Shaxi Ancient Town

Shaxi Ancient Town is an ancient water town in southern Yangtze River Delta with a history of more than 1,300 years. It is loacted in the middle of Taicang City, Jiangsu Province, 75 kilometers (46 miles) away from Suzhou urban area. It preserves a lot of folk houses in Ming (1368 - 1644 AD) and Qing (1644 - 1911 AD) dynasties, ancient streets, small alleys, bridges and former residences of historical and cultural celebrities. Visitors can aslo taste some local sancks and foods there. However, as Shaxi Ancient Town is a newly developed scenic spot, the infrastructure is not well equipped, but this helps preserve its natural and original appearance with little commercial compact.   Shaxi Ancient Town once developed along the Qipu River, which decides its layout in a belt shape. Nowadays, one can still see the river run through the town, two ancient streets lined with folk houses on the north and south sides of the Qipu River, the Liji Bridge, Yixing Bridge and An Bridge across the Qipu River and Olive Island in the river.
 It is a a private garden built by a hermit in Yuan Dynasty ( 1271 - 1368 AD). The entire garden is 1.7 hectares (4.1 acres) with a small lake and buildings along lake. There are rockeries, pavilions, fountains and a bridge in the garden. Based on the different development periods of comic strips, it displays the prosperity and decline of comic strips, as well as the classic representative works of famous painters.
 It is one of the most visited attractions in this ancient town. It is a unique artificial island. Because its shape is like an olive, it is named Olive Island. The whole island covers an area of 13,500 square meters (16,150 square yards). There are nearly 10,000 flowers planted on the island. Moreover, the island is surrounded by green bamboos. Boarding Olive Island, you may feel close to nature.
 In addition to these stone bridges themselves, you can have a panoramic view of the folk houses on both sides of the river bank standing on these bridges. There are many restaurants in Shaxi Ancient Town that have been open for many years, attracting many tourists. Here are a few recommendated restaurants.
 

Restaurants	Recommended Food
A Ma Tu Restaurant	Braised Fish in Brown Sauce, Chicken
Gegeyuan (Jiangsu Cuisine)	Pufferfish
Old Fashi Noodles	Noodles with Duck and Fish

 Shaxi Ancient Town is free to visit, but some of the small attractions in the town are charged. You can buy a joint ticket for these small attractions. The price is CNY 30. The town opens from 08:30 - 16:00.
 At Suzhou Railway Station North Square Bus Station, take a coach to Taicang Bus Station, then transfer to bus no. 204 or 205 and get off at Shaxi Bus Station, then walk northward to the ancient town.
 Take bus line Taicang 210, 307, 308, 316A and get off at Leyinyuan, then walk westward along Xinbei West Rd. to the northwest gate.


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