[May Day Crowd Avoidance Guide] Exploring Chang'an, Haining: The Tranquil Beauty of an Ancient Town

Avoid the crowds and enjoy the Jiangnan atmosphere! The little-known ancient town of Chang'an, Haining, is only 0.5 hours away from Hangzhou. With its bluestone streets, small bridges, flowing water, and no crowds, it's the perfect place to relax during the May Day holiday! --- 🚶‍♀️ Walking Route: A Journey Through Time in the Alleys of Life **Gongqing Street → Hongqiao Bridge → Qingning Street → Chang'an Sluice → East Street → West Street → Si Alley → Juehuang Temple - Gongqing Street: Old-fashioned barber shops, used book stalls, and roadside stalls offer an authentic, down-to-earth atmosphere. - Hongqiao Bridge: A thousand-year-old single-arch stone bridge. Climb the bridge to overlook the canal, visit the "Chang'an Sluice" heritage exhibition hall, and experience the wisdom of water conservancy from the Tang and Song dynasties. - Qingning Street: Riverside residences intertwined with Chinaberry trees. In April and May, the purple rain of flowers creates a romantic atmosphere. Sitting quietly on the stone steps by the river is incredibly healing. - Si Alley: A quiet alley with white walls and black tiles. The Yanqiu Culture Museum is hidden within, offering a fun-filled experience of making fish balls by hand. - Juehuang Temple: "The late Empress Dowager has a soul in hiding." The thousand-year-old temple is filled with incense and a strong Zen atmosphere. --- 🍜 Chang'an Cuisine: Local Hidden Gems - Mingyao Small Pot Noodles: Made to order on a stove. We recommend the fried fish noodles + poached egg. The soup is rich and flavorful! - Ziwei Cold Drinks: An old-fashioned dessert shop with an overflowing amount of ingredients in its babao congee. The glutinous rice lotus root and mung bean ice are refreshing and not too sweet. - Chang'an Yanqiu: Fish and pork kneaded into balls, fresh whether steamed or boiled. A must-try intangible cultural heritage delicacy! --- 🚗 Transportation Tips: A Lazy Person's Guide to Spontaneous Travel - Self-driving: A 30-minute drive from Hangzhou, with plenty of free parking spaces around the ancient town. - Subway: Get off at "Chang'an East" station on the Hangzhou-Haining Intercity Railway and rent a public bicycle for a leisurely ride. - Nearby Bonus: The **Haining Flower City**, a 10-minute drive from the ancient town, is holding a flower exhibition during the May Day holiday, with giant floral installations that are perfect for taking photos! --- 📸 Photo Guide: Get These Niche Spots with One Click 1️⃣ Hongqiao Bridge Sunset: In the evening, the light and shadows are cast on the canal, and the reflection in the archway is like an oil painting. 2️⃣ Qingning Street River Wharf: The mottled stone steps under the Chinaberry trees offer a blend of everyday life and poetry. 3️⃣ Si Alley White Walls: The alleyways are dotted with green moss after the rain. Hold up an oil-paper umbrella and instantly travel back to the Republic of China era. --- 💡 Travel Tips ✅ The ancient town has no entrance fee and is open all day. We recommend spending 3–4 hours there. ✅ Most of the restaurants are concentrated on East Street, so we recommend dining during off-peak hours. ✅ Outfit suggestions: Hanfu/Qipao + flat shoes. You won't get tired of walking on the bluestone streets. --- This May Day, say no to crowds! Immerse yourself in the ancient town of Chang'an, be a "slow-life expert" for a day, and enjoy a moment of tranquility and poetry in the folds of a thousand years of history. 🌸