When swimming pools and water parks are as full as a bowl of dumpling , these places are no longer ideal for you to beat the heat.The following water villages in China promise you a more decent way to escape the burning hot summer.
# Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province
Wuzhen is a national 5A scenic area and one of China’s top ten historical & cultural towns.
Having a history of 1300 years, Wuzhen has kept its way of life since its foundation in 872 A.D..The traditional buildings have survived hundreds of years of weathering but remain intact today. In 2001, Wuzhen was named as a candidate for UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List.
Its location at the golden triangle consisting of Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou creates a land of milk and honey.
Highlights: shadow play, water market
Learn more about Wuzhen travel
# Xitang, Zhejiang Province
Xitang is another renowned water village in Zhejiang. Its history dates back to at least the Spring and Autumn Period. Though resembling Wuzhen in many ways, the two ancient water towns still differ in some aspects. Say for example, tourists are forbidden to stay overnight in Wuzhen since the whole town has been protected as a scenic spots in a commercial atmosphere and few locals is still living there. By contrast, Xitang is more open and delivers a fusion of local culture and tourism; in other words, you are more possible to see the original customs and practices in Xitang.
highlights: local life, tradtional food
To learn more about Xitang travel
# Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province
Wuyuan, on the boundary of three provinces in Jiangxi’s northeastern corner, has a landscape dotted with strange caves, deep secluded rocks and numerous historic sites. Wuyuan County is home to some of the best-preserved ancient architecture in China which can date back in 740 during the Tang Dynasty.Its remoteness and inconvenient transportation protected the villages from too many visitors. The best season to visit is the peak time of canola flower — when stetches of golden cover the land.
Highlights:canola flower, architecture
Learn more about Jiangxi travel
# Hong Village, Anhui Province
The village near to Huangshan is arranged in the shape of an ox with the nearby hill interpreted as the head, and two trees standing on it as the horns, four bridges across the Jiyin stream being the legs whilst the houses of the village forming the body. Inside the “body”, the Jiyin stream represents the intestines and various lakes such as the “South Lake” (Nanhu) form the other internal organs.
The architecture and carvings of the approximately 150 residences can date back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The village became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The colors of black, white and grey constitute a Chinese ink and wash style, different from the water towns at Yangtze delta. Scenes from “Crouched Tigher Hidden Dragon” were shot here.Scenes from “Crouched Tiger Hidden Dragon” were shot here.
Highlight: Hui culture, architecture
