The Jiaxing Nanhu Tourism Area is located in Nanhu District, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction that integrates natural scenery, historical culture, and red tourism. With Nanhu Lake at its core, known for its misty waters stirred by gentle breezes, the scenic area covers a total area of about 5.86 square kilometers, including a water area of 3.4 square kilometers. It includes Nanhu Main Island, Huxin Island, Yuehe Historic Block, and other areas. As the closing site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Nanhu has a profound red cultural heritage while also featuring the beautiful scenery of a Jiangnan water town, forming a distinctive landscape of one lake, one red heritage, and one culture. The scenic area contains landmark buildings such as Yanyu Tower, the Nanhu Red Boat, and the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall. Among them, Yanyu Tower has a building area of about 1,600 square meters, and the new hall of the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall has a building area of 19,600 square meters. It receives more than 3 million visitors annually and is a national patriotism education demonstration base and a famous red tourism destination.
Historical Culture
The historical culture of Nanhu can be traced back to the Neolithic Age. According to archaeological discoveries, ancestors lived and multiplied here more than 7,000 years ago. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the Nanhu area belonged to the lands of Wu and Yue. Through successive dynasties, a unique water town culture gradually formed. During the Tang and Song dynasties, Nanhu had already become a place for literati and scholars to travel and recite poetry. Tang dynasty poet Gu Kuang and Song dynasty poet Su Shi both left related poems.
The most iconic historical event of Nanhu is the convening of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 1921. In July of that year, the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China opened in Shanghai. Later, due to disruption, it was moved to a boat on Nanhu Lake to continue. This boat thus became a witness to the birth of the Communist Party of China and is called the Red Boat. In 1959, the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall was established, and the Red Boat was restored for later generations to visit and pay respects. The Red Boat Spirit, namely the pioneering spirit of creating the world and daring to be first, the striving spirit of firm ideals and unyielding perseverance, and the dedication spirit of serving the public and being loyal to the people, has become the core connotation of Nanhu's historical culture, making Nanhu an important carrier for inheriting red genes and promoting revolutionary spirit.
In addition, the Yanyu Tower culture of Nanhu is also unique. Yanyu Tower was first built during the Five Dynasties period, and the existing building was rebuilt in 1918. It was named after the artistic conception in Tang dynasty poet Du Mu's line, Four hundred and eighty temples of the Southern Dynasties, how many towers in the mist and rain. Literati of successive dynasties left a large number of inscriptions and poems, forming a strong poetic cultural atmosphere.
Main Attractions
Nanhu Red Boat
The Nanhu Red Boat is located on the southeast shore of Huxin Island in Nanhu Lake. It is a single-deck silk-net boat reconstructed in 1959 according to the original appearance of the boat used during the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The boat is 16 meters long and 3 meters wide, divided into front cabin, middle cabin, rear cabin, and room cabin. The middle cabin was the place where the meeting was held. As a symbol of the birth of the Communist Party of China, the Red Boat is a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level and the core red attraction of Nanhu. Visitors can board Huxin Island to pay respects to the Red Boat up close, listen to related historical explanations, and feel the profound connotation of the Red Boat Spirit.
Yanyu Tower
Yanyu Tower is located in the center of Huxin Island in Nanhu Lake and is the landmark building of Nanhu. The existing building is a reinforced concrete structure in an antique architectural style. The main tower is about 15 meters high, has two floors, and a building area of about 640 square meters. Inside the tower are displayed inscriptions and related historical relics of literati and poets from successive dynasties. In front of the tower is a stone stele inscribed with Yanyu Tower by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty. Climbing the tower and looking far into the distance, one can overlook the panoramic view of Nanhu, with vast waters and small boats shuttling through. In the misty rain, the beauty of a Jiangnan water town is fully displayed. It is the best position for viewing the scenery of Nanhu and was also a place where literati and scholars of successive dynasties feasted and composed poems.
Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall
The Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall is divided into the old hall and the new hall. The old hall is located beside Yanyu Tower on Huxin Island, and the new hall is located on the east bank of Nanhu and was completed and opened in 2011. The new hall covers an area of 27,300 square meters and has a building area of 19,600 square meters. The main building is in the shape of the Chinese character gong, symbolizing that the Communist Party of China is the vanguard of the working class. With the theme of creating the world, the hall systematically displays the historical process of the Communist Party of China from its birth to its development and growth through physical objects, pictures, scene restorations, multimedia, and other forms. The exhibition on the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Red Boat is the core content. The hall also has a lecture hall, interactive experience area, and other facilities, and is an important place for carrying out patriotism education.
Yuehe Historic Block
Yuehe Historic Block is located near Zhongji Road in Nanhu District, about 2 kilometers from the main Nanhu scenic area. It covers an area of about 90,000 square meters and is the most complete and largest existing historic block in the urban area of Jiaxing. With Yuehe River as the center, both banks retain a large number of buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the Republic of China period, including shops, residences, guild halls, and others, with a building area of about 70,000 square meters. Representative buildings include Jiahe Water Station, Gao Family Western-style House, and the Zongzi Culture Museum. The block has crisscrossing waterways and many ancient bridges, with a layout of three rivers and three streets. It now hosts various specialty shops, restaurants, teahouses, and other businesses. Visitors can experience the market life of a Jiangnan water town here, taste specialty foods, and feel traditional folk culture.
Nanhu Scenic Area - Xiaoyingzhou
Xiaoyingzhou is a small island in Nanhu Lake, located northwest of Huxin Island, with an area of about 17,000 square meters. Because it resembles a gourd in shape, it is also called Gourd Island. The island has dense vegetation and shady trees, and is built with pavilions, terraces, and towers and other garden buildings. The environment is quiet and elegant. The southern end of the island is connected to Huxin Island by a nine-turn bridge, and the northern end has ferries that can travel to and from the shore of Nanhu Lake. Xiaoyingzhou is mainly a natural landscape and is a good place for tourists to stroll and relax away from the noise. Buildings such as Guyunyi on the island were built in the Qing dynasty and have certain historical value.
Food
Jiaxing Zongzi
Jiaxing zongzi is the most representative food around Nanhu, famous for being glutinous but not mushy, fragrant and soft, and rich in fillings. Its history can be traced back to the Qing dynasty. It is made from local high-quality glutinous rice and fresh pork, or red bean paste, egg yolk, and other ingredients, wrapped in reed leaves and boiled. Among them, Wufangzhai zongzi is the most famous. Founded in 1921, it has many varieties such as fresh meat zongzi, egg yolk and meat zongzi, and red bean paste zongzi. A single zongzi weighs about 100-150 grams, and the price ranges from 3-8 yuan. It can be bought in shops around Yuehe Historic Block and the Nanhu scenic area and is a specialty food that tourists must try.
Nanhu Ling
Nanhu ling is an aquatic plant unique to Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing. It is named because it is produced in Nanhu and has a history of cultivation for thousands of years. Unlike ordinary water chestnuts, Nanhu ling has no horns, so it is also called round ling or wonton ling. Its shell is emerald green, and its flesh is white and tender. It can be eaten raw, cooked, or used in dishes. The picking period is August to October each year. Fresh Nanhu ling is priced at about 5-8 yuan per jin and can be tasted in farmers markets and restaurants along the shore of Nanhu. Stir-fried Nanhu ling and ling stir-fried with meat are local specialty dishes with a sweet and refreshing taste.
Nanhu Whitebait
Nanhu whitebait is a precious aquatic product of Nanhu Lake. It is about 7-10 centimeters long, transparent throughout, and has delicate and delicious meat rich in protein. Traditional local methods include whitebait scrambled with eggs and whitebait soup. Whitebait scrambled with eggs uses fresh whitebait and eggs stir-fried together and has a tender taste. Whitebait soup is made by simmering whitebait, mushrooms, eggs, and other ingredients and has a light and delicious flavor. In restaurants by Nanhu Lake, a portion of whitebait scrambled with eggs costs about 30-40 yuan and is an excellent choice for tourists to experience the lake delicacies of Nanhu.
Surrounding Food
There are also many specialty foods in Jiaxing's urban area and around Nanhu. The Gangyagou tangyuan shop in Yuehe Historic Block offers Ningbo-style tangyuan in flavors such as sesame, red bean paste, and fresh meat. Each bowl has 6-8 pieces and costs 10-15 yuan. Sanzhenzhai's braised duck is made from local ducks braised in a secret sauce. It is bright red in color and has a moderately salty and sweet taste. Vacuum-packed braised duck costs about 50-80 yuan each and is convenient to carry. In addition, Jiaxing's traditional pickled products such as zao egg and sauced meat are also quite distinctive and can be bought in time-honored shops in Yuehe Block.
Tickets：
Free admission. Boat ticket 20 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account Jiaxing Nanhu Scenic Area to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours：
The opening hours of the main Nanhu scenic area, including Huxin Island, the Red Boat, and Yanyu Tower, are 8:00-17:00 from April to October and 8:00-16:30 from November to the following March. The last return trip of the tour boat is 30 minutes before closing. The opening hours of the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall are 9:00-17:00, with entry stopping at 16:00, and it is closed on Mondays, except statutory holidays. Yuehe Historic Block is open all day, and shops in the block generally operate from 9:00-21:00.
Recommended Tour Route：
Recommended one-day tour route: arrive at the Nanhu Scenic Area Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m., take a tour boat to Huxin Island, about a 20-minute boat ride, tour Huxin Island, pay respects to the Red Boat for 30 minutes, and visit Yanyu Tower for 40 minutes. At 11:00, take the boat back to the east bank of Nanhu and go to the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall, with a visit of about 1.5 hours. At 12:30, dine at a restaurant near the memorial hall and taste specialty foods such as Nanhu whitebait and Jiaxing zongzi. At 14:30 p.m., go to Yuehe Historic Block, stroll through the ancient street, visit the Zongzi Culture Museum for 30 minutes, and experience the charm of the water town. At 16:30, buy specialties such as Jiaxing zongzi in the block and end the trip. This route takes into account both red cultural experience and water town scenery and has a compact and reasonable schedule, suitable for one-day tourists.
Transportation：
Train/High-speed rail: Jiaxing Station is about 3 kilometers from the Nanhu Scenic Area. You can take buses 1 and 2 to the Nanhu Scenic Area (Huijingyuan) stop and walk 5 minutes to arrive. Jiaxing South Station, the high-speed rail station, is about 10 kilometers from the scenic area. Take bus 93 to the Nanhu Scenic Area (Huijingyuan) stop. The ride takes about 40 minutes and the fare is 2 yuan.
Bus: Multiple bus routes in Jiaxing can reach the Nanhu Scenic Area, such as 1, 2, 3, 6, and 23, all stopping at the Nanhu Scenic Area (Huijingyuan) stop. The fare is 1-2 yuan.
Self-driving: From Shanghai, take the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway to the Jiaxing exit, then drive along Nanhu Avenue for about 5 kilometers to reach the Nanhu Scenic Area. The drive takes about 1.5 hours. There are parking lots in the scenic area such as the Huijingyuan parking lot and the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall parking lot, with about 500 parking spaces. Parking costs 5 yuan per hour.
Taxi: Taking a taxi from Jiaxing Station to the Nanhu Scenic Area costs about 10 yuan and takes 10 minutes. Taking a taxi from Jiaxing South Station to the scenic area costs about 30 yuan and takes 25 minutes.
Must-Visit Attractions：
Nanhu Red Boat: A replica tour boat 16 meters long and 3 meters wide. It is a symbol of the birth of the Communist Party of China and carries important historical significance. It is the core attraction for experiencing the Red Boat Spirit and requires boarding Huxin Island to pay respects up close.
Yanyu Tower: A landmark building of Nanhu. The tower is 15 meters high. Climbing it offers a panoramic view of Nanhu. The tower displays rich historical relics and inscriptions. It combines historical and cultural value with viewing functions and is the essence of Nanhu's scenery.
Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall: A large exhibition hall with a building area of 19,600 square meters. It systematically displays the history of the Communist Party of China through various forms, especially the history related to the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Red Boat. It is an important place for patriotism education, free and rich in content.
Yuehe Historic Block: A 90,000-square-meter historic block that retains a large number of buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the Republic of China period. It has crisscrossing waterways and many ancient bridges. Visitors can experience the market life of a Jiangnan water town, taste specialty foods, and feel traditional folk culture.
Tour Suggestions：
It is recommended to avoid peak periods such as May Day and National Day, when there are more tourists and queues for tour boats. The best visiting time is 9:00-11:00 a.m. on weekdays.
Before visiting the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall, you can reserve guide service through the official WeChat public account for free. Professional explanations can help you understand the historical background more deeply. There are free scheduled explanations at 10:00 a.m. and 14:00 p.m. every day.
To taste Jiaxing zongzi, it is recommended to choose time-honored shops such as Wufangzhai. The branch in Yuehe Historic Block has a complete range of products, and you can also watch the zongzi-making process on site.
In summer, take sun protection measures when visiting. The waters of Nanhu are open, and ultraviolet rays are strong. In winter, the lake area is windy, so it is recommended to wear scarves, gloves, and other warm items.
If you need to take a tour boat to Huxin Island, it is recommended to check the boat schedule in advance and arrange your time reasonably to avoid missing the last return boat.
Notes：
The Nanhu Red Boat is an important historical commemorative site. Visitors should maintain solemnity and are prohibited from making loud noises, climbing, or touching the boat.
Photography and video recording are prohibited inside the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall. There is a free storage area in the hall for backpacks and other items.
When taking the tour boat, observe order, wear life jackets, do not walk around at the bow or stern, and pay attention to safety.
There are many waterways in Yuehe Historic Block. Watch your step when walking, especially on rainy days when the ground is slippery, to prevent falling.
When buying specialties such as Jiaxing zongzi, check the production date and shelf life. Vacuum-packed products can be stored for a long time and are suitable for carrying.
Littering is prohibited in the scenic area. There are trash bins in areas such as Huxin Island and Yuehe Block. Visitors should consciously maintain environmental hygiene.