Lu Xiang Ancient Village is located on the west side of the Dongshan Peninsula, which extends into Taihu Lake, adjacent to the lake. It is the hometown of Wang Ao, the prime minister during the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty. The village has served as a filming location for the TV drama ‘Oranges are Red’. The village is not crowded with tourists, with meandering cobblestone streets in its alleys.
Most of the Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings, which are tourist attractions, feature beautiful Suzhou-style small gardens. Loquat and orange trees planted by every household bring seasonal fruits, and Taihu’s lake delicacies are also not to be missed. Several breakfast shops on the main street, Zi Shi Street, open early, where you can have a bowl of Suzhou noodles and buy specialty Bai Yu cakes. For a full meal, tasting the ‘Three Whites of Taihu’ – whitefish, whitebait, and white shrimp at a farmhouse restaurant is a must. In autumn, Taihu hairy crabs are also available. Among the green products throughout the seasons, Biluochun tea in April, loquats in May, and oranges in autumn are particularly famous. However, do not pick villagers’ fruits without permission; you can purchase them from the locals. Although the ancient village is quite large, the main attractions are concentrated along the relatively short Zi Shi Street and its adjacent alleys. Between the north and south entrances, there is the Lu Xiang Community Museum, and the north entrance with an archway is the main gate. After entering the village, you will see a pond. Taking the left path, you will pass by the waterside pavilion ‘Han Gu Du’, and then follow the signs to reach Zi Shi Street. Three Ming Dynasty archways, built to commemorate Wang Ao’s successive achievements in the imperial examinations, stand on the street and are the village’s iconic structures. The village has a rich atmosphere of life. In the morning, you can see vendors selling vegetables under the archway of Hui Yuan. The day for the village facing tourists officially begins when the vendors switch to selling Taihu lake delicacies. Huai De Hall and Huai Gu Hall are both on Zi Shi Street. Huai De Hall also serves as a folk collection museum, a small residence filled with antiques collected from various places, and a miniature garden where engraved stone slabs with patterns and characters are used as steps. Huai Gu Hall features exquisite wood carvings on doors and windows, and the private garden Li Yuan is delightful, with a nine-dragon screen in the rear building. Wang Ao’s former residence, Hui He Hall, is located in Wen Ning Alley south of Huai Gu Hall and is one of the larger residences in the village, complete with a study, private school, and kitchen, with beautiful gardens at the end of the central axis and on the west side. At the other end of the alley behind Hui He Hall is Cui He Hall, which features a brick-carved gate tower but may not always be open. In Kang Zhuang Alley south of Wen Ning Alley, there is Sui Gao Hall (Dongting Business Alliance Exhibition Hall). Bao Jian Hall in the southern alley offers accommodation, though at a high price. The symmetrically laid-out Meng Yuan and Hui Yuan gardens are highlights. From the steps next to Han Gu Du, you can climb the mountain to overlook Lu Xiang Ancient Village, and in the evening, you can visit Taihu Fishing Village opposite the ancient village to watch the port’s fishing boats and the sunset over Taihu Lake. Opening hours: 08:30-17:00 all year round; 08:30-16:30 all year round for preferential policies. Children: under 6 years old (including 6 years old) or with a height of 1.Children under 4 meters (including 1.4 meters) can enter for free with valid identification. Free for the elderly: People aged 70 and above (including 70 years old) can enter for free with valid identification. Half-price for the elderly: Elderly people aged 60 (including 60 years old) to 70 (excluding 70 years old) can enjoy half-price tickets with valid identification. Half-price for children and students: Minors aged 6 (excluding 6 years old) to 18 (including 18 years old) and full-time undergraduate and below students can enjoy half-price tickets with valid identification.
Free for military personnel: Active-duty soldiers and retired military cadres of the People’s Republic of China can enter for free with valid identification. Free for the disabled: Disabled people and one accompanying person of severely disabled people can enter for free with valid identification. Supplementary note: The above information is for reference only. The specific information is subject to the notice of the scenic spot. Must-see tips: Since Luxiang Ancient Village is at the midpoint of the Dongshan ring line, it is very suitable as a foothold. There are many farmhouses in the village. When making a reservation, remember to ask the boss first whether you can get discounts on tickets. You need to buy tickets when entering the village. Generally speaking, you can enter the village for free if the boss leads you in. However, you still need to show your ticket when visiting various private houses in the village. It is recommended to buy a ticket. If you don’t visit the small scenic spots, you may think that Luxiang is just an ordinary ancient village.
