Tangqi 塘栖古镇

About Tangqi

Its seven stone arches give the crossing an unusually long profile, while the steps reveal its role as a pedestrian link between the canal banks. The Qianlong imperial stele adds another layer of canal history nearby. A visit works well as a focused look at bridge, waterfront houses and inscriptions rather than a tour of the modern town.

The town was first established in the Northern Song dynasty. From the Yuan dynasty on, merchants gathered there and it grew into a major market town, and by the Ming and Qing dynasties it was prosperous enough to be ranked first among the 'Ten Great Towns of Jiangnan' (江南十大名镇). At the end of 2010 it became one of 27 pilot towns in Zhejiang for developing small cities. The town was formerly administered under Yuhang District, and in April 2021 it was transferred into the newly established Linping District.

Tangqi covers 79 square kilometres and has a population of 99,051, at the southern end of the Hangjiahu Plain, with the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal running through the town. It borders Deqing County in Huzhou to the north. The area is known for growing loquats and Prunus mume, particularly around neighbouring Chaoshan Mountain.

Guangji Bridge was built in 1494 and was the only seven-arch stone bridge on the Grand Canal. The nearby Qianlong stele originally stood at a branch of the Hangzhou Water Conservancy Office; after that office was destroyed in the early Republican era, the stele survived because it had been built into the wall of a nearby house.

What to look for

• The seven-arched stone span of Guangji Bridge.
• The Qianlong imperial stele and the historic canal-side streets.

Location & getting there

Getting to Tangqi

Use the Tangqi Ancient Town visitor approach at No 9 Jiangyuan Lane in Tangqi Town. Continue towards Guangji Bridge and the old canal frontage; specify the ancient town when arranging the last road leg.