Xitang Two-Day Itinerary Guide

West Street → Shaohong River → Holy Hall → Tangdong Street → China Wine Culture Museum → Taste Water-Town Specialties → Boat Cruise along Xutang River → Admire the Ancient Town Night Scenery

Enter the scenic area at 4 p.m. and start your stroll along West Street, a hub of distinctive boutique stores in Xitang: Caiyuntang Travel Notebooks, Floral Handicrafts, Match Heaven, Yiduo, MOMO Bear, Chaoting, No.1 Chopsticks Shop and more. By the time you finish browsing these shops, dusk will have fallen near the Holy Hall.

Proceed to Tangdong Street afterwards, Xitang’s most modern strip lined with bars. There are nearly 15 bars here, including Red Court Bar, Jiangnan Memories Bar, Tang Dynasty Bar, West Wind & Lean Horse Bar, Night Vibe Bar and so on. There is a restaurant called Ming & Qing Food Era on Tangdong Street for a hearty dinner. Countless snacks are scattered all over the ancient town as well. Travellers looking to buy Xitang local specialties should check Forest Gorgon Cake Shop at No. 18 Tangdong Street. It is recommended to wander aimlessly around Xitang after dark — the town bustles like a lively small market throughout the night.

Zhang Zheng Root Carving Museum → Jiangnan Tile Eave Museum → Yongning Bridge (Xitang’s Best Viewpoint) → Misty Rain Corridor → Seventh Master Temple → Drunken Garden → The World’s No.1 Stone Slab Alley → Zhongfu Hall → West Garden → China Button Museum

Begin your morning tour along Upper West Street. The Jiangnan Tile Eave Museum sits next to the boutique Floral Handicrafts. The museum houses over 300 exhibits across six categories: carved tile gutters, chopstick holders, ancient stone horse fittings, brick carvings, antique bricks and pottery figurines. Its collections include traditional tile eaves engraved with auspicious patterns, temple tile eaves bearing religious motifs, and political emblem tile eaves marking specific historical eras, well worth a visit.

Next, head to the Misty Rain Corridor, a crowded zone packed with inns, restaurants and specialty shops. Mama’s Kitchen is highly recommended for its delicious food. The highlight of the afternoon is the famous Stone Slab Alley. This narrow passage stretches 68 metres long, paved with 168 stone slabs, and narrows to merely 0.8 metres at its tightest point. Xitang has a total of 122 alleys, yet this one remains the most renowned.