Tangdong Street

塘东街

Tangdong Street was one of the most prosperous streets in Xitang from the Republic of China to the Liberation Period. Now it is the only bar street in Xitang. It becomes lively at night. There are also various restaurants, snack shops and some specialty shopping stores on the street. It is also nice to stroll around during the day.

Introduction

  • Attraction Location: "Xitang Ancient Town (西塘古镇), Jiashan County (嘉善县), Jiaxing City (嘉兴市), Zhejiang Province, China"

  • History: Tangdong Street (塘东街) is one of the oldest and most representative streets in Xitang Ancient Town, with origins tracing back to the Ming (明代) and Qing Dynasties (清代). Historically, it was a lively residential and commercial street along the waterways, symbolizing the prosperity of Jiangnan water towns.

  • Architecture: The street is narrow, lined with traditional white-walled, black-tiled houses, carved wooden windows, and stone pavements. Most houses feature waterfront verandas with direct access to canals, reflecting the unique lifestyle of "residents living by water."

  • Cultural Value: Tangdong Street retains strong Jiangnan water town characteristics, where culture, trade, and daily life merged seamlessly. It offers authentic insights into traditional merchant culture, tea house gatherings, and the scholarly life of ancient Xitang.

  • Other Information: The street is quieter than the busier central lanes, ideal for experiencing Xitang’s serene charm. It often serves as a backdrop for films and TV dramas featuring Jiangnan scenery.

Visiting Information

  • Opening Hours: 08:00 – 21:00 (Xitang Ancient Town overall opening hours; street itself open all day)

  • Ticket Price: 95 RMB (Xitang Ancient Town pass, covers Tangdong Street and other attractions)
    Free entry for children under 1.2m

  • Best Photo Spots: Canal-side verandas with reflections of stone bridges
    Archways at dusk with lantern lights
    Wooden houses mirrored in the waterways

  • Time Reference: 1–2 hours to walk and enjoy Tangdong Street; half a day if combined with other Xitang highlights.

Where to Sleep (Nearby Hotels & Stays)

  • Luxury: Xitang Wangjiang Hotel (西塘望江酒店)
    Xitang Boutique Garden Hotel (西塘精品花园酒店)
  • Mid-range: Xitang Yunshuiyao Inn (西塘云水谣客栈)
    Xitang Mingyue Shanzhuang (西塘明月山庄)
  • Budget & Boutique: Xitang Riverside Youth Hostel (西塘江南水乡青年旅舍)
    Xitang Time Guesthouse (西塘时光客栈)

What & Where to Eat

  • Must-Try Dishes: Xitang Eight-Treasure Rice (西塘八宝饭)
    Stinky Tofu (臭豆腐)
    Wonton in Soup (馄饨汤)
    Steamed White Fish (清蒸白鱼)
    Shaoxing Yellow Wine (绍兴黄酒)
  • Famous Spots: Wangxingji Restaurant (王兴记酒楼)
    Old Street Snack Alley (老街小吃一条街)
    Shuangyuan Teahouse (双源茶馆)
    Xitang Riverfront Food Stalls (西塘河边美食摊)

What Souvenirs to Buy

  • Xitang Handmade Blue Cloth (西塘蓝印花布)
    Local Rice Wine (西塘黄酒)
    Hand-carved Woodworks (木雕)
    Xitang Embroidery (西塘刺绣)

Transportation

  • By Train: From Jiaxing South Station (嘉兴南站), take a bus or taxi (~40 minutes) to Xitang Ancient Town.
  • By Bus: Direct buses run from Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou to Xitang Ancient Town Bus Station (西塘汽车站), ~10 minutes’ walk from Tangdong Street.
  • By Taxi/Didi: Easy to access directly from Jiaxing or nearby cities.
  • By Walking: Once inside Xitang Ancient Town, Tangdong Street can be reached on foot in ~5 minutes from the main entrance.

Nearby Attractions

  • Shipi Alley (石皮弄, ~200 m) – 3 minutes’ walk
  • Mist and Rain Corridor (烟雨长廊, ~300 m) – 5 minutes’ walk
  • West Garden (西园, ~500 m) – 8 minutes’ walk
  • Songzilaifeng Bridge (送子来凤桥, ~600 m) – 10 minutes’ walk
  • Xue Family Hall (薛家堂, ~1.2 km) – 15 minutes’ walk

Tips for Visitors

  • Early morning visits provide the most peaceful atmosphere with fewer tourists.
  • Evening strolls offer beautiful lantern-lit views along the canals.
  • Wear comfortable shoes – stone pavements can be slippery, especially when wet.
  • Carry cash for small snack stalls; not all accept digital payments.
  • Stay overnight to enjoy Xitang’s quieter night charm beyond day-tour crowds.

Recommended itineraries

  • Half-Day Cultural Walk: Tangdong Street (塘东街) → Mist and Rain Corridor (烟雨长廊, 5 min walk) → Songzilaifeng Bridge (送子来凤桥, 10 min walk) → Dinner at Wangxingji Restaurant (王兴记酒楼)
  • Full Day Water Town Experience:
    D1: Tangdong Street (塘东街) → Shipi Alley (石皮弄, 3 min walk) → West Garden (西园, 8 min walk) → Evening snacks at Old Street Snack Alley (小吃一条街)
  • 2-Day Jiangnan Lifestyle Tour:
    D1: Tangdong Street (塘东街) → Xitang Riverboat Ride → Xue Family Hall (薛家堂, 15 min walk)
    D2: Mist and Rain Corridor (烟雨长廊) → Morning tea at Shuangyuan Teahouse (双源茶馆) → Explore Old Street handicraft shops (老街手工艺店)
    (Walking or short boat rides between attractions)

User Reviews

By Dahaizi |

It's all the starting point. Just walk straight and you'll reach the bar street, which is packed with people.

By Yu Hao |

Tangdong Street is the food street and bar street of Xitang Ancient Town. The night view is beautiful.

By DrZou |

Tangdong Street was one of the most prosperous streets in Xitang from the Republic of China to the Liberation Period. Now it is the only bar street in Xitang. It becomes lively at night. There are also various restaurants, snack shops and some specialty shopping stores on the street. It is also nice to stroll around during the day.

By Swirling Water |

It's especially lively at night, and the bars are very lively.

By Thirty years old |

Tangdong Street is a famous bar street with a variety of bars. I highly recommend Gravity Bar, which is larger and more lively. There are also two restaurants on this street. One is the Lanshan Restaurant, which has a nice ambiance and is very affordable. If you want to experience a riverside meal, you can try it. The other is Juyuan, which is relatively less affordable.

By Look around |

Tangdong Street is the center of Xitang Ancient Town, the most lively place, and the place where many rivers converge. We went there ten years ago, and compared with now, it is still full of rural flavor.

By Passenger Journey |

Very beautiful, suitable for viewing the night view and taking pictures, you must go

By Walter Jin |

The typical Jiangnan water village alleys are more delicate than the rough urban style in the north.

By Silent Valley Facing the Wind |

Turn south from Antai Bridge and walk along Tangdong Street to Shao Hong Kong. Tangdong Street was said to be one of Xitang's busiest streets during the Republican era, and now serves as Xitang's famous bar district. However, the bars along the way are much quieter during the day than at night.

By zhm_jinan |

Across Beizha Street is Tangdong Street. Now it seems that the alleys on the east side of Tangdong Street should be more interesting.

By Mars User |

The night view of Jiangnan Water Village is always beautiful, although the water is not so clean.

By Megan^^ Then ̄ |

The Jiangnan water town is unique and the night view is quite beautiful. It is worth a visit.

By C^H_E^N |

The Jiangnan water town is unique and worth a visit.

By AllenL AllenL |

It is a pity that with the commercial development, there are too many bars on Tangdong Street. The music from the bars is loud and overbearing, and the whole street is noisy, high and too low.

Regarding the planning and positioning of a scenic spot, there are many ways to make a place less popular, but adding some bars is undoubtedly the most effective and direct way. I hope that the atmosphere of fireworks will not be too much contaminated by the Misty Corridor across the river.

By Wang Yucheng |

The bar street now is full of bars. There is nothing interesting during the day but it is noisy at night.

By A Different World on a Solitary Island |

The lights are beautiful at night and it's great for taking photos.

By World Peace |

At night it is very lively, full of exciting melodies and music.

By Chibi Maruko |

Tangdong Street is a bar street, which is very lively at night. There are also several quiet bars. If you don't like high-energy bars, you can choose a quiet bar and order a drink to sit down. There will be girls or handsome guys singing quietly on the stage, and slowly feel the story of this thousand-year-old town. The high bars are very lively. If I say that the difference between Xitang's bars and those in ordinary cities is that it should be the people. Most of the people who come here every day are tourists, and maybe they will return to their original city to continue working and living the next day.

By |

Xitang, Tangdong Street Nightlife Introduction: Xitang has many bars. Tangdong Street is also known as Bar Street. There are nearly 30 bars gathered on this small street. You can imagine how popular it is. The main street of Bar Street is full of hot bars and more representative

By Josh |

The night was beautiful, but there were too many people.

By Young |

Tangdong Street is also known as Bar Street. There are nearly 30 bars gathered on this small street. You can imagine how popular it is.

Of course, there are a lot of restaurants. I just found a Hunan restaurant and went in. I haven’t eaten Hunan food for a long time~~~

By mumu |

Tangdong Street is a bar street, very lively at night. I like the dim lights from the bars, it is like a dream.

By Zhuomo Basang |

To be honest, the scenery in Xitang is just average. It’s a very small place and there’s nothing special about it.

By Han Yu Carol.F |

It's a bar street. I won't dwell on the nighttime atmosphere; it's just like any bar street. But in the morning, when all the shops are closed, it's a truly artistic and refreshing place.

By Long |

The bar street is very lively at night, full of exciting melodies and music

By Lazy Cat |

I personally think the night view here is the most beautiful, especially with the colorful lights on the trees, the overall feeling is very good

By Little Youth |

There is a bar street next to it. I found a Linshui restaurant across the street and had dinner. The view was nice.

By Blue Danube |

The lights at night are a great sight! There are also many small shops to browse.

By Island Mountain No. 17 |

The first half of Tangdong Street is known as the Barbecue Street, with barbecue shops lining both sides. After crossing Lujia Bridge, you enter the second half, which is Xitang's most famous bar street.

By Uncle Xu |

The night view is amazing! It is comparable to the ancient city of Fenghuang in Hunan!

By Zhao Huoding |

Tangdong Street was one of the most prosperous streets in Xitang from the Republic of China to the Liberation Period. It is now a bar street.

By HiBike |

This place is very fun, go with your classmates.

By HONG |

Tangdong Street was one of the most prosperous streets in Xitang from the Republic of China to the Liberation Period. Now it is the only bar street in Xitang. It becomes lively at night and there are various restaurants, snack shops and some specialty shopping stores on the street.

By June Unfinished |

The lights set off the night view of this old street very well, creating a strong atmosphere that makes people intoxicated.

By Unless |

The whole ancient town has similar styles and buildings, so don't get lost if you visit at night.

By Sent to Cape No. 7 |

The night view is beautiful, and the life is very peaceful and comfortable.

By Heart is far away |

Beautiful, very nice environment. Beautiful, very nice environment.

By China-TravelNote users |

The night view of Tangdong Street is very beautiful and romantic

By Peak wearing a straw hat |

To put it simply, Tangdong Street is a bar street, the most lively place in Xitang!

By Mulan |

The whole Xitang feels very good. The bustling places have their own bustling flavor, and the quiet places have their own quiet flavor.

By Bird |

It's beautiful to take pictures here at night. Just take pictures on the bridge.

By sushi0451 |

The street view is very beautiful. The Jiangnan water town is just as beautiful when it rains, and it is the most beautiful when the sun sets.

By Lorina |

This is the most famous bar street. Locals say it is a favorite of young people.

By Sea clams |

The bar street is a bit noisy and the prices are generally high, but it is still far behind Beijing's Houhai.

By Shaomai Prince |

Xitang is famous for its bar street. Not to mention holidays, even every weekend is a carnival.

A great place for romance, drinking, singing and having fun.

By Paranoia |

The bar street is quite lively at night, but we don't go to the bar, we just walk around outside

By Cocoa |

Commonly known as Bar Street! As the name suggests, this street is mostly lined with bars, and it is quite lively at night, a man's paradise.

By Happy |

When the neon lights are turned on at night, it looks particularly lively and prosperous. It is quite beautiful.

By Smallangela Dream |

Tangdong Street is a bar street that's very lively at night. If you just want to experience the atmosphere, I recommend group-buying cocktails (10 yuan per person). Listening to music and experiencing the different nightlife of Xitang is also a very nice experience. The more famous ones are Tang Dynasty, Gravity, The Other Shore, Peach Blossom Temple, Wind Chant, Utopia, Music Fire Pond, and Chujian BAR (No. 128 Tangdong Street). It is said that there are students from "The Voice of China" performing on the street, so it is quite popular. Of course, there are also some bars that are full of customers and are very popular. It is a very down-to-earth and relatively safe bar street.

By Clouds disperse and rain falls |

I got lost, walked from west to east, and still kept looking for west. Okay, I admit that my sense of direction is not good.

By Rioter |

I walked around so much that I almost lost myself and couldn't find my own inn.

By Zaza |

On the night of the Dragon Boat Festival, lanterns are hung high. Looking from the alley, it looks as if a top scholar who has traveled through time has married a new bride.

By Huahua |

The night view is still good~~ It looks even better in photos~~

By Little rabbit growing mushrooms |

The wedding candies at night were very pretty, and we took lots of photos when we went out for a walk at night, and there was also a bar street.

By The clever Xiao Chen |

The scenery at night is quite unique. Many people will release lotus lanterns at night, which are reflected on the river water and are very beautiful.

By Feng Daidai |

My childhood seemed like a fleeting time, and ever since then, I've dreamed of Wuzhen. My mother said Wuzhen is the rich water town, and Xitang is the poor water town. I should visit both. I really have to thank my mother for her wise decision, which made my water town trip regret-free. Unlike Wuzhen, Xitang still has local residents living and working there, and there's a strong sense of human touch, unlike the cold and impersonal Wuzhen. If I had to choose between the two, I'd recommend Xitang.

By Master's Ring |

The most famous street in Xitang Ancient Town is Tangdong Street. Honestly, who would remember the name of a street? I only remembered this as Tangdong Street after reading the introduction. I live above the West Wind Shouma Bar. Whenever I go to the ancient town and need to stay overnight, I always stay above the bar. I rarely have nervous breakdowns and can fall asleep anywhere. Living above the bar makes it a little more lively; being too quiet isn't good either. Tangdong Street is a commercial street during the day, but at night it transforms into a bar street with all the lights and partying. It's probably the street I've walked the most. The owner of West Wind Shouma is very nice. Three years have passed, and I don't know if the bar is still there. In Xitang, life seems to slow down. City dwellers can stroll leisurely, no longer rushing to their destinations. In Xitang, it's as if a walk has no purpose, just for the sake of walking. Back then, I was a student, but now I'm in the workforce. No matter which ancient town I visit, I no longer have the same feeling I had back then. Xitang has actually been developed quite thoroughly. Next, I need to find some ancient towns that haven't been developed at all. If I have the chance, I would like to have a drink with you in the ancient town who read this review.

By China-TravelNote users |

The night view is beautiful. It's nice to take pictures and think about things on the bridge.

By ccjfj |

The red lights are dotted, the night view is nice, the music is quiet, the small bridges and flowing water make the scenery picturesque.

By Tina on the Road |

There are many places like this in Xitang, and there are also many places selling snacks.

By Cute Little Jie 0_O |

The night view is beautiful, giving people a refreshing feeling

By Waiting to travel |

The night view of Xitang is really beautiful, with small bridges, flowing water, bright stars, the quietness of the ancient town and the modern lights all integrated into one.

By Cabbage Locust |

There are many places to visit and the goods are very novel.

By Run ^ω^ New Life |

It's very lively. There are many restaurants and hotels, but don't go out if you have nothing to do. You can enter as you like after the ticket inspection time.

By Cappuccino |

Also known as Bar Street, it is very lively at night and very quiet during the day. It is a nice place, but a bit noisy at night.

By New life^ω^New life |

At the end of Xitang's back alley, there are many restaurants and accommodations behind the bar street, which is quite lively.

By mimiyola |

Known as Xitang Bar Street, if you go there in the morning, you will see a variety of bars with different styles on both sides. If you go there at night, it will definitely be a completely different scene. I personally recommend visiting Tangdong Street at night. The bars in Xitang are completely different from those in Shanghai, at least in terms of style and exterior decoration. During the day, many people go there to sing and relax. The leisurely atmosphere of the ancient town makes you feel like you have returned to many years ago.

By Mrs. Murasaki's Paris |

It is mainly lively at night

Belong to the bar street

By Taotao |

I went there at night, and there were people standing side by side. I was thinking, "How can this be the peak season? There are so many people, the road is quite narrow, and the lights are on. It's so noisy!"

By wu-Xiaochan |

Tangdong Street, the most prosperous commercial street in the ancient town, is close to Anjing Bridge and the Wine Culture Museum. It is beautiful and has many bars, shops and inns.

By Mingyang |

Bar Street is deserted during the day but lively at night. When I passed by here, I wanted to cross it as quickly as possible because it was very noisy. I came to the ancient town to find a peaceful feeling, but this place was not suitable. I still took a photo when I passed by the door. The bars here do not require consumption, and you can enter the store and take photos at will.

By Haha GD |

It's a very busy street with many stalls selling paper boats. It's very beautiful.

By Sea breeze boat |

Tangdong Street is located east of Xitang River and is one of the main streets of the ancient town. It is wider than West Street and Misty Corridor.

By Elk |

This famous bar street is perfect for those who enjoy a lively and restless atmosphere.

By Hip-Hop Little Devil |

Xitang~The night view is very beautiful, many photography enthusiasts will go there


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