Jiaxing City Walk One Day: Red Boat Memories and Water Town Life

### 🚶‍♂️ **Morning: Nanhu Mist and Red Memories** 1. **Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall (8:30-9:30)** - Take the tram 🚃 (2 yuan, Alipay/WeChat accepted) from Jiaxing South Station to Fangong Road Yanyu Road Station, then walk about 10 minutes to reach. - This is the core site to learn about the history of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Even without delving deeply into party history, you can feel the pulse of the era through the solemn architecture and precious historical materials. 2. **Huxin Island and Yanyu Tower (9:30-11:00)** - Walk from the memorial hall to Huijingyuan Pier, take a boat (20 yuan round trip) to Huxin Island. - Key spots to check in: the Red Boat 🚢, symbolizing the site of the First National Congress, and Yanyu Tower—a famous Jiangnan tower visited six times by Emperor Qianlong. Climb to the top for a panoramic view of Nanhu Lake and watch egrets skim the water. - 📍 **Bonus**: Collect 25 special stamps at the Huijingyuan cultural shop, and you might receive a commemorative ticket during festivals! 3. **Nanhu Tiandi (11:00-11:30)** - The return boat stops at Nanhu Tiandi (disembark only), where you can take a short break. Try local snacks 🍡 or choose a lakeside restaurant with shimmering water views and authentic Jiangnan flavors. --- ### 🌆 **Afternoon: Old Streets and Western Light & Shadow** 1. **Meiwan Street (12:00-13:00)** - Walk 1.5 km or take a taxi from Nanhu Tiandi (starting fare). - This old street with blue bricks and black tiles hides historical sites like Zhu Shenghao’s former residence. Under the late Qing and early Republic architectural style, modern cafes and bookstores create a perfect atmosphere for a leisurely stroll and photography 📷. 2. **Fanli Lake (13:00-13:30)** - Opposite Meiwan Street, said to be the resting place of Xi Shi. In summer, lotus flowers cover the lake. The Xi Shi dressing table and the "Sinking Fish" stone carving are great photo spots. Skip if short on time. 3. **Catholic Church & Zicheng Ruins (13:30-14:30)** - Walk 1 km to Zicheng Park, the starting point of Jiaxing’s 1700-year city history. The remaining city walls and government office ruins tell stories of the past. - Nearby, the Gothic Catholic Church ⛪️, known as the "Third Largest Cathedral in the Far East," often hosts wedding photoshoots on its lawn. Western romance meets water town charm here. --- ### 🌙 **Evening to Night: Moon River by the Water, Lights Flickering** 1. **Yuehe Historic District (15:00-19:00+)** - Take bus 24 or walk 1.5 km from Zicheng to reach the soul of Jiaxing’s nightlife. - **Must-experience:** - **Stroll Huaniaofang**: The local favorite market with a dazzling array of plants, goldfish, and handicrafts 🐦; - **Visit the Zongzi Museum**: Make your own authentic fermented bean curd pork zongzi (14 yuan) and experience intangible cultural heritage skills; - **Taste the Water Town Flavors**: Lu Gaoxian’s braised duck, Zou Daxian’s glutinous rice shumai, fried dough sticks, plum blossom cakes… all for about 50 yuan per person to enjoy authentic snacks. - As the lights come on, take a boat ride through the canals. White walls and black tiles reflect in the water, more leisurely than Wuzhen and more "human" than Xitang.