Throughout southeast China there are a number of cities, towns and villages whose network of waterways and access to the Grand Canal once made them a prosperous place for trade and production of silk. The biggest of the waterways is the Grand Canal which runs from Hangzhou to Beijing and which is still in use today as a major conduit for goods.
Cities and towns such as Shaoxing, Xitang and Wuzhen are charming water towns, with winding canals, arched bridges and antiquated residences. They are lovely places to visit as one relives the charm and life of what it would have been like to live in the late Qing dynasty. Many residents still live in the old towns going about their business and daily lives.
