Sights in XiTang

Tile ends are a kind of architectural decorative accessory made of simple materials. Because they are not easy to preserve and are very old, they have certain historical value.

The museum houses more than 300 varieties of tiles in six categories: lace drips, chopstick cages, walking chickens, brick carvings, ancient bricks, and pottery figurines. Among them are traditional tiles that are full of good wishes; there are temple tiles with religious colors; and there are tiles with political patterns that indicate a certain historical period.

Anjing Bridge, built during the Ming Dynasty, serves as the town's transportation hub. Its arched arches provide a panoramic view of three different bridges, a rare sight in other ancient towns. From Anjing Bridge to Lujia Bridge, the east-west river beneath the bridge leads to Shao Hong Kong.

Shao Hong Kong is named after the river, and the streets on the north and south banks of the harbor are called Shao Hong Kong South and North Streets, collectively known as Shao Hong Kong Street.

The residential buildings in Shaogang have largely retained their Ming and Qing dynasty style. A small river flows gently, with stone embankments embedded in the stone embankments. Among the connected houses, ancient alleys lead to the river in front and the fields in the back, with winding paths leading to secluded areas.

"Visiting the Temple" during the period from Spring Festival to the Lantern Festival is a major traditional festival in Xitang. During the festival, the street is bustling with pilgrims, with lines stretching from the temple to the entrance of Shaogang. Makeshift food stalls also line the street, and the main hall of the temple sells a variety of paintings. A local proverb goes: "Visit the temple fair, see the paintings, and eat shaomai."

The museum displays wood carvings of residential buildings in the Jiangnan region, represented by Xitang, since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There are beams, beam pads, arch supports, brackets, lattice windows, etc. The carving techniques are rich and colorful, including ground carving, ground carving, slot carving, and openwork carving. The patterns are elegant, neat, exquisite and beautiful, showing the unique soft, delicate, fresh and gorgeous style of Jiangnan residential wood carvings.

The ancient town of Xitang has long been a wine town. "Drinking fine wine and reciting fine poetry" have always been the two greatest pursuits of many ancient scholars. In the early Ming Dynasty, the renowned poet Gao Qi, passing by Xitang on a boat, stopped specifically to inquire about a winery. During the Qing Dynasty, the town's famous "Meihua Sanbai" liquor was renowned for its aroma, and Liu Yazi, in the early Republic of China, frequently got drunk in the town. Xitang's wine culture is synonymous with the ancient town itself, earning it its equal.

Wolong Bridge, a single-arch stone bridge, is the tallest bridge in the town. Legend has it that when Wolong Bridge was still a small wooden bridge, a pregnant woman fell into the water and died. A bamboo craftsman, upon witnessing this, resolved to rebuild the bridge. He shaved his head and became a monk, begging for alms in many places. This overwork led to illness. Moved by this, residents from near and far donated money, which was used to buy the stone materials, and Wolong Bridge was soon completed.

Yongning Bridge is by far the best viewing spot in town, a favorite among photographers and painters. Standing on the bridge, one can take in a panoramic view of both sides of the Xutang River, with the quaint covered bridge to the south. The Xutang River narrows into a water lane, with a replica of an ancient street to the west and the ancient Tangdong Street to the east.

The so-called corridors are essentially roofed streets. Some of Xitang's corridors are located along the river, others in the center. Some have benches along the river for rest. Some have single- or double-drop roofs, while others have overpasses forming a corridor roof. They are a unique feature of the ancient town.

The covered shed stretches from the street to the river, with round wooden pillars supporting a sloping roof (also known as a "falling water"). The covered shed is made of brick and wood, with a particularly striking section in the middle featuring two layers of carved patterns.

This covered bridge, first built during the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty, is a somewhat elaborate arrangement. Walking across it requires some careful attention: the south side of the bridge is stairwayed, while the north side slopes down. Men ascend the steps, while women, with their lotus feet, take small steps, ensuring stability in the household. Elders say, "A newlywed couple walks across it; if they walk south, they will receive a child, and if they walk north, they will receive a phoenix." If you're still unmarried, consider walking across it.

Zuiyuan, originally a side hall of the Wang family's residence, was a prominent Xitang family. It boasts four courtyards and houses the "Wang Family Woodblock Print Gallery," a tribute to the family's legacy. Zuiyuan's name has three meanings: First, "Zuijingtang," meaning "drunk reading sutras," was built by Wang Zhixi, the ancestor of the Wang family and a renowned calligrapher and painter during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. Second, the garden boasts exquisite ponds and rocks, winding corridors, and vibrant bamboo, creating a captivating spectacle. Third, the main hall, "Yixiangzhai," houses prints by Wang Heng and his sons, Wang Xiaozheng. Entering the garden, one is instantly captivated by the art of woodblock printing.

Every place has its own local deity. The Huguo Suiliangwang Temple enshrines Xitang's local deity. Every year on the third day of the fourth lunar month, the Seventh God's birthday, Xitang holds a temple fair. On that day, Xitang residents parade through the streets and pray for good fortune for the coming year, creating a lively atmosphere. The third day of the fourth lunar month has become the most important folk festival of the year for the people of Xitang.

Xitang is home to a true love story. In the late Qing Dynasty, the fifth daughter of the Yang family, a landlord from Tangdong Village, fell in love with her farmhand, Xu Atian. However, they were opposed by their half-brother and persecuted to death. Later, their love story was adapted into a field song (a traditional Xitang folk song still sung in the surrounding areas of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai), which has been sung there for over a century.

First built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, legend has it that on clear days, standing atop the bridge, one could gaze northward at the green mountains bordering Taihu Lake. A couplet depicts two ways of crossing the bridge: "Boats pass through a jasper ring; people walk on a rainbow ribbon." Those familiar with couplets will undoubtedly recognize that this couplet is inspired by the one on the Zhaozhou Bridge in Hebei: "Water flows through a jasper ring; people walk on the back of a blue dragon." This bridge is the only way to get from the Long Corridor to Shipi Lane.

This alley is arguably the most popular in Xitang, and taking photos there is a popular activity. The red lanterns dotted throughout the alley exude a Jiangnan feel. Interestingly, if two overweight people were to meet in the alley, they might not be able to pass even if they were to rub their bellies against the wall.

Zhongfu Hall, also known as Wang's House, is the residence of the descendants of Wang Yuan, the ancestor of the Wang family and the commander of the Imperial Camp of the Song Dynasty. The compound features seven courtyards, front and back, and a back garden, typical of Ming and Qing dynasty residential styles. The first courtyard is the "entrance hall," the second is the "bridge hall," and the third is the "Zhongfu Hall." A long alley connects the front and back of the compound.

The overall architecture of Zunwen Hall is not as grand and spacious as that of Zhongfu Hall, but the overall layout is very similar. The Baishou Beam of Zunwen Hall is a town treasure. In the middle, one hundred "Shou" characters are engraved, forming a long diamond shape.

The carvings on the beam capitals are also very unique. Each side of the column is different, and all of them are shaped with auspicious patterns, which is rare in residential buildings in this area.

Originally built in the Ming Dynasty, the garden boasts beautiful scenery, including trees, flowers, rockery, pavilions, and ponds. The garden now houses exquisite fan paintings by Mr. Nianci and 100 seals reflecting the customs and landscape of Xitang.

Built during the Republic of China period, it is a typical commercial and residential building in Xitang Town.

The Xue residence has three key architectural features: First, its shallowness. Looking down from above, one can only see a small courtyard within the U-shaped house. Beyond that, the entire residence is connected, with no embankment to speak of. The distance from the street to the river is only about 30 meters. Second, its simplicity. There are no side halls, and all entrances and exits are through the main gate, with only two staircases leading up to the upper floors. Furthermore, the architectural details are devoid of elaborate ornamentation. Third, its brightness. Contrary to the traditional belief that darkness is the best, believed to conceal wealth, all windows are glazed. The windows are adorned with floral lattices, creating a pleasing aesthetic.

Xitang, known as China's button town, boasts a button museum with six exhibition halls: Ancient Buttons, Modern Buttons, Contemporary Buttons, Shell Button Production Process, Button Applications, and Chinese Knots. Inside the Button Museum, a craftsman demonstrates the shell button production process.

The museum houses the works of root art sculptor Zhang Zheng, including more than 500 large-scale works that have been included in the Guinness Book of Records.