Why Huzhou is the Next East Asian Cultural Capital (Part 2)

Nanxun Ancient Town Among the many water towns in Jiangnan, Nanxun Ancient Town in Huzhou's Nanxun District is famous not for its commercial hype, but for its many modern celebrity residences. The northern part of the town is still home to authentic local life, while the main scenic area, known as the "rich district," is home to the mansions of the "Four Elephants, Eight Bulls, and Seventy-two Dogs" of the Lake Merchants. The joint ticket for the scenic area includes the former residences of the Zhang brothers, Zhang Shiming and Zhang Jingjiang, as well as the Little Lotus Villa of Liu Yong, the head of the "Four Elephants," and the Liu's Tihao of Liu Yong's third son. In Nanxun, the most unmissable attraction is the Baijianlou, a group of ancient waterfront dwellings dating back to the Ming Dynasty. The rows of arched doors make this ancient riverside corridor very photogenic, and the three ancient bridges are the finishing touch. Tired of walking and want to rest in the scenic area? The Liuyinlu, a private house converted from the late Qing Dynasty, seems to restore history, and you can stay for a night for just over 100 yuan, or spend 30 yuan to taste the unique three-course tea of Nanxun. If time permits, the original ecological Xinshi has more authentic Republic of China street scenes. Moganshan Few people associate Moganshan with Ganjiang and Moye, but this was once their secluded sword-making place. Before modern times, Moganshan was a religious mountain with flourishing Buddhism and Taoism, but after being destroyed by war, it became a summer resort for Westerners to build villas at the end of the 19th century, and more than 200 villas still remain today. However, Moganshan is not a replica of Lushan, at least the freedom of modern tourism development is much higher than Lushan, which has also led to many controversial phenomena. For tourists, the attractions in the scenic area, such as Jianchi, Dakeng, and Xuguangtai, can be visited in half a day, but the changing scenery with the seasons and weather is what makes Moganshan attractive. For residents of nearby cities such as Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Shanghai, Moganshan is more suitable for summer or leisure vacations, which has also led to a trend of renovating homestays, farmhouses, and vacation homes, as well as the popularity of bars, restaurants, and studios. Accommodation ranges from hundreds to thousands of yuan per night, and you can enjoy eating, drinking, playing, or lazily escaping the summer heat. Driving to Moganshan can bring more experiences. Anji Among the more than ten tourist destinations in China that focus on bamboo forests, Anji's slogan is "China's Bamboo Town," but traveling in Anji, the two main features are the rich cultural characteristics and diverse attractions. With cultural celebrities such as Wu Changshuo, Wu Jun, and Chen Rong as the foundation, Anji, with its "fifty miles of rivers and plains, half of which are bamboo," naturally has a cultural charm of "no bamboo, no travel." From pure bamboo forests and bamboo seas to bamboo museums, and from canyons, waterfalls, and sky pools to outdoor resorts and theme parks, you can enjoy three to five days of diverse experiences in Anji. The problem with diversity is that the attractions are too scattered, making it inconvenient without driving. However, you can choose the most suitable ones from more than ten scenic spots according to your preferences: if you are passionate about bamboo, you can choose Zhuhai Park, Great Bamboo Sea, or Tianxia Yinkeng; if you like water scenery, don't miss Canglong Baipo, Jiangnan Sky Pool, and Shenxi Dashilang. Outdoor enthusiasts can go to Longwang Mountain, Jingkongli, or Zhejiang North Grand Canyon, while those who enjoy amusement parks can visit Zhongnan Baicao Garden and Hello Kitty Park. In Wuxi, you can spend a cherry blossom season at Yuantouzhu; in Suzhou, you can go to Dongshan to eat loquats; and in Huzhou, you can fall asleep to the sound of the waves of Taihu Lake.