西塘镇 (嘉善县)
( Xitang )Xitang (Chinese: 西塘; pinyin: Xītáng; lit. 'West Pond'), formerly known as Xietang (Chinese: 斜塘; lit. 'Oblique Pond'), Pingtang (Chinese: 平塘; lit. 'Flat Pond') and Xutang (Chinese: 胥塘; lit. 'Xu Pond'), is a historic town in Jiashan County, Zhejiang, China. It borders Luxu Town in the north, Yaozhuang Town in the east, Ganyao Town in the southeast, and Tianning Town and Town in the west. As of the 2016 census it had a population of 57,400 and an area of 83.61-square-kilometre (32.28 sq mi). Xitang is a water town crisscrossed by nine rivers. The town stretches across eight sections, linked by ...Read more
Xitang (Chinese: 西塘; pinyin: Xītáng; lit. 'West Pond'), formerly known as Xietang (Chinese: 斜塘; lit. 'Oblique Pond'), Pingtang (Chinese: 平塘; lit. 'Flat Pond') and Xutang (Chinese: 胥塘; lit. 'Xu Pond'), is a historic town in Jiashan County, Zhejiang, China. It borders Luxu Town in the north, Yaozhuang Town in the east, Ganyao Town in the southeast, and Tianning Town and Town in the west. As of the 2016 census it had a population of 57,400 and an area of 83.61-square-kilometre (32.28 sq mi). Xitang is a water town crisscrossed by nine rivers. The town stretches across eight sections, linked by old-fashioned stone bridges. In the older parts of town, the buildings are set along the banks of the canals, which serve as the main transportation thoroughfares in the area.
Aerial perspective of Xitang's CanalsIts history dates back to at least the Spring and Autumn period (770 BC–476 BC) when it was located at the border of the State of Yue and Wu. According to legend, Wu Zixu, a well-known scholar and military general, ordered to dig many canals and a pond to facilitate water transportation and to channel water to Jiashan County, and thus Xitang is also called "Xutang".[1]
In 2001 it participated in the selection of World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).[2]
On October 8, 2003, it has been designated as a Historic Towns of China by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.[2]
In February 2017, it has been categorized as an AAAAA level tourist site by the China National Tourism Administration.[3]
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