I heard that Nanxun Ancient Town does not require entrance fees, and the fireworks of the water town are hidden. This may be an ancient town in the south of the Yangtze River that is worth visiting in 2025. While other ancient towns sell the same small commodities produced in Yiwu, Nanxun has broken people's stereotyped perceptions and impressions of "over-commercialization" of ancient towns with its practical free initiatives and authentic life scenes.
The confidence behind free
Nanxun Ancient Town has the confidence to waive the entrance fee of nearly 100 yuan. This is due to the very loud sign of "World Cultural Heritage". Starting from January 18, 2023, Nanxun Ancient Town tourist attractions will officially be permanently open to tourists from all over the world for free. This move further made it the first free and open 5A-level ancient town in the province of Zhejiang. Such a decision caused the number of tourists to increase by 180% year-on-year. However, the scenic spot did not become noisy and chaotic because of this.
Even with the free policy, Nanxun still maintains strict protection standards. Before 7 a.m. every morning, the staff of the scenic spot will complete the flushing of the bluestone road to ensure that tourists walking on it are clean and tidy. Data from the local Culture and Tourism Bureau shows that in 2024, Nanxun will receive more than 12 million tourists, 70% of which are independent tourists who come for the free policy.
Money-saving strategies to remember
Seniors aged sixty and above can enter the park directly through the gates with their ID cards. Students with student ID cards can enjoy half-price discounts at some small attractions. Families with children are the most cost-effective. Children under 1.2 meters in height are not only free of charge, but can also take the shuttle bus in the scenic area for free. The "Nanxun Cultural Tourism Card" newly launched in 2025 only costs 50 yuan, which allows unlimited entry to some fee-paying courtyards in places such as Xiaolianzhuang throughout the year.
In terms of transportation, take bus No. 101 from Huzhou High-speed Railway Station directly to Nanxun Bus Station. The whole journey costs 8 yuan and takes 1 hour. Self-driving tourists can park their cars in the East Street parking lot, which charges 20 yuan for 24 hours, which is half cheaper than Wuzhen Xizha. Every Wednesday at 10 a.m., the scenic spot’s official mini program will issue 100 free parking coupons, so those with quick hands can save a lot of money.
Live next to a hundred buildings
The average price of residential accommodation in nearly 100 buildings is 200 yuan a night. We recommend the inn called "Linheju". The owner is a local, and three generations of his family have settled by the river. When you open the carved wooden windows, you can see the ships carrying grain slowly passing by. In the evening, residents on the other side light up lanterns, and the reflections in the water sway and flicker, as if you have returned to the Ming Dynasty four hundred years ago.
The advantage is that the people in Nanxun who can enjoy the early morning and late night exclusively live in the scenic area. At 6 o'clock in the morning, on the stone steps of Baijian Building, an old man was washing clothes, and the sound of sticks and sticks came and went. After 10 o'clock at night, the tour group has dispersed. At this time, you can sit alone by the river and listen to the sound of water flow and the sound of Pingtan from a distance. This experience is something that tourists who come and go on the same day will never experience.
The secret deep inside the old house
In the summer of 2024, the ten-acre lotus pond in Xiaolianzhuang completed the dredging project. Now the water quality has become clear, so clear that you can see the bottom, and you can see koi carps swimming among the lotus leaves. The bookcases made of nanmu in the Jiaye Hall Library do not use a single iron nail to this day. The rue placed on the mezzanine of the bookcases is replaced every two years. This method of preventing insects has been used for hundreds of years.
When the sun shines slantingly from 9 to 10 a.m., the stained glass windows imported from France in Zhang Shiming’s old house are the most beautiful. The light and shadow passing through the glass will cast colorful colors on the ground. Girls wearing Hanfu like to circle here and take photos. The red brick building of Liu's Staircase contains the secret passage of the Literary Prison of the Qing Dynasty. It was just restored and opened after the Spring Festival in 2025. Visitors can enter the secret passage to experience the thrills of the book collectors back then.
New gameplay in heaven and earth
Experience taking a hot air balloon overlooking Nanxun, a new project launched during the National Day in 2024. The balloon will rise to an altitude of 80 meters. At that time, the entire ancient town will be displayed in front of you like a miniature model. The pilot will specially fly above the Baijian Building, allowing you to take pictures of the most classic "river around the house" scene. This project is limited to 60 people per day. Remember to make a reservation three days in advance through the mini program.
Young people who love excitement rush to the Wanan Karting Track. The total length of the track is 1.2 kilometers, and the longest straight can make the car speed soar to 118km/h. In March 2025, this place became the filming location for the car chase scene of "Venom 2". The tire walls and blasting points left by the crew have become new favorites for tourists to check in. The racing track will provide professional helmets and racing suits. Taking photos and sending them to your circle of friends will definitely attract the attention of others.
Local Food Map
If you want to eat food with authentic Nanxun flavor, don't go to the main street, but turn into the alley to look for "A Fang's home-cooked food". The proprietress A Fang goes to the market every morning to buy Taihu white shrimps. A plate of prepared brine shrimps sells for 38 yuan. The shrimp meat is sweet and chewy. Her embroidered broccoli can only be found in Nanxun. After being stir-fried, it will emit a faint orchid aroma.
The most authentic Shuangjiao Noodles is located in Zhuangyuanlou. The boss there always insists on using earthen stoves to cook the noodles. Braised meat and fried fish are a perfect combination. The store opens at 6 a.m. and closes the stall at 10 a.m. Don't buy stinky dried tofu from roadside stalls. You have to go to Aunt Shen's house at No. 72, Baijianlou. Her family uses amaranth stems to soak the tofu in brine. The fried dried stinky tofu is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Served with homemade hot sauce, it only costs 5 yuan to make your mouth full of oily aroma.
In this ancient town that still retains vitality, I would like to ask one last question: Are you ready to spend two days to find the Jiangnan scene in your memory?
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