Shuanglin Town boasts a rich history and is one of the famous ancient water towns in the Jiangnan region. Archaeological excavations of the ancient cultural sites nearby, such as Hongcheng and Huacheng, indicate that this area has been inhabited by ancestors for three to four thousand years; during the Han and Tang dynasties, it had already developed into a village known as Donglin. In the Southern Song Dynasty, northern merchants migrated here along with the royal family, hence the name Shanglin. In the third year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1405), it merged with the West Forest Village two miles to the west and was renamed Shuanglin Town, a name that has been used ever since. It now belongs to Nanxun District, Huzhou City. Rooted in its aquatic environment, Shuanglin Ancient Town represents a human settlement and economic network space between rural and urban areas. Although the ancient town area has undergone numerous renovations during urban construction, the old town site remains unchanged, and the area still retains the unique water network system, street and alley layout, and traditional architectural style characteristic of Jiangnan water towns. The East and West Market Rivers that flow through the town, the rice markets built along the rivers such as Mihangdai, Gangbeidai, Xidangdai, Baqiaodai, and the Carpenter’s Dai, as well as the oil mill lane, wealth lane, nine thoughts lane, and ancient residential areas like Yongpingli, Tianchengli, and Lu’s Mansion form the basic framework of the ancient town area, still reflecting the Jiangnan water town’s ‘unity of heaven and man’ environmental characteristics, exuding an authentic life atmosphere and a variety of historical and cultural information. The opening hours are subject to the actual operating status on the day.
Shuanglin Town: A Historic Water Town in Jiangnan
Shuanglin Town boasts a rich history and is one of the famous ancient water towns in the Jiangnan re[...]
