We are travel enthusiast. We hate touristy tours and blow horns, so we want to go some places quiet but funny as well. We would like a day trip, go in the morning from Shanghai, come back in the evening (and therefore should be close by?) and we like gardens if there is water in them. Seems like Tongli water town in Suzhou, Xitang or Nanxun near Hangzhou are great choices. from what I"ve read, is the closest and most worth while. But I only have one day trip to water town. Nanxun, Tongli, Xitang Water Towns, What do you suggest? Which one is the best for a trip?

Dear Alison Worrell,

Thanks for contacting Top China Travel! 

Tongli Water Town is located near Suzhou, which gets lovely gardens and some canals and is a nice place to visit. Tongli is also near to Shanghai. While Nanxun and Xitang water towns are near Hanhzhou and Xitang. Compared with water towns like Zhouzhuang and Wuzhen, which are famous and welcome thousands of visitors every day, especially at weekends and holidays, Nanxun, Tongli, Xitang Water Towns have less tourists there and the towns are quiet. Busy water towns like Zhouzhuang and Wuzhen, although they are beautiful, the high number of travelers, to some extent, limits the tradition atmosphere and charm.

Nanxun, Tongli, Xitang Water Towns are untouched water towns around Shanghai with beautiful scenery and fewer travelers, expecially Nanxun Water Town. Water towns around Suzhou, Hanzhou or Shanghai those areas are about the same, with some classic old residence, great traditional food, noisy in the daytime and quiet in the evening. Therefore, just choose the one close to your main destination. It would not make much difference. Unfortunately, most water towns are going to be crowded and touristy now.

If possible, spend one night in the residence hostel of the water town is really worthy. Making it an overnight trip is really a good way to miss crowds, and that could be delightful; in the evening and the early morning, you'll all but have the place to yourself. But anyway, hopefully by going in January you'll miss some of the worst of the crowds, because winter is the off season of travel in China.

If you really need a choice, Tongli plus a visit to Suzhou would b great. As it convenient to get there, Suzhou from Shanghai by the G train makes you feel like you are travelling within the city as the journey in the train takes about only 20 to 35 minutes. From Suzhou its so easy to get to Tongli either by bus or cab.

Related information: 
►How to Get to Tongli Water Town from Suzhou
►How to Get to Tongli Water Town from Shanghai?

Any further request or question, please feel free to contact with us.