Xitang

Xitang

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The ancient town of Xitang is situated in Jiashan County, under the jurisdiction of Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. Some 90 km away from Shanghai and 110 km from Hangzhou, Xitang sits where China's three economic giants meet – Shanghai Municipality, and Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. One of the town's geologic advantages is its comprehensive network of land and water communications.

Nine waterways meet within the town proper. They cut the town out into eight pieces, which are connected by numerous bridges.

Xitang is renowned for its many bridges, small lanes and riverwalk canopies.

The town's architecture, built during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, are well preserved and are of high artistic and technical research value.

Tourist attractions

Up until 1998, there were 104 old bridges, all of which were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. These include the bridges of Anren, Anjing, Anshan, Wufu, Qingning, Wolong and Laifeng. Most of them are single- or triple-arched wooden beam bridges with stone piers. 

The Wufu (Five-Bliss) Bridge

It was built during the Ming Dynasty and renovated during the reign of Emperor Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty. The single-arched bridge with a stepped floor is 14 meters long and 7.5 meters wide.

The Wolong (Crouching-Dragon) Bridge

Built during the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, this single arched stone bridge is 31.46 meter long, 4.95 meters wide, and 5.5 meter high, the highest of its kind in Xitang. There are 32 steps on the bridge's east slope and 30 on the west. An additional nine on a ramp annexed to the west slope make it easier to walk across it.

2. Riverwalk Canopies