I have this big urge to go to one of those water towns at this very moment... but I have to wait... Anyone care to join me?

Will be staying at low-budget local home Bs (can be B+B by requests)... last I stayed was something like 70-100 Y for a room w/ 2 beds... basic and clean... own toilet+shower+basin... Air-con + TV... Ultra-cheap... I am backpacking this one... I will go again in July on a higher budget trip with a visitor... will let you know then...

A more hotel-like lodging option may be available depending on which town I end up going to...

Have gone to TongLi twice and know the place quite well... This time I want to go to either LuZhi (lots of "antique" stores)... or XiTang (PengLang... "corridor streets" by the water)...

ZhouZhuang?... not for a long, long time... if ever again...

Will head out Saturday morning and back Sunday night... unless I am really captivated... but I have to work...

Sunday morning I will get up at around 0500 to take pictures or sketch... The most beautiful time of the water town's daily life...

Which goes to explain why I don't do day trips... because you get off the tour bus with a zillion of fellow tourists at 1030... and leave with them at 1600... so the whole time you are there you never see the town with its original people living their unique lifestyle... but you see camera-clicking and cellphone-ringing guys in suits... who squat...

Believe me, if you ever go... take in the dawns and dusks... otherwise don't bother...

If anyone is interested, PM me... either ways... have a good week...

Sounds like you're really into old water towns.

Xitang is definitely a much nicer place than zhouzhuang (which is a nightmare now). clean, quiet and more real (although with lots of new things), they seem to have learned a big lesson from zhouzhuang and try to keep the oringinal flavor.

You can have lunch in a nice Chinese restaurant sitting on the cross of two rivers (run by a taiwan guy but forgot the name). They have an outdoor terrance where you can sip your tea and enjoy the most beautiful view of the town.

Some of the homestyle inns along the river are very attactive in price and traiditional design.

If you like mountain and old villas, or the bamboo forest where the movie Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon took the fighting scenes, come and join our Mogan Mountain Hike. Give us your email address and we will send you the beautiful pics we took there.

Up coming trips


Jun19 & 20 - Tai Chi Class trip to Mogan Mountain (including Tai Chi Class, Hike, barbecue and more)

July 3 & 4 - Spiritual salvation trip to Pu Tuo Mountain (not only temples, but the nearest blue sea beach around SH)

For more information, please contact Feel Shanghai Club, your personal travel, culture and daily life consultant service provider in Shanghai and China!!!

FeelShanghaiclub@hotmail.com

Up coming trips


Jun19 & 20 - Tai Chi Class trip to Mogan Mountain (including Tai Chi Class, Hike, barbecue and more)

July 3 & 4 - Spiritual salvation trip to Pu Tuo Mountain (not only temples, but the nearest blue sea beach around SH)

For more information, please contact Feel Shanghai Club, your personal travel, culture and daily life consultant service provider in Shanghai and China!!!

FeelShanghaiclub@hotmail.com

Hi, FSC!

Thanks for the tip!... will definitely try looking for the restaurant you talked about when I go to XiTang. I agree that ZhouZuang is a total nightmare... That was the first water town I went to and was so disappointed... until I saw the place back to its original "flavor" (a good description you chose) as I walked towards the tour bus at 1600... only then, when all the tour buses are packed with the people who didn't really belong there, did I realize that other-worldly quality of a water town... almost like a Chinese ink painting!

My next trip to TongLi I stayed w/ a local family inn that had 3 rooms... we had the one with the "antique" bed... As we expected the sanitary level to be really low... we were pleasantly surprised... and we got up at 0530 to take pictures... Ever since then I have been hooked...

I am interested in the TaiChi trip but I have a feeling that it may be beyond my budget. Send me the info anyhow... My e-mail is aglam@mail.com... Thanks!