Nanxun Oar Boat Parent-Child Adventure

Nanxun Ancient Town 3 Days 2 Nights Parent-Child Travel Guide｜Ride an oar boat, stay at Baijianlou, be a "little rich merchant" for a day, a fun and easy water town trip with kids in Jiangnan!

Don’t think ancient towns just mean walking on stone paths + taking photos + feeling tired!
Come to Nanxun—a treasure water town where even kids can have a blast,
Here you’ll find the textbook-famous “Liu’s Ladder House,” the Zhang Shiming Former Residence with secret corridors,
You can also ride an oar boat through bridge tunnels, make silk crafts by hand, and enjoy a night tour of the illuminated water alleys…

This specially tailored 【Nanxun 3 Days 2 Nights Super Relaxed Guide】 for families,
Slow pace, rich experiences, beautiful scenery,
Let kids learn while playing, and write their next essay titled “I Was a Young Master in the Qing Dynasty”!

🌟 Highlights at a Glance
✅ Ride an authentic oar boat, kids can lie down and watch the bridges “rush by”
✅ Explore the “First Mansion in Jiangnan” Zhang Shiming Former Residence, uncover the secrets of this Sino-Western “Republic of China mansion”
✅ Morning photos at Baijianlou, like stepping into an ink painting, every shot is a masterpiece
✅ Parent-child crafts: DIY silk fans, writing with lake brushes, rubbing family motto steles
✅ Night tour of the lit water alleys, lanterns reflecting on the river, as beautiful as a fairy tale

🗓 Itinerary: 3 Days 2 Nights · Slow-paced Deep Exploration

Day 1: Arrive in Nanxun｜Stay at Baijianlou guesthouse, night tour of the lit water alleys
🛫 Recommended departure from Shanghai/Hangzhou (high-speed train + taxi about 1.5 hours)
🏡 Recommended accommodation:
Baijianlou Riverside Guesthouse (river view from the window, no tourists early morning, perfect for photos)
or Nanxun Banyan Tree Spa Resort (luxury resort style, ideal for families wanting to relax)
🌃 Enter the park in the evening (free admission after 5:00 PM!)
Kids’ mission: find 5 ancient bridges to take photos and collect stamps to exchange for a “Nanxun Little Shopkeeper” sticker
Must-do: ride an oar boat for a night tour (¥80/boat, seats 4)
Lanterns light the riverbanks, the boatwoman hums a tune, kids lie on the boat counting stars: “Mom, it feels like we’re in a movie!”
🍜 Dinner recommendations:
【Old Neighborhood Restaurant】: Nanxun pork knuckle, steamed white fish, embroidered vegetable hearts
【Zhuangyuanlou】snack platter: Ding Sheng cake, smoked bean tea, Nanxun sesame cake

✅ Tip: Arrive in the evening on day one to avoid crowds and start your trip relaxed!

Day 2: Deep tour of the ancient town｜Be a “little rich merchant” for a day
🕰 Morning: Start the 【Nanxun Four Great Mansions Exploration Tour】
Zhang Shiming Former Residence (“First Mansion in Jiangnan”):
Give kids a “mansion treasure map”:
Find the French imported stained glass windows
Count how many courtyards there are
Imitate a “Republic of China dance” in the ballroom
Kids exclaim: “They had underfloor heating and Western-style bathrooms 100 years ago!”
Liu’s Ladder House (Red House):
Sino-Western architecture, like traveling to a European town
Tell the story of the “silk merchant tycoons”: “They made big money selling silk, like today’s ‘Taobao bosses’!”
🍜 Lunch: Riverside eatery at Baijianlou, enjoy a bowl of “Three Delicacies Noodles” with a braised meat platter
🎨 Afternoon: Parent-child craft experience (choose one)
Jili Lake Silk Museum: Make your own silk round fan (¥38/person), learn “how one thread of silk was sold to Europe”
Nanxun Academy: Write “family motto rubbings” with lake brushes, bring home “diligence and thrift”
📸 Evening: Stroll Baijianlou—the most beautiful section of Nanxun!
White walls, black tiles, riverside living, a favorite spot for photographers
Rent children’s Hanfu (¥20/hour) and shoot a “Jiangnan little master/lady” photo set

Day 3: Slow life wrap-up + happy return
🌅 Early morning free activities:
Watch locals washing vegetables, hanging clothes, rowing boats, experience authentic water town life
Take undisturbed morning light photos
🛍 Souvenir recommendations:
Jili Lake silk pendants (delicate and cultural)
Nanxun smoked green peas (savory and tasty, kids love as snacks)
Handmade lake brushes (great gifts for teachers or calligraphy lovers)
🚗 Return according to schedule, ending a “slow down” parent-child time

💡 Parent-child travel tips
👟 Shoe advice: non-slip flat shoes! Many stone paths, slippery after rain
🎒 Backpack checklist: children’s sun hats, foldable stools (for queue breaks), small notebook to record “today’s discoveries”
🚌 Transportation tips: walk inside the ancient town, taxis convenient outside; from Shanghai/Hangzhou take high-speed train to Huzhou station then taxi 30 minutes
🎟 Ticket info:
Combo ticket ¥95 (includes five major attractions), free for children under 1.2 meters
Free entry to the ancient town area after 5:00 PM (boat rides, meals, photos unaffected)

⚠️ High-risk pitfalls! Don’t do:
🚫 “Look, other kids dare to ride the boat, why are you so scared?” — Don’t compare, it hurts self-esteem
🚫 Force feeding historical facts — Interest first, forcing is like “pulling up seedlings”
🚫 Overloading daytime schedule and forcing kids to write travel journals at night — Relaxation is the best learning

Final words:

Bringing kids to Nanxun,
Is not to memorize the names of wealthy families,
But so when they sit on the oar boat,
They can quietly say: “So the ancients really knew how to enjoy life.”

This trip,
Is not just travel,
It’s a gentle cultural awakening.

Next holiday,
Take the kids to Nanxun!
Let Jiangnan step out of poetry and into children’s laughter.