Nanxun ancient town, Huzhou, Zhejiang

[PHOTO/CHINA BOUND]

In Huzhou's Nanxun ancient town, arched stone bridges frame elegant waterside homes, their reflections shimmering on the tranquil canal. Once a thriving silk-trading hub during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), Nanxun was famed for Jili silk, prized by the imperial court and celebrated with a gold medal at the first World Expo. Visit the former residence of the local celebrity and stroll along Baijianlou — a 400-meter-long waterside promenade, immersing yourself in the refined elegance of the Jiangnan region (the area south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River).