Why go
Xitang's covered corridors are its genius feature — built so merchants could keep trading in the rain, they now let visitors tour the whole old town dry. On sunny days they frame the canals like a series of paintings.
Unlike the more disciplined towns, Xitang has a lively after-dark scene: guesthouse owners cook home meals, and the canal-side bars light up after 21:00.
- The covered corridors — a full 1km of sheltered riverside walk
- The 1,000-year-old Huanxiu Bridge and its canal reflections
- Yanjiao (Smoke and Rain) Corridor — the town's signature photo
- Evening bars along the main canal
Where to go
Walk the main canal from the Smoke and Rain Corridor eastward, crossing at each of the old bridges. Visit the garden (Xiyuan) and the Root Carving Museum, then finish at the western pier for the sunset.
Practical notes
Weekend evenings are the liveliest — and the loudest. For quiet, stay in the eastern half of the old town, away from the bar street.
Getting there
- High-speed rail to Jiashan South, then a 15-min shuttle
- Age
- 1,000+ years
- Signature
- Covered corridors (langpeng)
- From Shanghai
- ~1.5h
