Nanxun Ancient Town: A Century-old Dream of Jiangnan

- A Complete Guide with Real Experiences, Practical Tips, and Pitfall Warnings to Unlock the Unique Charm of this World Heritage Site ✨ Why Choose Nanxun? Among the six major ancient towns in Jiangnan, Nanxun is the only water town listed as a World Heritage Site. It combines the elegance of Wuzhen, the local charm of Xitang, and uniquely features rare Chinese-Western fusion architecture with rich cultural heritage. Here, you can stroll through the Hundred-Room Complex of Ming and Qing architecture, touch the thousand-year literary legacy at Jiayelang Library, marvel at the French romance of the Red House, and discover authentic Jiangnan flavors in local streets. 📍 In-depth Tour of Core Attractions 1. Hundred-Room Complex: Life Scenes from a Chinese Ink Painting • Real Experience: At 6:30 AM, when morning light bathes the stone paths, I walk alone through the complex, watching women washing clothes by the river, elderly residents drinking tea in corridors, and cormorant boats gliding across the water - like traveling back 500 years. • Why Visit: The best-preserved riverside residential complex in Jiangnan, with 400 meters of white walls and black tiles reflecting in the water, every photo looks like an ink painting. • Tips: ◦ Avoid midday crowds; best for photography in early morning or evening. ◦ Try the steamed mandarin fish at "Hundred-Room Home Cooking" riverside restaurant, served with Xiuhua Jincai (Nanxun's special vegetable) - fresh and delicious. 2. Little Lotus Villa + Jiayelang Library: A Dialogue between Gardens and Literature • Real Experience: In May, the lotus pond in Little Lotus Villa rivals Suzhou gardens. From Dongsheng Pavilion, view the vast lotus leaves and swimming koi. Next door, Jiayelang Library houses 160,000 ancient books, where touching century-old woodblock prints feels like conversing with ancient scholars. • Why Visit: Little Lotus Villa was the private garden of Qing Dynasty merchant Liu Yong, while Jiayelang is one of Jiangnan's four great libraries, perfectly blending culture and nature. • Tips: ◦ The 85 yuan combo ticket includes 6 attractions; save 10 yuan by booking online one day ahead. ◦ During the Summer Lotus Festival (June-August), enjoy Hanfu parades and guzheng performances. 3. Liu's Mansion (Red House): An Architectural Marvel of East Meets West • Real Experience: Stepping through the stained glass doors of the Red House is like entering a European castle. Roman columns, carved domes, and Chinese courtyards coexist, while sunlight through stained glass creates dreamy patterns. • Why Visit: The European residence of Liu Yong, Nanxun's wealthiest merchant, features unique Baroque and Jiangnan garden fusion, perfect for photography. • Tips: ◦ Best light for architectural details after 3 PM. ◦ Wear light-colored Hanfu or vintage dresses for better photos; "Nanxun Yunshu Hanfu Experience Shop" offers styling services (150 yuan/set). 4. Zhang Shiming's Residence: Hidden Luxury of Jiangnan's Finest Mansion • Real Experience: Enter through the carved brick gate into nine successive courtyards featuring wooden carvings, imported French tiles, and crystal chandeliers. The most stunning is the Western Ballroom with its still-vibrant ceiling frescoes. • Why Visit: A rare Chinese-Western architectural complex known as "Jiangnan's Finest Mansion," perfect for detail enthusiasts. • Tips: ◦ Avoid tour groups by visiting before 10 AM or after 4 PM. ◦ Don't miss the intricate brick carving of "Filial Piety Memorial Arch" in the third courtyard. 🚗 Transportation and Accommodation Guide Transportation • High-speed Rail: Hefei South Station → Nanxun Station (about 2.5 hours, 110 yuan), free shuttle to ancient town east gate (20 minutes). • Driving: Hefei → Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway → Nanxun Ancient Town, about 4 hours, Parking Lot 3 charges 10 yuan/day. • Within Town: Walking distance, shared bikes available (1.5 yuan/hour) or 3 yuan water bus (Silk Dock → Cross Harbor). Accommodation • In-town Guesthouses: ◦ Xun Riverside Inn: Riverside rooms in Hundred-Room Complex, 200-300 yuan per person, breakfast included. ◦ Nanxun Tong'er Original Residence: Family-themed, includes Green Park tickets, ideal for families. • Hotels Outside Town: ◦ Le Meridien Wanda Hotel: 4-star, 10-minute walk to scenic area, 400 yuan per person, excellent breakfast. ◦ Vienna International Hotel: Budget option, near Zhengyi Square, 150 yuan per person, good value. 🍜 Culinary Nanxun Must-try Foods 1. Shuangjiao Noodles: ◦ Recommended: Zhuangyuan Restaurant (in scenic area) ◦ Experience: Crispy fish, tender meat, eel bone broth - incredibly delicious! Try "first-brew noodles" at 6 AM for best texture. 2. Xun Pork Knuckle: ◦ Recommended: Xun Pork Workshop (East Street) ◦ Experience: Nicholas Tse-recommended traditional braised knuckle, 35 yuan each, perfect with braised sauce rice! Vacuum-packed available. 3. Dingsheng Cake: ◦ Recommended: Old Yang's Dingsheng Cake (Hundred-Room Complex) ◦ Experience: Fresh steamed rice cake with rose bean paste, perfect with iced osmanthus syrup - locals' afternoon tea favorite. Avoiding Pitfalls • Some scenic area restaurants are overpriced; try "Changxing Restaurant" (Bianmin Road) - fresh eel paste, silver fish omelet, about 50 yuan per person. • Avoid machine-made water chestnut cakes outside scenic area; recommend handmade Dingsheng cake from Hundred-Room Complex. 📌 Practical Tips 1. Off-peak Visits: ◦ South area (Little Lotus Villa, Zhang's Residence) busy mornings; start with north area (Hundred-Room Complex, Red House). ◦ Weekdays less crowded; avoid 10:00-15:00 weekend tour groups. 2. Ticket Discounts: ◦ Combo ticket 85 yuan (6 attractions), half-price for students/seniors, 75 yuan with high-speed rail ticket within 72 hours. ◦ Free entry: Seniors over 80, children under 1.2m. 3. Hidden Experiences: ◦ Night in Nanxun: After 7 PM, lanterns light up Hundred-Room Complex, take rowing boat tour (30 yuan/person), enjoy local dialect songs. ◦ Cultural Experiences: ◦ Make Hu brushes at "Hu Brush Workshop" near Jiayelang (80 yuan/brush). ◦ Try silk reeling at "Jili Silk House" on East Street (50 yuan/person). 4. Packing Tips: ◦ Wear non-slip flat shoes for slippery stone paths. ◦ Bring insect repellent (mosquitoes near water), umbrella for sun/rain. ◦ Bring telephoto lens for Hundred-Room Complex panoramas and Red House details. 📅 Suggested Itineraries • One Day: Morning: South Gate → Little Lotus Villa (1 hour) → Jiayelang (30 minutes) → Zhang's Residence (1 hour) Afternoon: Red House (40 minutes) → boat to Hundred-Room Complex (20 minutes) → explore complex (1 hour) Evening: Night views + pork knuckle dinner • Two Days: Day 1: Same as one-day tour, stay in ancient town. Day 2: Yi Garden (10 yuan entry, lesser-known) → Zhang Jingjiang's Residence (30 minutes) → Shanlian Ancient Town (Hu brush culture, 30-minute drive). 🌟 Final Thoughts Nanxun's beauty lies in its "imperfection" - no excessive commercialization, no generic trendy shops, just authentic local life and time-worn architecture. Here, you can listen to rain in Hundred-Room corridors, read in Red House courtyards, and taste Jiangnan's flavors in Zhuangyuan Restaurant's noodle soup. This isn't just sightseeing, but a soul-searching journey dialoguing with history. Tip: Follow "Nanxun Ancient Town Tourism" WeChat account for real-time events (like April 2025 Yangtze Delta Sports Leisure Festival) and limited-time combo ticket discounts!