What is it about Jiangnan that captivates tourists so much?

A journey to discover the tranquil corners of Jiangnan.

Eleven years ago, a student exchange trip to Tianjin and Beijing left Tu Oanh (currently running the KK Familie YouTube channel) with unforgettable memories. Since then, she has always harbored the dream of visiting Shanghai – a city her Chinese friends described as a glamorous "magical city." The image of a dazzling, modern Shanghai always spurred her to explore. Besides Shanghai, she decided to delve deeper into the Jiangnan region. Perhaps because she watched so many historical dramas, she was captivated by the romantic and poetic beauty of this land. Like in those ancient films, Jiangnan appeared like a stunning ink painting.

After nearly two months of diligently researching travel experiences in Facebook travel groups, Tú Oanh finally dared to embark on a trip to China. Compared to other countries, planning a self-guided trip to China was quite a challenge. Most of the information she found was in Chinese, requiring her to struggle with local apps and websites. Fortunately, the visa and flight procedures went quite smoothly thanks to an affordable visa service.

According to Tú Oanh, Chinese people in general are very friendly and kind; everyone is always enthusiastic to help her, even if she has to use a translation app. Sometimes, when they learned she was a foreigner, they not only gave her directions but also sent someone to escort her to her destination. Because Tú Oanh's family has young children, whenever they go anywhere, even on the subway, adults often compliment and chat with her children, and even help hold her suitcase when she rides the elevator.

One thing that impressed Tú Oanh, though not culturally, was the incredibly convenient apps China has. In a single app, you can do everything from payments, subway cards, bus cards, train and bus tickets, taxi bookings, hotel reservations... All services are integrated into one incredibly convenient application.

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An ancient land in the heart of modernity

In Chinese culture, Jiangnan refers to the region south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Asia's longest river. This area includes Shanghai, the southern parts of Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, as well as the northern parts of Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces. Some areas around Dongting Lake and Fujian province are also considered part of Jiangnan. The largest and most important cities in the region include Shanghai, Nanjing, Ningbo, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, and Shaoxing.

Most of the ancient towns in Jiangnan have a history dating back to the Tang and Song dynasties, and were once important commercial and cultural centers for the local people. This long history has fostered a rich and diverse culture, now recognized as one of the major cultural entities of China.

When traveling to Jiangnan, tourists will have the opportunity to admire ancient architectural structures characterized by white walls and black tiles. According to traditional Chinese culture, this combination symbolizes the harmony between yin and yang, and heaven and earth. Furthermore, Jiangnan is famous for its rich collection of Tang Dynasty poetry, accounting for 20.6% of the 55,000 poems currently preserved. Famous poets who hailed from Jiangnan include Luo Binwang, He Zhizhang, and Xu Jingzong…

Shanghai is the largest city in Jiangnan, notable for its famous Bund, known from the film of the same name and associated with many generations. The East Coast of Shanghai presents a modern image, adorned with skyscrapers, while the West Coast is distinguished by its government buildings and courthouses, constructed in a European style.

Hangzhou, a verdant city in Jiangnan, is considered a paradise on earth. When you have the chance to admire Hangzhou from tall structures like the Leifeng Pagoda or the Liuhe Temple, the lush green landscape unfolds before your eyes, breathtakingly beautiful. The high density of trees is the reason why the air here is always cool and fresh.

In a conversation with a Travellive reporter, Tú Oanh shared: “My family loves Hangzhou because of its diverse scenery and pristine natural beauty. Even though it rained for several days during our recent trip, we still found Hangzhou very beautiful. If we have the chance to visit during a dry period, especially in autumn when the leaves turn yellow or in spring when the flowers bloom, it will definitely be even more wonderful.”

Suzhou is renowned for its lush gardens and historical architectural structures such as Hanshan Temple and Lion Grove Garden. Among them, the Humble Administrator's Garden, built during the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty, covers an area of ​​83.5 acres. It is one of the four most famous ancient gardens in China, distinguished by its unique architecture and recognized as a key national cultural heritage site.

“The pace of life in Suzhou and Hangzhou is slower than in Shanghai. I still remember those early mornings in Suzhou when the sun was just beginning to rise, the elderly, children, and families would leisurely sit in the parks or by the bridges, having breakfast and chatting together. That scene was truly peaceful, a complete contrast to the crowds and hustle and bustle of tourist spots during peak hours,” Tu Oanh recalled.

Wuzhen, located north of Tongxiang City in Zhejiang Province, boasts a history spanning over 6,000 years and is one of the four most famous ancient towns in Jiangnan. Wuzhen is renowned for its tranquil scenery, where a gentle river flows and houses line its banks, connected by stone bridges. Its unique and ancient architecture blends seamlessly with nature, giving the town a distinctive charm that attracts numerous Chinese tourists every year.

During their trip to Wuzhen, Tu Oanh's family created many memorable moments. She shared: "Wuzhen is very small, so if you want to sit at a table by the river, you usually have to share a table. That day, my family happened to share a table with a family where the wife was Vietnamese and the husband was Chinese. They were traveling in China but living in Vietnam. They had a 5-year-old daughter, the same age as Gao, so the two girls had a lot of fun playing together while eating. After eating, they even held hands, danced, and strolled around Wuzhen. After many days of traveling with her parents, Gao was very happy to have a friend to play with, and Gao's joy made her parents happy too."

Phuong Mai is a reporter for Travellive Magazine in Hanoi.

Phuong Mai