Wuxi Xuntang Ancient Town Forgotten by Time

Xuntang Ancient Town is like a pearl inlaid in the wetland of Shangxian River. It is said that the Xuntang River was dug by Wu Zidan, a doctor of the Wu Kingdom in the Spring and Autumn Period, to prevent the Vietnamese from invading the country. A bridge was built on the later river called the Xuntang Bridge. The existing Xuntang Bridge was rebuilt during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty and is one of the remaining ancient bridges from the Qing Dynasty in Wuxi. 1⃣️There are three landscape areas around: Xuntang Ancient Town, Wanhe Academy, and Water Garden. 2⃣️The current Xuntang Town is built on the water based on the original old street, with the Xuntang Bridge as the boundary dividing the north and south streets. Several restaurants were built near the water on North Street. South Street is a narrow brick and stone street with nine twists and turns. On both sides of the street are antique residential buildings - blue-gray brick walls and tile roofs, and wooden beams, doors and windows, which are the most characteristic of Jiangnan. Flowers and trees are planted at the corners of the walls and under the eaves. Sky flowers are climbing vines, beautiful bananas are standing tall, pomegranates are embroidered, green bamboos are hanging, and willow branches are floating. It forms an interesting contrast with the towering Financial Street Ancient Town and New City in the distance. The ancient town is very low-key, quiet and not noisy. South Street is now developed into a B&B. 3⃣️Wanhe Academy is a private residence built a hundred years ago by Wuxi industrialist Qian Fenggao: facing water on three sides, with pavilions, rockery corridors, and a miniature Jiangnan garden. Sometimes open. 4⃣️The water garden is between the two. It was built by digging a pond to divert the river water. There are criss-crossing and zigzag wooden planks on the pond, which can enter and exit the small pavilions from all directions. Many metasequoias are planted on the side of the pond and pavilions, and the pond is covered with water. Calamus, snapdragon and other aquatic plants, but unfortunately no lotus was planted. The entire water garden is shrouded in the shade of dense trees, and many birds also live here. It is a good place to rest and enjoy the cool air. Compared with the surrounding Zhouzhuang and Tongli Ancient Towns, Wuxi Xuntang Ancient Town may be an unknown existence, but it just satisfies people's beautiful imagination of Jiangnan ancient towns. No bustling crowds, no cookie-cutter shops. The town has blue bricks and black tiles, and winding paths lead to secluded areas. “Five steps, one scene, ten steps, one painting” is a perfect way to describe it. . The high-rise buildings separated by a river seem to exist in two different spaces. between. This should be the case for Da Yin in the city! Address: Wuxi Xuntang Ancient Town Navigation: By driving or taking a taxi, you can directly locate the old street in Xuntang Ancient Town, Binhu District, Wuxi Tickets: FREE Opening hours: 9:00-20:30 Hotel: Xuntang Shuxiang Mansion Hotel