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1 Hour Train Getaways: Xinchang Water Town

2018-04-04 Sophie ShanghaiWOWeng

There’s a lot more to China then just Shanghai, and you don’t need to get on a plane and go through the hassle of trip planning to experience it all. The weather is finally warming up, so before the heat and humidity rolls into Shanghai in waves, it’s time to explore what else is out there. In this weekly series, we will venture outside of Shanghai to introduce you to excellent day trips and weekend getaways that are all an hour or less from the city.

 


For our first stop, let’s head to Xinchang, a nearby water town that’s much more authentic than some of the big hitters, like Zhujiajiao, Tongli, and Zhouzhuang.

 

Background


Shanghai started out as a small agricultural village, but in the mid-1600s, it began developing into the huge metropolis that it is today. With the British colonization in the late 1800s, its rapid development progressed. Yet, the remains of the old style of life that existed before this modernization took place are still prevalent in the numerous ancient water towns around the outskirts of the city.

 


Many of these water towns have grown in popularity over the last decade due to the expansion of convenient public transportation that has made it much easier to visit and see the ancient architecture that was built 1,000 years ago. 

 


Xinchang is a smaller, lesser known water town because the nearby train station was only built just two years ago. Xinchang Ancient Town is also known as Xin Yan Chang, meaning “New Salt Place” because the town was previously owned by a salt manufacturer. Salt from the sea was sent to a production center in Xinchang, thus attracting many salt traders interested in conducting business. As a result, tea houses, restaurants, and bars sprung up and still exist today.

 


The city’s architecture is a maze of bridges, alleyways, and canals. By easily stepping off of the main road, you feel like you have gone back in time. Because the majority of the architecture that remains is original, Ang Lee filmed his movie Lust, Caution in Xinchang, further adding to its fame.  

 


Xinchang is more authentic than most other water towns in that it’s a living water town.  People actually live there, in a similar manner to how they did decades, and even, a century ago. Wandering the alleys and canals of Xinchang is like discovering an ancient neighborhood rather than getting caught in a tourist trap.

 

How to Get There

 

Take line 16 to the Xinchang train stop (about 50 minutes from downtown). Follow the signs for Exit 2. Right outside Exit 2 is Public Bus 1108 (RMB 1) that runs every 20-30 minutes to Xinchang. When you board the bus, let the driver know that you would like to get off at Xinchang (新场古镇), and he can notify you when you arrive. If you don’t want to take the bus, you can easily grab a 5-minute cab or Didi. Otherwise it’s about a 40-minute walk (3 kilometers) from Exit 2 to Xinchang.  

 


To Do


The best attraction is just wandering the main street wher 45 31511 45 14399 0 0 7780 0 0:00:04 0:00:01 0:00:03 7779e you’ll find food vendors, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, old-school tea shops, and trinket stores galore. Off the main road, there are abandoned walkways, quiet canals, and centuries-old architecture.

 


1. Discover more than 100 different Ming and Qing Dynasty homes with hand-carved doors, windows, and gates dating back hundreds of years.


2. The Xinchang Cultural & Historical Hall (RMB 15 entrance fee) is the only paid attraction in the town. This museum covers the history of the town and displays examples of what typical life was like there previously. Some of the museum’s exhibits do include English translations.


 

3. For those interested in Buddhist temples, the Xinchang Temple (free entry) is quite small, but still picturesque. Behind the temple is a little pond where water lilies grow in the summer, making it an excellent place to relax.


4. There are many teahouses in Xinchang along the waterways. Find one with some outdoor seating and enjoy the people watching while sipping on some earthy, aromatic Chinese tea. Otherwise, check out No. 1 Teahouse, a protected heritage site that dates back to the Qing dynasty.

 


5. During the Spring, the Peach Blossom Festival is held in Datuan, Laogang, Huinan, and Xinchang towns. This year, the festival started on March 23rd and it runs through April 20th.  Take in the beautiful pink peach blossoms and enjoy peach-related treats being served at restaurants and street stalls around the town.

 

Photo Credit: Shine.cn

 

To Eat


Skip breakfast and head straight to Xinchang where you can easily get your fill of local snacks and Chinese treats. The main road in Xinchang town is teeming with vendors selling every salty, sweet, fried, boiled, and steamed treat you can think of (and even some you can’t!)

 

 

1. While dounao/douhua can easily be found as a breakfast street snack around Shanghai, I greatly prefer the one sold by numerous vendors along the main road in Xinchang. The soft, creamy tofu pudding is topped with spicy chili oil, pickled mustard greens, cilantro, green onions, and peanuts. If you’ve ever had a jian bing, it’s like all the flavors from that but not as bad for your waistline.

 


2. Stinky tofu is a common snack in China, known for its trademark “stinky” smell that can be sniffed from more than a block away. The somewhat rancid smell comes from the tofu being brined in fermented milk, veggies, meat, and sometimes seafood for months. It’s believed that the stronger the smell, the better the taste. If that’s the truth, then stinky tofu should be the best.

 

 

It’s worth trying at least once, and, while not my favorite, it’s not the worst. The smell is much stronger than the flavor, and the fried crispy outside paired with the soft, fluffy inside is always considered a win in my book.

 


3. Hai Tang Gao is a rice cake filled with red bean and baked so the sugary sweetness in the dough caramelizes into a crust on top. It tastes like a thick, warm pancake stuffed with hot, sweetened red bean paste. It’s so yummy, you might as well order a few.

 

Photo Credit: Tripadvisor user, Yutabi

 

4. Off the main pedestrian road, there are various noodles shops, dumpling stands, grilled meat spots, and Chinese bakeries, so don’t be afraid to follow the lines and take a chance on a random dumpling or noodle joint that all the locals seem to be eating at (that’s usually where you’ll find the best ones!)

 

Final Thoughts


If possible, try to avoid weekends and public holidays when the crowds can be horrendous. If coming on the weekend is your only option, make sure to arrive on the earlier side (preferably before lunchtime) so you can really take in the beautiful alleyways and ornate architecture without the jostling and pushing of mid-day crowds.

 

 

Come hungry since there are loads of street vendors and many different snacks other than the usual Shanghai-city fare.

 


Finally, try to come in the Spring to take advantage of not only the perfect weather but also the one-of-a-kind Peach Festival! 


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