The water towns
Each of Jiangnan’s water towns has its own character and story, woven through ancient canals, stone bridges and traditional homes that preserve the quiet charm of old China.
Jiangnan’s water towns offer a slower, more intimate day. Along their narrow canals stand stone and timber buildings, arched bridges and traditional homes whose white walls and dark roofs are reflected in the water. Small boats pass old wharves, family-run shops, teahouses and local markets, recalling a time when the canals were the towns’ main streets.
Travelling by boat and walking beside the water offer a pause from the pace of the big cities. Behind the picturesque streets is everyday life: laundry hanging above a canal, residents sitting outside their homes, aromas drifting from kitchens and craftspeople continuing local traditions. It is a relaxed encounter with the landscape, architecture and culture south of the Yangtze.
More tours
Shanghai
A city where East and West, past and future, old and new come together: the Bund, skyscrapers, lanes, markets and the stories that shaped both Shanghai and China.
Jewish Shanghai
A journey through Shanghai’s Jewish communities, from Iraqi Jewish business families to European refugees and life in wartime Hongkou.
Suzhou
An enchanting city where classical gardens, tranquil canals, ancient stone bridges and picturesque lanes create a harmonious meeting of nature, history and living Chinese poetry.
Hangzhou
At Hangzhou’s heart lies magnificent West Lake, lined with some of China’s great temples, pagodas and gardens in a city that became the imperial capital of the Southern Song and one of the most important cities in Chinese history.