4 Days 3 Nights Water Town Travel Guide

Here is a customized 4-day 3-night self-driving tour guide for you to avoid crowds and enjoy the scenery, packed with practical tips—just follow it and you won’t go wrong! Core route: Hangzhou → Wuzhen → Xitang → Nanxun → Hangzhou Features: Covers the three most classic water towns plus Nanxun (a low-key luxury version), highly flexible self-driving, and an in-depth experience of the slow life in Jiangnan. Before You Go (Pitfall Avoidance Guide) 1. Self-driving Parking: Wuzhen/Xitang/Nanxun, no vehicles allowed in core scenic areas! Be sure to park in designated parking lots (navigate to “XX Scenic Area Parking Lot”), then enter the scenic area on foot or by shuttle bus. Fee reference: Wuzhen East Scenic Area Parking Lot 10 RMB/hour, Xitang Scenic Area Parking Lot 20 RMB/day, Nanxun Parking Lot 15 RMB/day. 2. Save on Tickets: - Combo tickets are more cost-effective! Wuzhen East & West Scenic Areas combo ticket 190 RMB (single tickets East 110 + West 150), Xitang 100 RMB, Nanxun 95 RMB. Buy 1 day in advance on the **official WeChat public account/Trip.com** to skip the lines! 3. Accommodation Key: Prefer homestays inside the scenic areas! Experience sleeping by the water and enjoy late-night fun without rushing. Best choices are Wuzhen West Scenic Area, Xitang Yan Yu Corridor, and Nanxun Baijianlou waterside homestays (book 1 week in advance!). 4. Best Seasons: March to May (spring): misty rain, fewer people, beautiful scenery; September to November (autumn): osmanthus fragrance, comfortable weather. Avoid May Day and National Day crowds! Detailed 4 Days 3 Nights Itinerary Day 1: Hangzhou → Wuzhen (stay in West Scenic Area) Morning (Depart from Hangzhou): 8:00 Depart Hangzhou via Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway (about 1.5 hours) directly to Wuzhen. Parking: ** Navigate to “Wuzhen West Scenic Area No.1 Parking Lot” (closest to the scenic area entrance). Afternoon (In-depth tour of West Scenic Area): 13:00 Enter West Scenic Area, first visit Caomuben Color Dyeing Workshop (perfect for photos with blue printed fabric!). Stroll along the river: Zhaoming Academy → Water Market → Xiqingtang → White Lotus Pagoda (climb to the top for panoramic views). Must-try: Ride a punt boat (60 RMB/person, even more beautiful at night!), watch the “Boat Fist” performance (free, check showtimes). Evening (West Scenic Area Night View): - Lights on after 18:00, have a drink at the bar street or enjoy Ding Sheng Cake and lamb noodles at the late-night canteen. - Accommodation: Waterside homestay inside West Scenic Area (recommended “Tong’an Inn” and “Shuishi Guesthouse,” with river views from the window). Day 2: Wuzhen → Xitang (stay in Xitang) Morning (East & South Scenic Areas): 8:00 Visit **East Scenic Area (original ecology, 1.5 hours enough): Mao Dun’s Former Residence → Jiangnan Wood Carving Museum → Hongyuan Tai Dyeing Workshop. 10:00 Drive to South Scenic Area (free! Local residential area with old teahouses and bamboo weaving shops, perfect for unfiltered photos). Afternoon (Slow Life in Xitang): - 12:00 Depart for Xitang (about 1 hour), park at “Xitang Scenic Area Parking Lot.” - Enter the scenic area and head straight to Yan Yu Corridor, find a teahouse (recommended near “Songzi Laifeng Bridge”) to drink tea and listen to Ping Tan storytelling. - Check-in spots: Shipinong (the narrowest alley), Button Museum, Zuiyuan Garden (view the garden). Evening (Xitang Night Scene): - Lanterns light up after 19:00, the bar street is lively; recommended small bars “Chujian” and “Man Yao.” - Night boat tour: 80 RMB/person, see the reflections of lights on both banks, super romantic! - Accommodation: Waterside homestay at Yan Yu Corridor (recommended “Jingyixuan” and “Yi Jiangnan,” fall asleep to the sound of water at night). Day 3: Xitang → Nanxun (stay in Nanxun) Morning (Sleep in + Departure): - Sleep in naturally, have Qianshi Cake and Guan Laotai Stinky Tofu at Xitang morning market. - 10:00 Depart for Nanxun (about 1.5 hours), park at “Nanxun Ancient Town Parking Lot.” Afternoon (Nanxun’s East-West Fusion): - 12:00 Enter the scenic area, first try Shuangjiao Noodles (recommended “Shuangqiao Noodle House”). - Highlights: Xiaolian Manor (Jiangnan garden + lotus pond) → Jiayetang Library (East-West fusion architecture) → Zhang Shiming Former Residence (Jiangnan’s top mansion, floor tiles imported from France!). - Hidden gem: Visit Baijianlou (free! Original residential area by the river with laundry and drying sheets, full of local life atmosphere). Evening (Quiet Night in Nanxun): - Nanxun is less commercialized, fewer night tourists, peaceful; recommended **Silk Guild Hall for Ping Tan storytelling (free). - Accommodation: Waterside homestay at Baijianlou (recommended “Xunyang Renjia,” with white walls and black tiles visible from the window). Day 4: Nanxun → Hangzhou (Return) Morning (Last-minute visits): - Visit Jili Lake Silk Museum (learn about silk history), buy Xunti (Nanxun specialty, vacuum packed). - 10:00 Depart back to Hangzhou (about 1.5 hours), optionally stop at Xinshi Ancient Town (free and less crowded, try tea cake). Afternoon (Wrap up in Hangzhou): - 14:00 Arrive in Hangzhou, recommended to visit the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (take a water bus for 3 RMB, see the Wulinmen Pier night view). --- Self-driving Tips (Experienced Driver Advice) 1. Road conditions: Jiangsu-Zhejiang expressways are good, but traffic jams are common around ancient towns; avoid rush hours. 2. Fuel: Gas prices at service areas are higher than in cities; fill up in Hangzhou/Jiaxing city. 3. Navigation: Use Gaode or Baidu Maps, set to “avoid congestion,” parking lot info updates in real time. 4. Restrictions: Some areas in Hangzhou have driving restrictions; apply in advance for “Zhe A area license plate” (search “Hangzhou driving restrictions” on Alipay). Food List (No-fail Edition) Location: Must-try foods Wuzhen: Lamb noodles, Ding Sheng Cake, Sister-in-law Cake | Shusheng Lamb Noodles, Jinji Pastry Shop Xitang: Qianshi Cake, Stinky Tofu, Wontons | Guan Laotai Stinky Tofu, Granny’s Wontons Nanxun: Shuangjiao Noodles, Xunti, Ding Sheng Cake | Shuangqiao Noodle House, Wild Water Chestnut Summary Stay inside scenic areas, avoid peak times, buy combo tickets, ride punt boats, book waterside homestays, bring an umbrella (it rains a lot in Jiangnan)! The beauty of Jiangnan water towns lies in “slowness”—morning mist, afternoon tea fragrance, evening lights. Self-driving lets you stop anytime and waste time on wonderful things. Have a great trip and take stunning photos to wow your friends!