We had visited several old towns last year, but not this year. The rare good weather yesterday took us to another old town Xi-tang in zhe-Jiang. Water, bridges, boats, and old houses together make a great view. Now I would let the pictures tell the story.
好久没全家出游锻练脚力了，过去的天气不是太冷就是阴晴不定，昨天天气特别好，趁天气大热之前，我们临时安排了一趟古镇之旅--西塘。
西塘 Old Town Xi-Tang
古镇西塘位于浙江省嘉兴市嘉善县，距苏州只有60公里。西塘是一座已有千年历史文化的古镇。早在春秋战国时期就是吴越两国的相交之地，到元代初步形成市集。西塘与其它水乡古镇最大的不同，在于古镇中临河的街道都有廊棚，总长近千米，所以在西塘旅游，雨天不淋雨，夏天太阳也晒不到，逛起来很舒服，不过古镇很大，走完脚很酸。
西塘和乌镇很近，所以很多旅客会夜宿西塘，次日游乌镇，也因如此，西塘的民宿、小店、夜色、夜生活都很出名。
西塘不像同里或南浔古镇有很多富人或名人住过（我只知道前上海的副市长祖宅于此），所以里面的庭院不是太华丽，多属小品，但她的水道宽阔，看起来也跟着心宽，70%的路上有木作廊棚，不热；小店很多也很有特色，若不是身边有一个老公和一个七岁小孩时刻阻止消费的话，很容易让人流连忘返滴！
Behind us is the reception center.
Crooked hall way led us to the entrance.
水上戏台（很有创意，下方还能让船通过）
Water Stage. Boats can cross under the stage.
Many residents provide guest rooms RMB100-150 per night.
They hang bedsheets on the river side.
这里有很多沿河客栈，到处看到晒床单
More bedsheets
Small hall way beside the garden
The garden
The garden: Stone-chairs and talbe are fixed on the water.
View from the bridge
Water, boats, and old houses
Rock cave in Chinese garden
Pavilion and fish pool in the garden
A great view for painting.
The stores' outside decoration
The Stores
The store's wooden plates decoration
Metal Souvenirs
After 4 hour hiking, it is our turn to take the boat to the exit.
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