My WeChat Moments were blowing up with questions about Huzhou. You really don't need to go abroad!
Huzhou is located in the north of Zhejiang Province, at the intersection of the three provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui. It is a city in the Taihu Lake area named after the lake. This Jiangnan water town, located between Suzhou and Hangzhou, with a history of more than 2,000 years, is worth exploring.
🌟Travel Highlights
Day 1
* **Nanxun Ancient Town**: Nanxun Ancient Town is one of the six famous ancient towns in Jiangnan, with a history of more than 1,200 years. It is a national 5A tourist attraction. Strolling through the streets and alleys of Nanxun, with its quaint buildings and gurgling rivers, you will feel as if you have stepped into a painting of a Jiangnan water town. Small bridges, flowing water, and white walls with black tiles are typical scenery of Nanxun Ancient Town. The town preserves a large number of ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
* **Yishang Street and Xiaoxi Street**: These two streets are a concentrated reflection of the traditional residences of Huzhou during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The architectural styles on both sides of the street are uniform, with Qing Dynasty buildings connected in pieces. Yishang Street is one of the most prosperous commercial districts in Huzhou's history. The streets are lined with shops, with all kinds of snacks, handicrafts, and specialty products. Xiaoxi Street is a cultural and creative leisure block in Huzhou. Many literary youths like to come here to check in. There are many cafes, bookstores, and handicraft shops on the street, each exuding a unique cultural atmosphere.
* **Taihu Moon Bay Square**: After eating and drinking enough on Yishang Street, you can go to Moon Bay Square in Taihu Lake to enjoy the night view and check in at landmark buildings. Moon Bay in South Taihu Lake is backed by mountains on one side and surrounded by water on three sides. The coastline is winding, like a crescent moon, hence the name "Moon Bay." The night view of Moon Bay Square in South Taihu Lake is full of colorful lights. Looking up at the moon and stars, the Moon Hotel and the adjacent Rainbow Bridge are brightly lit, which is very spectacular.
Day 2
* **Moganshan Scenic Area**: Moganshan is a national 4A tourist attraction, a national scenic spot, and a national forest park. It is known as the "Cool World" and is known as one of the four major summer resorts in China, along with Beidaihe, Lushan, and Jigongshan. It enjoys the reputation of "The First Mountain in Jiangnan." Here, the bamboo forests are like the sea, the green waves are rolling, and the fresh air seems to wash away all your worries. The villas on the mountain are architectural treasures from the Republic of China, each with a unique style and exuding a unique temperament. You can also try paragliding and overlook Mogan Mountain from a high altitude. That kind of shock is unforgettable for a lifetime.
* **Anji Great Bamboo Sea**: Anji has the largest bamboo culture ecological leisure tourism area in southeastern China. The entire scenic area is dominated by original natural scenery, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with bamboo connecting mountains and mountains connecting bamboo. It is full of green, which is a long scroll of bamboo paintings stacked on top of each other. This is also the filming location of the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." The endless bamboo forest covers the entire mountain, with overlapping mountains and a green view, which is very spectacular.
🎨Local Culture
Huzhou is one of the birthplaces of Chinese silk culture, tea culture, and Hubi culture.
* **Silk Culture**: Huzhou is the hometown of Chinese silk and is known as the "Source of Silk and the Mansion of Silk." In Zhili Ancient Town, silk elements can be seen everywhere. There are Silk Street and Silk Alley in the town. Shops sell all kinds of silk products, as well as silk-themed sculptures. The Zhili Silk Museum displays the thousand-year history of silk and silk weaving techniques in Zhili. You can experience silk weaving, tie-dyeing, printing and other projects here to feel the charm of silk culture.
* **Tea Culture**: Changxing County in Huzhou has the Datang Tribute Tea Garden, which was built in the fifth year of Dali in the Tang Dynasty (770 AD). It was the first "Royal Tea Factory" in Chinese history dedicated to processing tea for the imperial court. The current Datang Tribute Tea Garden is newly built and consists of four parts: Luyu Pavilion, Jixiang Temple, East Corridor, and West Corridor. The entire building is built along the mountain, with an antique flavor. You can feel the long and elegant tea culture while enjoying the fun of "stealing half a day of leisure from a busy life."
* **Brush Culture**: Hubi is a traditional and precious specialty of Huzhou and is known as the "Crown of Brushes." In the Huzhou Hubi Museum, you can learn about the history, production process, and other knowledge of Hubi, and you can also see various types of Hubi and feel the broad and profound Hubi culture.
🚗Transportation Guide
* **High-speed rail**: Huzhou's high-speed rail transportation is very convenient. There are direct high-speed trains from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Hefei and other cities, and you can reach Huzhou in as little as half an hour.
* **Intracity transportation**: There are a variety of transportation options in the urban area, such as buses and taxis, which are convenient for you to travel to various attractions. In addition, shared bicycles are also relatively popular and can meet short-distance travel needs.
🏨Accommodation Recommendations
* **Huzhou City**: Close to the city center, with convenient transportation and many restaurants and shops nearby. It is recommended to stay in hotels near Yishang Street, Xiaoxi Street, or Aishan Square. The environment is beautiful, the price is moderate, and there are many surrounding delicacies.
* **Nanxun Ancient Town**: You can choose to stay in a characteristic homestay in or around the ancient town. The decoration is simple and elegant, allowing you to fully experience the leisurely comfort of a Jiangnan water town.
🍴Food Recommendations
* **Nanxun Specialty Snacks**: Don't miss the specialty snacks of Nanxun, such as Nanxun Zongzi, which is large, delicious, and has a strong aroma; Nanxun Stinky Tofu, which smells stinky but tastes fragrant and crispy; and Nanxun Dingsheng Cake, Tangjiao, etc., each of which is unforgettable.
* **Taihu Aquatic Products**: Taihu Lake is rich in aquatic products. You can taste fresh Taihu aquatic products in the lake fresh restaurants near Taihu Tourist Resort and Taihu Moon Bay Square. You can enjoy the scenery while enjoying the food, which is very cost-effective.
* **Huzhou Mutton**: Huzhou mutton is mainly Huzhou mutton, which is tender and mellow. Every autumn and winter, the streets and alleys of Huzhou are filled with the aroma of mutton. It is recommended to go to restaurants such as "Cao's Mutton Bone" to taste mutton and enjoy yourself.