient Town, Jiangsu

Situated 25 kilometers southeast of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, Luzhi Ancient Town is praised as the First Town of Chinese Watery Regions. It was called Songjiang Fuli in ancient times. The town was renamed as Luzhi in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), after Luduan, a mysterious unicorn, which was believed to have the power of warding off evils. Gifted with favorable terrain and charming landscape, it is a hot travel destinations for visitors who are fond of lakes, rivers and bridges.

Admission fee: 60 yuan

Nanxun Ancient Town, Zhejiang

Located 30 kilometers east of Huzhou city, Zhejiang Province, Nanxun Ancient Town is a famous historical and cultural town with a history of 1400 years. Due to the development of silk market and silk industry, it has become an important commercial town in Zhejiang Province. In poems, it 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." and "On the night market, you can buy water bamboo shoots and lotus roots, and in spring ships carry silks and brocades to the town."

Xitang Ancient Town, Zhejiang

Located in the north of Jiashan county, Zhejiang province, Xitang is an ancient town with peaceful and beautiful environment, which features flat terrain, crisscrossed rivers, numerous, bridges, lanes and ceilinged corridors. The most unique sight in the town is the ceilinged corridors, which were built to make convenience for the residents trading on boats by the side of the rivers. Each shop has a ceiling over the stone-slate road in front of its own house, and the ceilings connect with one another to form corridors. Besides, the well-preserved architectures of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties are also worth seeing in this ancient town.

Admission fee: 100 yuan (include both the scenic region and 11 sightseeing spots);
50 yuan (tickets for the scenic region only)

Food: Xitang is famous for its fish dishes. The place around the Fengqiao Bridge is one of the best places to sample Xitang food. Qiantang restaurant next to the bridge is the most favorite.

Mudu Ancient Town, Jiangsu

Located at the foot of Linyan Hill in the west of Suzhou city, Mudu is a historic cultural town which is surrounded by delicate landscape and connected to the Tai Lake through numerous waterways. Two clear and charming rivers, Xiangxi River and Xujiang River, wind their ways through the peaceful town. It gains a reputation of superb elegance and tranquility. According to history, Fuchai, the Emperor of the ancient Wu State 2,500 years ago, had his Guanwa Palace built here for his queen Xishi, one of the Four Beauties in ancient China. In addition, Qianlong, the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) had visited this beautiful town six times.

Opening hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (spring, summer, autumn); 8:00 am – 4:30 pm (winter)

Wuyuan county, Jiangxi

Wuyuan county is located in the northeast of Jiangxi Province. Once mentioned it, visitors will think of old villages, refreshing views of hills, green farmland and luxuriant camphor trees, creeks and small rapids. Villages are located along small rivers, with trees stand on riverbanks, and old farmers leisurely drive ducks towards a pond, all coming together to form a typical Chinese countryside scene.

Hongcun Village, Anhui

Located in Yixian county, at the foot of the southwestern slope of Huangshan Mountain, Hongcun Village, together with Xidi Village, is listed as one of China's top 10 charming villages. It was added to UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage List in 2000. With morning mist, stone bridges, white walls, water lily ponds and hills, it is named "a village in the Chinese painting". Because of this, it is a hot destination for artists and film directors.

Admission fee: 80 yuan