Tongli: famous for the old architectures

Tongli, which belongs to Wujiang in Jiangsu Province, is located along the bank of Tai Lake and to the east of ancient canal with eight lakes surrounded.
Tongli ancient town with beautiful scenery is surrounded by five lakes, namely Tongli, Jiuli, Yeze, Nanxing and Pangshan. The town is divided into 7 small islands by 15 rivers arranged like the Chinese character “川” connected by 49 ancient bridges, making these islands an integrated area. The architectures built by riverside, famous for “small bridge, flowing stream and thatched households”, make Tongli ancient town the best-reserved ancient town by riverside.
Tongli is characterized by a large number of architectures in Ming & Qing dynasties, small bridges and outstanding celebrities. Tongli boasts 38 residences in Ming & Qing dynasties, 47 temples and ancestral halls and around 100 residences of local rich and powerful people as well as former residences of celebrities.  

Xitang: famous for the Covered Corridors

Xitang is level, densely distributed with rivers and has a very quiet natural environment. 9rivers converge in this town, dividing it into 8 sections, but many bridges link this water town together (anciently called as “nine dragon old pearl” and “wind from 8 sides”). Inside the town, there are many well-preserved architectural groups constructed during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Through a bird's-eye view of the whole town, green waves ripple everywhere and every family resides near water. In the morning, water flows beneath bridges, thin mist is like silk, pinkish walls on both banks stand tall and erect and tiled houses are reflected inversely in the water. In the evening, the setting sun shines slantwise, songs come from fishing boats, lamps flicker and the fragrance of wine drifts. The whole old town is like a poem and a picture. In this town, people will feel that they are seemingly in an earthly paradise. It is hard to know that people exist in the picture or picture exists in the heart of people.
Most of the streets in Xitang are covered with roofs, so merchants and passengers are not worried about rain and sunshine. Long chairs are arranged along the riverside of some covered corridors for people to have a rest. Most of covered corridors are made of bricks and wood and usually 2 -2.5m wide. They are centralized in commercial areas, such as North Zha Street, South Zha Street and Zhao Nan Dai, with a total length of over 1000m .They can be used to seek shelter from rain or shade sunshine. One section is the most elegant, whose carved decorative patterns are hailed by tourists as the acme of perfection.

Wuzhen: famous for Water Chamber 
Wuzhen lies at the north of Tongxiang City of Zhejiang Province. The town is divided into four zones by a cross-shaped river, with the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal running across the town, making the only ancient water town adjacent to the canal.
Wuzhen enjoys a history of over 1,000 years since its establishment in 872 A.D. The traditional buildings are still well preserved after crossing so many rough years. Within the town, with a dense network of rivers and wharves, people build their houses along the river and establish markets close to bridges. Some railings and arch bridges, arched gates across the street, imposing dwellings and spacious courtyards, river banks and verandas are all well preserved, presenting an original ecological scene of a water town in Jiangnan (the South of Yangtze River). It is just like a natural museum of ancient architecture. In the town, watercourses and flagstone streets extend in all directions and intercross here and there. The native residents live peacefully in their old houses by water, just like their ancestors do before a long time.
Water chamber is a unique architecture of Wuzhen. The local people build water chambers on the back of their waterside houses by erecting wood or stone columns in the river, adding beams and boards on them, forming this kind of building stretching out above watercourses.

Nanxun: famous for Baijian Lou

Nanxun, situated in Huzhou City, is a famous historical and cultural town in Zhejiang Province. With a history of over 700 years, Nanxun is also a place full of
On the list of Records of Gardens South of the Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River is Nanxun, the only town containing a total of five large gardens. Nanxun boasts numerous historic sites and enchanting natural landscapes, and has both a rich cultural heritage as well as the poetic, waterside charm seen in areas along the Yangtze.
The town's most famous structure is the 400-year-old Baijian Lou, literally meaning pavilion of 100 rooms, located in the town's northeast corner. Locals say the pavilion was constructed by a high-ranking Ming Dynasty official for his servants, and people were amazed for his generosity as they looked at the magnificent building with its 100 rooms. Withstanding several centuries of war and turbulence, the buildings are amazingly well-preserved; stretching along 400 metres on both banks of the ancient canal which divides the town, the huge buildings still function as residences for locals.

Luzhi: famous for numerous quaint stone bridges
Luzhi is located in Kunshan City, about 25km kilometers away fro Suzhou. The town has a history more than 2000 years.
The town is characterized by small water lanes, stone bridges and the riverside ancient buildings. There are in all about 41 well preserved ancient stone bridges of different styles and size, which were built in Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, included multi-arched big bridges, solo-arched bridges, well-ornamented and twin bridges with the two bridges look almost the same. Luzhi deserves its reputation as a “Museum of Chinese Ancient Bridges”.
Luzhi town is also famous for several historical and cultural relics, such as Baosheng temple, the Wansheng Rice Company and the White Lotus Flower Temple of the North Song Dynasty.
In addition, the traditional costume worn by the women are distinctive. Both clothes and trousers are characteristically pieced together using different cotton materials in a variety of designs. In addition to wearing these interesting clothes, local women are accustomed to wearing colorful kerchiefs and embroidered shoes.

Zhujiajiao: famous for water 

Zhujiajiao, located in a suburb of Shanghai, enjoys a history of more than 1,700 years. It is an ancient water town well-known throughout the country. Endowed with another elegant name – “Pearl Stream” - the little town is the best-preserved among the four ancient towns in Shanghai.
Bridges in the town are distinctive and old, built during Ming and Qing Dynasties. The old town is thoroughly connected by 36 delicate spans in different shapes and styles, from wooden to stone to marble.
Unique old bridges across bubbling streams, small rivers shaded by willow trees, and houses with courtyards attached all transport people who have been living amidst the bustle and hustle of the modern big city to a brand-new world full of antiquity, leisure and tranquility.
In Zhujiajiao, every house was built along the river, and every family could go by boat. So hence the name “Venice in Shanghai”.