Nanxun Ancient Town: Silk Money, French Glass and a Canal at Night
Walking Nanxun in Huzhou, Zhejiang: a water town built on silk money, with free streets, five ticketed mansions, 400 m of riverside houses and a lit canal at night.
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Houwan Village: A Ring-Shaped Songyang Hamlet Between Youtian and Songzhuang
Walking Houwan Village in Sandu Township, Songyang, Zhejiang: a ring-shaped mountain hollow split by a stream, red-earth houses, and an old trail linking Youtian and Songzhuang. Free entry, no shops.
Yangtai Village: A Huizhou Hamlet Left Empty Since 2012
Walking Yangtai, an empty Huizhou village in Xiuning, Anhui: evacuated in 2012, roofs open, lanes overgrown, and near thousand-year-old yew trees at the entrance. Free entry, no facilities.
Changkeng Village: A Hundred Metres of Stone Steps, and Almost Nobody There
Walking Changkeng in the mountains of Huangshan, Anhui: a Huizhou village whose main street is 100 m of stone steps, with empty houses and almost no visitors. Free entry, no supermarket or restaurant.
Huangtian Village: Every House Looks Down on the Roof Below
Walking Huangtian village in Songyang, Zhejiang: 53 households at 600 m, houses stacked like stairs, hand-made incense and tea terraces below. Free entry, no supermarket or restaurant.
Yanguan: A Walled Town on the Qiantang, Best Walked in the Rain
Walking Yanguan in Haining: entry is CNY 60 for one day, single entry, or CNY 80 with the tide-watch park. Hotel guests register a face and come and go freely.
Shanxiabao: The ‘Perfect Mountain Village’ With Sixty People Left
A walk through Shanxiabao in Wuyi county, Zhejiang: cobbled lanes, indigo money, a hall from 1741, and about sixty residents left. Free entry, mountain roads and what to expect.
Anchang: Shaoxing’s Living Water Town, Under One Very Long Roof
A walk along Anchang ancient town in Shaoxing: 1,747 metres of covered street, seventeen stone bridges, sauce yards and the hometown of the yamen secretaries. Tickets, boats and when to come.
Shantang Street: Walking Suzhou’s 1,200-Year-Old Canal Street
A 3.7 km walk along Shantang Street in Suzhou, the canal street Bai Juyi built in 825: which sections are quiet, which are crowded, tickets, boats and where to eat.
Yangchan: 367 Rammed-Earth Houses on a Cliff in Anhui
A first-person walk through Yangchan in She County, Anhui – 367 rammed-earth houses stacked on a slope, the largest earth village in southern Anhui, with access, tickets and tips.