[2025 Kunshan Attraction] Travel Guide for Xiemaqiao Ancient Town (Updated Oct)

#summervacay Looking for a charming and less-discovered ancient town near Shanghai? Xie Ma Qiao in Kunshan is a fantastic choice! This picturesque water town offers a serene escape with its well-preserved historical charm and absence of overdevelopment. ✨ Just an hour's drive or a short metro and bus ride from Shanghai, Xie Ma Qiao welcomes you with its classic white walls, black tiles, and tranquil waterways. Stroll along ancient stone paths, admire Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, and soak in the timeless atmosphere of a place steeped in over a thousand years of history. 🏞️ ☕ Slow Down and Savor: Art, Food, and Serenity 📖 Xie Ma Qiao is perfect for those looking to unwind and embrace a slower pace. You'll find a delightful mix of art, local cuisine, and cozy guesthouses. Riverside Cafes: Picture yourself enjoying a coffee by the river, soaking up the sun, and simply relaxing. ☀️ Yichi Garden: A popular spot for its comfortable setting, though it can get busy on weekends. 🪴 Local Flavors: Don't miss the chance to try authentic Kunshan Aozhao Noodles and Suzhou dim sum. 🍜🥟 Cultural Experiences: Explore non-heritage workshops and traditional tea houses featuring Pingtan and Kunqu opera. 🎭🎶 📍 Easy Access from Shanghai 🚆 Getting to Xie Ma Qiao is straightforward: Metro & Bus: Take Shanghai Metro Line 11 to Huaqiao Station, then transfer to Bus 136 to Xie Ma Qiao Station. 🚉 Driving: It's about a 50-minute drive from Shanghai. 🚗 Xie Ma Qiao offers a unique blend of history, culture, and tranquility, making it an ideal destination for a relaxing weekend getaway from the city's hustle and bustle. If you're seeking an authentic, peaceful ancient town experience, Xie Ma Qiao is definitely worth a visit! ✨ #Jiangnan #ShanghaiWeekendGetaway #AncientTown

Resting my legs here today, just as I once rested my horse... Walking along the cobblestone paths and listening to the stories of this town, I can't help but feel moved. This place was named 'Xiemaqiao' (Resting Horse Bridge) because General Han Shizhong of the Southern Song Dynasty once stopped here to rest his horse. Now, the horses and riders have long vanished into history, leaving only clusters of wild chrysanthemums swaying gently in the breeze. At the corner of the town entrance, a newly opened café is wafting the aroma of Yirgacheffe coffee. Strangely, this scent seems to meet the echoes of warhorses' hooves from 800 years ago in a peculiar convergence. If the ancients could glimpse this fleeting moment of parallel time, they might mistake it for their souls leaping into the heavens. It is said that the princess of Wu Yue, who fled south, once released fish and shrimp here to pray for blessings. But now, by the riverside, only a young tea artist brews cold brew tea in a glass pot, where the reflection of the glass merges quietly with the post-rain glimmer. And me, who released my time? Crossing the Guangfu Bridge from the Yuan Dynasty, the waters below once mirrored countless merchant ships. Today, they reflect the floor-to-ceiling windows of boutique tea houses on the shore. The silk, tea leaves, and grain of the past now mingle with hand-brewed coffee and French desserts, gently rippling on the water's surface. The faded plaque of the Qing Dynasty's filial piety archway is half-hidden in vines, while a nearby cultural shop plays jazz music. The reading sounds of old private schools have been replaced by the rustling of young people flipping through magazines in the adjacent bookstore. Perhaps this is the faint gray melancholy of a town dyed by time. Standing on the bridge, I simply admire the slow flow of the river... Time passes. Yet the scenery, remains beautiful.

😃 I stumbled upon this ancient town on a trip to Kunshan. Unlike other well-known ancient towns, it's not very large, but it has a number of atmospheric coffee shops and tea houses. It's a beautiful place with few crowds, perfect for a relaxing stroll. Grab a cup of coffee, sit by the river, and unwind. ✔️A thousand years of history, ancient houses built along the river, simple and elegant ✔️Quiet and peaceful along the river, with a vibrant atmosphere ✔️Coffee shops and tea houses converted from riverside houses and old mansions, offering a tranquil environment ✔️Picturesque photo spots, convenient parking 📌Location: Kunshan | Xiemaqiao Ancient Town 🎫Tickets: Free🆓 🚗Parking: Navigate to Xiemaqiao Ancient Town. If you're coming from Shanghai, on Airport Road, don't follow the 🅿️ signs to turn left (that leads to the Lighting City parking lot, which is a bit far). The ancient town's parking lot is just north of the town, closest to the entrance. 🅿️10r/time, see p3 for details 🗺️Route map: See p2 🚶🏻‍♀️Recommended route: 🅿️Parking lot → ⛩️Xiemaqiao Archway → 🌸Garden → Dingsheng Bridge → Stroll along the river → 🍦Haddock Ice Cream → ☕Niba Coffee → ☕One Foot Garden → 🍵Xiemaqiao Old Tea House → ☕Banshan Shiyu → ☕Riverside Coffee → 🍵CuppoBubbo → Linfeng Tingchan 【📸Photo Spots】 ⛩️Xiemaqiao Archway: With a thousand years of history, there is a beautiful garden next to it, where peach blossoms bloom 🕋Xiema Ancient Bridge: A landmark of the ancient town, this single-hole stone arch bridge spans the river. Its moss-covered body is reflected in the water like a painting 🛖Stone Street Houses: Stroll along the bluestone road, flanked by white-walled and black-tiled houses in Ming and Qing styles, built along the river, a classic scene of small bridges, flowing water, and houses 🌲One Foot Garden: A coffee shop converted from an old house, retaining the wooden beam structure, decorated with plants in the courtyard, a perfect place to enjoy a slow afternoon with a cup of coffee 【☕Coffee Shops + 🍵Tea Houses】 😍The biggest surprise of this trip was the coffee shops and tea houses. The ancient town is not big, and the storefronts look inconspicuous, but there are several unique coffee shops and tea houses hidden along the river, especially tranquil ☕Niba Coffee: Featuring baked milk tea, you can also play with ceramic clay in the shop, suitable for families with children ☕One Foot Garden: Converted from an old house, with a courtyard, fish pond, and thatched cottage, the environment is quiet and simple ☕Riverside Coffee: Built along the river, the avocado green color scheme is warm and inviting, and the river water is clear 🍵Xiemaqiao Old Tea House: Pingtan performance daily from 13:00-15:00, tea is 🆓 🍵CuppoBubbo: Large floor-to-ceiling windows extending to the river, offering excellent views 💯Tips： 1️⃣The ancient town is divided into two blocks along the river, east and west. It takes about 30-40 minutes to walk around 2️⃣For dining, I recommend Baisheng Renjia and Linfeng Tingchan. There are light meals in the coffee shops, and noodle restaurants along the road 3️⃣There are handicrafts and bookstores in the ancient town, and 3r Youdunzi on the street 3️⃣Parking is convenient, the parking lot is 100m from the ancient town 4️⃣If there is heavy traffic on weekends, you can also park in the Lighting City on the west side of Airport Road 【Little Encyclopedia】 The origin of Xiema comes from the famous Southern Song Dynasty general Han Shizhong, who once led his troops through this area. Seeing the abundant water and grass, he ordered his troops to camp and rest their horses. To facilitate the villagers on both sides of the Shipu River, the officers and soldiers built a bridge on the river called "Xiema Bridge" ✅Nearby attractions: Dianshan Lake, Half Marathon Lawn, Jijiadun Ideal Village, Jinxi Ancient Town

[Pushpin] Xiemaqiao Ancient Town is located in Qiandeng Town, Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province. During the Southern Song Dynasty, the famous general Han Shizhong stationed troops here and built a bridge, hence the name: Xiemaqiao. [Pushpin] Xiemaqiao Ancient Town retains the architectural style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. [One] The ancient stone-paved street is narrow and winding, with old houses and shops scattered on both sides. [Two] stone bridges span the river, connecting the east and west sides of the river. [Three] The water streets are connected, the narrow alleys are deep, and the village houses are built along the river. It reveals a strong traditional charm. [Pushpin] There are not many people in the ancient town, but there are many local specialty restaurants, coffee shops, teahouses, dessert shops, pottery galleries, jewelry shops, and Hanfu shops. [One] There is an old teahouse with unique features where you can enjoy Kunqu opera and listen to Pingtan. [Two] A new teahouse with intangible cultural heritage, [Three] There are branded coffee shops such as "One Foot Garden" and "Taihu Kiln Mud Coffee" [Four] has "Ban Shan Shi Yu" B&B, [Five] has the "Three Minutes Wood" studio. [Six] There are "Banshan Bookstore" and "Duiyin Tea House", The interior decoration of each store has its own unique artistic style. [RoundNails] If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, this is definitely a good choice for you to enjoy a moment of leisure. 🎫Ticket information: Free [Car] Parking information: Free

Qiandeng, near Kunshan, is very close to Shanghai, so there are many ancient streets of Shanghai. There are both new and old ones. The old ones include Han Shizhong's anti-Jin deeds and the Qing Dynasty archways, etc. There are many newly opened coffee shops, etc., and many are under renovation. There are also jelly orange picking, but the price is a bit steep, 30 yuan per catty, so I didn't try it. When I went there on weekdays, there were still quite a few people for a less popular place. The parking lot was basically 80% to 90% full, and parking was free for one hour. It was still okay to pass by and take a look.

🌈 Highlights: Xiemaqiao Ancient Town is located in Qiandeng Town, Kunshan, Jiangsu. It is more like an ancient village than an ancient town. The town is full of ancient charm and cultural atmosphere. It is not large, with narrow and winding streets lined with old houses and shops. Although these buildings have been through a lot, they still maintain their original appearance. Every brick and tile seems to tell the history and stories of the ancient town. The small bridges and flowing water exude the charm of Jiangnan. There are many coffee shops, tea houses, dessert shops, and homestays in the town. It is very suitable for a leisurely stroll and a relaxing break. 🚉 Transportation: Luchang Road, Kunshan, Suzhou. Navigate to "Xiemaqiao Ancient Town." There is a parking lot, and the parking fee is CNY 10. 👍 Recommendations: You can check out Yichi Garden, Banshan Shiyu, Duiyin Tea Bureau, and Dukou. Although it has not been developed for long, it is already very artistic. 🎟️ Tickets: Free 🕐️ Opening hours: 24 hours 💗 Other tips: The town has the Han Shizhong Exhibition Hall, which displays rich historical relics and war stories. It is an important base for patriotic education. There is also the New Fourth Army Songhu Anti-Japanese War Exhibition Hall, which records important events during the Anti-Japanese War. You can visit it.

The most satisfying free ancient town I have visited recently, bar none! There are no girls gathering together to take photos in Hanfu, there are no pig trotters and stinky tofu cakes, and there are no cookie-cutter souvenir shops. Come and have fun while it is not too commercialized now. There are many literary and petty bourgeoisie coffee shops and tea drinks. Shops and unique jewelry stores, it’s very pleasant to wander around for half a day. Recommended fun shops 1️⃣One-foot garden 2️⃣Cuppo Bubbo A light restaurant with a very special name. It offers tea, coffee, and light meals. The large floor-to-ceiling windows face the river, and there are beautiful flowers and various green plants. The boss also took us to feed the koi and used a water pipe to face the sun. Sprinkle water to make a rainbow for the kids 🌈, the service is also good, the spaghetti bolognese, grilled chicken wings and steaks ordered for lunch are all delicious, all on the CD hahaha 3️⃣Ashino There are all kinds of cute and fun little things. The reeds at the door are so beautiful. 4️⃣Raddy Coffee The coffee shop is super big, facing a large golden rice field. It is extremely comfortable and eye-catching. The key is to take photos and take photos. The furnishings inside are also beautiful. The children are keen on walking on the gravel road among the rice fields. It is just a good place to teach them about rice and rice. It has something to do with rice, let her feel how food comes from haha