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Feeling quiet leisurely lifestyle of Ancient Town of Xitang
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A week ago several friends and I went on a trip to Xitang, Jiasan County. It is located in the north of Zhejiang, very close to Shanghai. There’re 6 famous ancient towns south of Yangtze River, and Xitang is well-known for its well-preserved buildings of Ming and Qing dynasties and full-bodied living style. Local people are still living in these houses!
As you can see the houses are built against the rivers, with the long covered-corridors, which is typical of Xitang. In the past, boats were the most important means of transportation. Stone bridges are also a necessary part of the town connecting the 2 sides of the rivers. It is said that there are 104 bridges in the town. Just imagine how leisurely it would be listening to the sounds of flowing water which has been flowing for thousands of years, and the sounds of oars rowing boats!
The night view of Xitang is even more beautiful and romantic as well. Night life is also very rich and colorful. You can enjoy the famous snacks while watching the local operas. If you are a youngster, various bars would be your choice.
How do you like these windows on a bridge? Almost anywhere can be a place for you to pose for a picture. Seeing this traditional gate, do you feel familiar and does it bring back your childhood memories? There are 122 narrow lanes now in Xitang, of which the most famous one is Shipi Lane with the narrowest place only 0.8 meter. It is said that it was mostly used by servants. You may wonder how many generations of people have once lived there through thousands of years.
You are sure to see many foreigners in Xitang. Through this ancient town, they can see how Chinese society developed from the past to the present. It was so different from theirs! In their eyes, I guess, it is just like a history book to read. And eating is a good way to experience the Chinese culture, for you can truly have a taste of the local disehes, which is part of the culture. How nice it is to have a meal overlooking the river so close!
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Post comment Comment (13 replies)
- Reply zhm12081986
- what is your job?are you a traveller guider.you have too much time to travel,i admire you.the scent is very beautiful ,i want to see the place,but i have not enough time.it is a pity.
- Reply zhm12081986
- i am sorry to say,there is a mistake in the last sentence:scene in place of the scent.
- Reply lvia
- you must be an excellent tour guide
thanks for sharing your travelling..
It's a pity I haven't been there before
- Reply zhuhong
- I like it very much!A beautiful city!I also want to go and I have enough time!However,I have no money!ha~I am a student!
- Reply rich
- gvalq: I want to know the water of river whether is still clear?when we were there, it was very clean, if not clear. it has become a tourist attraction so the local government is serious about this matter.
- Reply rich
- zhm12081986: what is your job?are you a traveller guider.you have too much time to travel,i admire you.the scent is very beautiful ,i want to see the place,but i hi'm a teacher. we did it on the weekend. yes we generally have more time esp in the summer holidays. however our job is kind of stressful. anyway we should try to enjoy life making each minute count! right?
- Reply rich
- zhm12081986: i am sorry to say,there is a mistake in the last sentence:scene in place of the scent.which one exactly? the last sentence of the whole article?
- Reply rich
- lvia: you must be an excellent tour guidethanks for your nice words. i hope i could be one some day. actuallly i like being a tour guide. anyway i do recommend Xtang for you to visit, you'll not regret, i can assure you.
thanks for sharing your travelling..
It's a pity I haven't been there before
- Reply rich
- kucci: How beautiful the town is! I want to go there but I don't have enought time.ha~hehe, maybe one day in the future, we sometimes need to stop for a whiile and enjoy the scenery along the road of life.
- Reply rich
- zhuhong: I like it very much!A beautiful city!I also want to go and I have enough time!However,I have no money!ha~I am a student!hehe, maybe sometime in the future, we need to stop for a whiile and enjoy the scenery along the road of life. good luck!
