Jinxi - An Ancient Water Town Without Over Commercialization

An original ancient water town, Jinxi, has a history of over 2,500 years. Unlike other ancient towns in China, Jinxi is quieter and more unique. 238 rivers and residences from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1644-1912) make the town more historic and authentic. Taking a relaxed stroll to capture the sound of the streams or experiencing the kindness of the local people will become your unforgettable memories of China.

• Chinese: 锦溪 (Jĭnxī, jin-sshee)
• Duration: about 1 day
• Ticket price: 65 yuan
• Location: Jinxi Town, Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province; it's about 50 kilometers from Shanghai city center
• Opening times: December to March, 8am to 4:30pm; April to November, 8am to 5pm
• Best season: April to October, when the temperature is pleasant and the scenery is beautiful

Why You Will Love This Unique Small Town

• It is never crowded but beautiful. Jinxi Ancient Town is a quiet and small water town without over commercialization or too many tourists. Other hot attractions may be crowded with tourists, but it never occurs there.
• It is a slow, peaceful countryside town. Take a relaxed stroll and enjoy the peaceful ancient town. Escape from the city center and urban lifestyle, admire the countryside views that resemble a natural painting, and capture beautiful moments with your eyes.
• Explore some interesting folk museums, which you can't see anywhere else. Various folk museums will dazzle you, such as the Red Porcelain Museum, Zhangsheng Art Gallery, a root carving museum, and the Wonder Stone Museum.

Top 5 Highlights of Jinxi Ancient Town

The most astonishing fact of Jinxi is that most of the buildings in Jinxi have retained their appearance from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1912). Top 5 ancient attractions are recommended for you to explore.

1) Tomb of Concubine Chen

Concubine Chen was the favorite concubine of Emperor Xiaozong of Song. Due to the invasion by nomads in 1163, Emperor Xiaozong of Song moved the capital to Lin'an (a city in Hangzhou). As they passed by Jinxi, Concubine Chen died from a disease and Emperor Xiaozong was distraught. Then he decided to bury her body in this beautiful town in 1163. It's an amazing fact that no matter how high the water level is, Tomb of Concubine Chen has not been drowned.

2) Lotus Pool Temple

A temple was built in the Southern Song Dynasty, the Lotus Pool Temple, was spent 40 years to construct. Covering an area of 5,111 square meters, the Lotus Pool Temple is famous for its beautiful scenery of lotus pools. Pavilions, corridors, and waterside painted pleasure boat, everything is from soup to nuts. Lotus Pool Temple is a famous Buddhist resort in the south of the Yangtze River and all architectures there were rebuilt after 1996.

3) Puqing Bridge

Puqing Bridge is also known as Yujia Bridge and was built in 1733. It was then rebuilt during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. It is 18.5 meters long, 2.8 meters wide, spans 6 meters, and is 3.75 meters tall. Puqing Bridge is also a single-hole bridge, which is made from granite. It still retains its original appearance, so is a candidate for a listed building in Kunshan City.

4) Ten Eyes Bridge

Ten Eyes Bridge is located in the southern region of Jinxi Ancient Town and was built in the Ming Dynasty. It has been well-preserved and is 52 meters long, 2.8 meters wide, and 3 meters tall. Because it has ten holes and nine columns, it is called Ten Eyes Bridge. It's rare to see such an ancient and unique structure around Jinxi Ancient Town. Therefore, local people would like to admire the moon at there on Mid-Autumn Festival.

5) Wenchang Pavilion

Wenchang Pavilion is also known as Wenxing Pavilion or Pianyun Pavilion, which is near the Lotus Pool Temple and is a three-story building. A classic traditional Chinese pavilion, Wenchang Pavilion is a traditional Chinese architecture and has a roof that is spread upward. It is constructed from wood, covering 200 square meters and is 15.6 meters tall. Wenchang Pavilion was built for the star of wisdom (from Chinese fairy tales), and people gathered there to pray for that they could on the list of successful candidates.

The Hometown of Folk Museums in China

Jinxi is an authentic town with plenty of scenic spots and historical sites. As well as these, various folk museums are also highlights of Jinxi Ancient Town.

• Red Porcelain Museum: This is a folk museum containing various precious red porcelain collections. It's located to the south of Shangtang Street.
• Chinese Ancient Tiles and Bricks Museum: It's the first museum of antique tiles and bricks. There are 2,300 collections in total, which are divided into 14 different types, including eaves tiles, the roof components, construction bricks, and sacrificial bricks.
• Antique Museum: It's a wonderful private museum owned by an antique enthusiast named Xuerensheng. The museum also has collections of wood carvings, furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties, calligraphies and paintings, jade wares, and pen containers.
• Jinxi Outstanding People's Pavilion: This was built in 2003 to commemorate the 115 outstanding people in the modern history of Jinxi.
• Conservation and Restoration Museum: This museum houses collections of paintings and calligraphy works by Lushulun and his son.

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