嘉兴市

Why this place

Jiaxing is on the Grand Canal between Shanghai and Hangzhou, and its South Lake is where the first congress of the Chinese Communist Party finished its meeting on a boat in 1921 — a foundational site in modern Chinese history.

What to see

• South Lake and the red boat memorial
• Wuzhen and Xitang, two of the best water towns, both in Jiaxing's counties
• The canal quarter around Yuehe, restored and pleasant at night

What to eat

• Jiaxing zongzi — sticky-rice parcels, the local version is famous
• Nanhu water chestnuts and the local river fish

Best time

March–May and September–November

Practical tips

• Wuzhen is a classic water town but very popular — Xitang is a bit quieter and equally pretty