You have to visit Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, to see the Jiangnan from your textbooks

Zhouzhuang, known as "China's First Water Town," is famous for its Jiangnan scenery of "small bridges, flowing water, and homes." The bluestone paths wind between white walls and black tiles, and black-awning boats sway on the clear waves, like a flowing ink painting. The streets are almost empty in the morning, and every snapshot looks like an ink painting! The gentleness of Zhouzhuang is hidden in every bluestone, every red lantern, and every taste of Jiangnan. At a teahouse by the river, order a cup of clear tea, sit by the river, and listen to the soft Wu dialect. As the boat oars gently row, time seems to flow backward a thousand years. It is recommended to change into ancient costumes or qipao to better blend into the scene. You can rent them inside the scenic area, and there are also studios offering ancient costumes or Hanfu makeup and photography services to choose from. The prices are similar and not expensive.