Jiaxing

Located in the northeastern part of Zhejiang Province, between Shanghai and Hangzhou, Jiaxing is a national historical and cultural city with a time-honored heritage and charming Jiangnan water town scenery. It is reputed as “the border of Wu and Yue, the source of Jiangnan”. Famous as the birthplace of the Red Boat spirit, it is home to top-tier Jiangnan ancient towns including Wuzhen and Xitang. Endowed with dense rivers and lakes, splendid scenery, profound cultural heritage and vibrant local life, Jiaxing is a fantastic Jiangnan tourist destination for cultural sightseeing, leisure vacation and food exploration.

I. Top Must-Visit Attractions

1. South Lake Scenic Area (5A-level · Classic Red Cultural Landmark)

As the city symbol of Jiaxing, South Lake is a crucial origin of China’s revolutionary history. Boasting misty lakeside scenery, it features the iconic Red Boat and the ancient Yanyu Tower on the Central Island. It is the venue where the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China concluded, bearing profound red historical heritage. Tourists can take a cruise to the Central Island and visit the Revolutionary Memorial Hall to experience the red culture in depth. The scenic area is free to the public, perfectly integrating natural scenery and humanistic connotations, making it a must-visit landmark in Jiaxing.

2. Wuzhen (Tongxiang · 5A-level · Top Jiangnan Water Town)

As one of the most beautiful ancient water towns in China, Wuzhen consists of two distinctive zones: East Wuzhen and West Wuzhen.

East Wuzhen retains an original ecological style and strong local vitality. It gathers numerous cultural sites such as Mao Dun’s Former Residence, indigo calico workshops and traditional folk custom exhibition halls, allowing visitors to experience the authentic Jiangnan folk life and intangible cultural heritage.

West Wuzhen is famous for its exquisite night views. White-walled and black-tiled houses are lined with riverside lights, while rowing boats drift through the water alleys. Attractions including the Plant-dyeing Workshop and Zhaoshu Academy create a stunning atmospheric scene. Regarded as having the most beautiful night scenery in Jiangnan, it is an ideal spot for vacation, photography and relaxation.

3. Xitang Ancient Town (Jiashan · 5A-level · Misty Corridor Water Town)

Famous for its uniquekilometers-long misty corridor, Xitang is also a popular filming location. The ancient town is built along rivers, with winding bluestone roads, delicate bridges, flowing water and classic Jiangnan architectures. It presents a quiet and elegant view in the daytime and a charming poetic atmosphere with lantern reflections on the water at night. Less commercialized than other ancient towns, it features rich local vitality and is perfect for slow sightseeing, relaxation and experiencing the leisurely Jiangnan lifestyle.

4. Yuehe Historical Block (Urban Area · Free Ancient Street)

As the best-preserved Ming and Qing water town block in downtown Jiaxing, it features the classic Jiangnan layout of “three rivers and three streets”, complete with bluestone roads, riverside verandas and ancient covered bridges. Moderately commercialized, it well preserves the original local style of old Jiaxing. Visitors can explore intangible cultural heritage stores and ancient alleys in the daytime and enjoy the brilliant night scenery. It is a core leisure and food destination for both locals and tourists.

5. Yanguan Ancient Town (Haining · World-Famous Tide Watching Resort)

Renowned for the Qiantang River Tide, the spectacular “one-line tide” is hailed as a world natural wonder. The best viewing time falls on the 18th day of the eighth lunar month every year, when the surging tide presents a magnificent and shocking scene. Apart from tide watching, the ancient town boasts numerous cultural relics including the Sea God Temple, ancient city wall and Confucian Temple & Academy, combining stunning natural wonders and profound historical heritage.

6. Meihuazhou (South Lake · Zen-style Water Town Secret Spot)

A hidden gem water town with fewer crowds and a serene ancient charm. It features the ancient Shifo Temple, thousand-year-old ginkgo trees, fragrant flower covered bridges and gurgling streams. Free from excessive commercialization, it has a peaceful zen atmosphere, ideal for relaxation, meditation and ancient-style photography.

II. Unique Urban Culture

1. Red Boat Culture

As the core city card of Jiaxing, the Red Boat on South Lake witnessed the founding of the Communist Party of China. It is a well-known national base for red education and red cultural tourism with profound spiritual heritage.

2. Majiabang Culture

The 7,000-year-old Majiabang Culture originated here, serving as the source of Jiangnan rice-farming civilization and witnessing the long-standing agricultural and humanistic roots of Jiaxing.

3. Grand Canal Culture

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal runs through Jiaxing. The thousand-year-old water transport has nurtured the town commerce and local life, shaping the city’s pattern of thriving by water and prospering by the canal.

4. Celebrity Culture

Jiaxing has been a land of scholars since ancient times. It has nurtured numerous renowned modern and contemporary figures, including Mao Dun, Wang Guowei, Feng Zikai, Xu Zhimo and Jin Yong, endowing the city with a strong scholarly atmosphere.

5. Intangible Cultural Heritage & Folk Culture

Jiaxing boasts abundant living intangible cultural heritages, such as Jiaxing zongzi making technique, Xiashi lantern show, Haining shadow puppetry and silk weaving craft, inheriting the traditional craftsmanship and folk customs of Jiangnan.

III. Local Special Cuisine

1. Signature Must-Try Dishes

Jiaxing Zongzi: The iconic taste of Jiaxing. Represented by Wu Fang Zhai and Zhen Zhen Lao Lao, the pork zongzi is rich and savory, while the egg yolk pork zongzi features creamy runny yolk and glutinous rice, making it an indispensable local delicacy.

South Lake Water Chestnut: A unique hornless ingot-shaped water chestnut exclusive to South Lake. It tastes crisp and sweet when raw and glutinous and savory when cooked, a seasonal lake delicacy in autumn.

Wenhu Braised Duck: A time-honored local braised delicacy with rich sauce, firm and tender meat and a moderate salty-sweet flavor. It is a popular table dish and perfect souvenir.

Tongxiang Braised Mutton: A classic Jiangnan winter dish. Tender lake mutton is stewed with thick soy sauce, tasting soft, flavorful and nourishing, a representative hearty Jiangnan dish.

2. Classic Local Snacks

Xiexi Street Soup Dumplings: A top local breakfast specialty with thin translucent wrappers, filling bamboo shoot and pork stuffing, and rich soup. It is traditionally eaten by opening the wrapper first to sip the soup.

Xitang Bazhen Cake: A traditional medicinal and edible snack made with eight ingredients. It is crisp, sweet and faintly medicinal with a refreshing taste.

Lotus Leaf Steamed Pork with Rice: A traditional Jiangnan delicacy. Pork belly and glutinous rice are wrapped in lotus leaves and steamed, featuring tender meat, strong rice and lotus fragrance without being greasy.

Steamed Double Stinky Dishes: A unique local specialty combining stinky tofu and fermented amaranth stems. It has a distinctive savory stinky flavor and is an excellent rice companion.

3. Food Gathering Spots

Yuehe Historical Block: Home to numerous time-honored restaurants including Lu Gaojian and Zou Daxian, offering one-stop tasting of authentic Jiaxing local dishes and snacks.

Yuexiu Market: A popular local food market with high cost performance, gathering various snacks, trendy drinks and grilled foods full of urban vitality.

IV. City Summary

Jiaxing is a city of profound red heritage and gentle Jiangnan charm. It boasts the tender elegance of thousand-year-old ancient towns, the magnificent momentum of the Qiantang River Tide, profound scholarly heritage and lively local delicacies. A slow journey in Jiaxing allows you to admire exquisite water town scenery, taste authentic Jiangnan food, perceive the profound red spirit, and experience the unique tenderness and depth of Jiangnan.