Nanxun Trip
Saturday May 18-Sunday May 19, 2024
A weekend jaunt to the utterly charming water town of Nanxun, one of the prettiest, best-preserved towns on the Grand Canal, where life is still centered around the waterways. We’ll see the legacy of the town’s immense wealth in hundred-room mansions, classical Chinese gardens, temples, and an ancient library; take a boat ride along the canal, savor the delicious local cuisine, and admire unchanging vistas.
TRIP DETAILS
PRICE: Early Bird: RMB 4000 members, 5000 nonmembers until May 6, thereafter RMB 4500 members, 5500 nonmembers. Pricing is based on double occupancy. Single supplement: + RMB 600
INCLUDED: Transport to Nanxun via private bus, accommodation for 1 night, 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, tickets to historic sites & cruise, Historic Shanghai’s expert guiding.
CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS: Cancellations prior to May 6 are fully refundable; after that date, payments are non-refundable.
Please note: In the event that our minimum number of 10 guests is not reached, the trip will be cancelled and all guests will be refunded.
TO BOOK: Scan the QR code or click here.
TRIP ITINERARY
DAY 1
After an early departure from Shanghai, we’ll spend the day exploring the splendid mansions and legacy of the two wealthiest families in Nanxun.
MORNING
8.am Depart Shanghai
10-10.30am Check into the Blossom Hill Hotel
Blossom Hill Hotel is a boutique hotel in the heart of Nanxun Old Town, a collection of three renovated Ming-style houses, including one built in 1930 by one of the town’s wealthiest merchants, Liu Chenggan, to house his book collection.
Zhang Shiming’s Hall of Exemplary Virtue
In the late 19th century, the wealth of the four richest families of Nanxun was almost unimaginable, and it was showcased in splendid mansions like Zhang Shiming’s House of Exemplary Virtue, a labyrinth of interconnected courtyards, where 244 of the original rooms survive. Exquisitely crafted, down to the finest details, it’s full of delightful surprises: the Banana Courtyard, a pair of red brick Victorian buildings, including grand Ballroom, vibrant blue colored glass, imported from France.
Lunch
Lunch at a canal-side restaurant specializing in the delicious cuisine of the Jiangnan region, known as the ‘land of fish and rice’.
Afternoon
Our afternoon walk will take us to the impressive legacy left by three generations of the Liu family.
Liu Yong’s Little Lotus Garden
The richest merchant in a very rich town, Liu Yong built his fortune in the late 19th century the old-fashioned way: cotton, silk, salt, and real estate. He spent 40 years completing Little Lotus Garden, an elegant classical Chinese garden, its signature an immense lotus pond, surrounded by ancient trees, pavilions, and all the charms of a scholar’s garden. The family temple nearby features grand memorial archways.
Liu Tiqing’s Red House
Liu Yong’s son, Liu Tiqing’s vast mansion reflected his cosmopolitan tastes: this unique building features a classic Jiangnan courtyard house in the front, and a dramatic Romanesque red brick building in the rear, a retreat for the women of the house, with its own courtyard, and a Western-style garden.
Liu Chenggan’s Jiaye Library
Liu Yong’s grandson, Liu Chenggan, established this library for his collection of 600,000 books, including rare Song Dynasty editions. Even rarer is the existence of this library, one of only three private libraries in China, and the 110,000 volumes that survived the turbulent 20th century. Library rooms are arranged around the courtyard, with a moat running around the library to protect the books from fire.
Evening
6.00pm Dinner
Nanxun specialties tonight at Blossom Hill
7.30pm Canal Cruise
An after-dinner cruise on the canal, sailing under ancient bridges and lantern-lit banks.
DAY 2
MORNING
CANAL WALK: Temple, Silk Guild, Scenes of the Past
Today, we’ll take a stroll along the canal, the waterway that is Nanxun’s main street, and share the stories that remain in the ancient walls. It’s the best way to enjoy the architecture, street life, street snacks … here’s some of what we’ll see:
Guanghui Temple
We’ll start the day right with a visit to the gods of Nanxun. There’s been a temple on this site for thousands of years, and it was once used by a Yuan dynasty emperor as his palace while on the road, but today it’s a peaceful Taoist temple.
Silk Guild
Nanxun’s fortune was built on silk, and the town’s Silk Guild, established in the 19th century in a lovely courtyard building, was its power center.
Grain Ration Coupon Museum
Ration coupons tell a profound story of the era of the planned economy,
Baijian Lou
One of the most spectacular sights of Nanxun, this series of classic Jiangnan buildings was originally constructed by a Ming dynasty official for his servants. There are no shops on this stretch, so it is the quietest part of Nanxun, with some of the loveliest scenery.
Lunch
Lunch today is home-cooked food in a small local restaurant, right next to the canal.
AFTERNOON
Zhang Jingjiang’s Hall of Esteemed Virtue
The elegant Hall of Esteemed Virtue was built in the late 19th century by the founder of the Zhang dynasty, Zhang Songxiang, but today’s it’s known as the home of its best-known inhabitant, Zhang Jingjiang, one of the most fascinating characters in modern Chinese history. Amid the high ceilings, dark wood, and antique calligraphy, we’ll hear the story of Jingjiang,
key player in Chinese politics, he inherited a fortune and then made another with a Chinese antique business in Paris, and had five extraordinary daughters.
Slote Church
A private visit to see the interior and hear the story of this 1927 canal-side church, established by American Methodist missionaries.
4.30pm
Board bus for return to Shanghai
Notice:
In booking this trip, you assume all risks related to participation on the tours. Historic Shanghai is not liable for direct, indirect, or consequential damages.
Things can change in China travel, and in the event that one or more of our planned events becomes unavailable, it will be replaced with an equivalent event or activity. Thank you for your understanding!
TO BOOK: Scan the QR code or click here.