海伦·阿米蒂奇 温丹萍

Think of China and youll most likely conjure up1 images of huge， sprawling cities. But the country is also home to several charming， small towns. We explore some of the most picturesque.

Zhouzhuang

Often referred to as the ‘Venice of the East， Zhouzhuang—located in between Shanghai and Suzhou in Chinas Jiangsu province2—is one of the countrys most beautiful water towns. Simply walking the towns pretty streets and the charming stone bridges that cross its rivers and waterways is a pleasure in itself. But the 900-year-old town is also home to plenty of sights bound to please history buffs3. These sights include Zhang Ting—a sprawling， Ming Dynasty era residence home to six courtyards and more than 70 rooms—and Quanfu Temple， a beautiful Buddhist temple nestled on the edges of Baixian Lake.

Fenghuang

Nestled at the foot of verdant4 mountains on the edges of the Tuojiang River， Fenghuang was hailed as the most beautiful town in China by New Zealand-born writer and political activist Rewi Alley. The ancient Hunan town is home to many Miao people whose customs and culture can be seen everywhere. There are traditional stilted5 wooden houses， or ‘diaojiaolou， along the river and batik6 printed cloths sold in its stores alongside local culinary delicacies like spicy pickled7 red peppers and ginger candy. Meanwhile local historical sites of note include Huang Si Qiao Castle—built in 687 and Chinas best preserved stone castle. It is located a few kilometers west of town.

Heshun

Over in western Yunnan not far from the Burmese border lies the small， remote town of Heshun， home to just 6，000 people. A former stop-off8 on the Southern Silk Road， also known as the Tea Horse Road， many of Heshuns earlier residents took advantage of its location and travelled abroad. They built splendid houses mixing both Chinese and foreign architectural styles when they returned. This can still be seen in the town today. Walking its pretty cobblestone streets， visitors will come across local sights like Heshun Library， one of the countrys biggest rural libraries. There is also a memorial to Chinese philosopher Ai Siqi.

Shiwei

Quite far off the beaten track is Shiwei—a tiny frontier town in northeastern Inner Mongolia on the border with Russia. A cultural enclave9 for the countrys Russian minority， the towns mixing of cultures is evident everywhere. It can be seen from its architecture—beautiful Russian-style log houses known as ‘mukeleng—to its local food， which combines recipes Chinese shao kao barbecue and Russian lie ba bread. The town is surrounded by vast and verdant grassland. One of the best ways to explore it and the neighboring area is on horseback.

Yangshuo

Famed for the dramatic karst10 mountains that surround it， Yangshuo is a vibrant， tourist-friendly town nestled on the banks of the Li River in southern Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Though the town has seen a boom in visitors in recent years， Yangshuo has managed to retain its historic character. Its modern restaurants and stores are concentrated around West Street， the towns main drag11 and its oldest dating back more than 1，400 years. Among them， visitors will find plenty of traditional architecture and charm. Indulge in12 some slow travel and catch a boat down the Li River from neighboring Guilin. Its undoubtedly the most scenic way to arrive in Yangshuo.

Tongli

Another of Jiangsus picturesque water towns， Tongli is an idyllic13 little town just a short journey west of Zhouzhuang. Surrounded by five lakes and crisscrossed14 by canals， Tongli is made up of seven islands with a total of 49 bridges （of which the majority are a century or more old） linking the town together. Hire a gondola and see the pretty town from the water. But make sure to stop off at the Tuisi Yuan （Retreat and Reflection Garden）—part of the Classical Gardens of Suzhou. These were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.

Dunhuang

An oasis in the barren expanse of the Gobi Desert is the small northwestern town of Dunhuang. Formerly one of the most important stopping points along the Silk Road， this place is a haven for history buffs. There are no less than 241 historic sites of note dotted in and around the town. Just outside the town， visitors will find the White Horse Pagoda. This was believed to have been constructed in 382 to commemorate the horse of the Buddhist monk that carried Buddhist scriptures15 from Kucha to Dunhuang. Nearby is the Mogao Caves—a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to a treasure trove16 of Buddhist art.

Gulangyu Island

A small isle located a short boat ride from the city of Xiamen， Gulangyu Island gets its name from two Chinese words—‘gu meaning drum and ‘lang meaning waves—and is so-called for the drum-like sounds the tide makes when it hits the reef that surrounds the island. A tranquil retreat from the busy nearby city， Gulangyu is listed by the China National Tourism Administration as an AAAAA Scenic Area. It is noted for its beautiful Victorian-style architecture. Home to Chinas only Piano Museum， the towns other must-see local sights include the beautiful Shuzhuang Garden. Meanwhile a trip up Sunlight Rock—the Gulangyus highest point—offers breathtaking views over the island and coastline.

Hongcun

Film buffs might recognize Hongcun， an ancient Anhui village nestled in the mist-troveed foothills of Huangshan Mountain， from Ang Lees Crouching Tiger， Hidden Dragon. Home to some of Chinas finest architecture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties， the village provided a befittingly17 historical and mystical setting for several scenes from the Oscar-winning film. Much of the village—which， alongside neighboring Xidi， was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000—centers around its half-moon shaped pond. Local sights include Chengzi Hall， a grand residence built in 1855. This place has ornate18 wood and stone carving and now acts as a museum， which is open to visitors.

想到中國，你脑海中浮现的很可能是一个个不断扩张的庞大城市。不过，中国同样也有一些迷人的小城镇。下面我们就来谈谈其中一些风景最美的地方。

周庄

常被称为“东方威尼斯”的周庄位于上海和江苏苏州之间，是中国最美水乡之一。在小镇美丽的街道、横跨河流和水道的迷人石桥上漫步，本身就是一种乐趣。不过，这个有着900年历史的小镇还有很多名胜古迹，一定能让历史爱好者心满意足。其中包括张厅——一座有6个庭院和70多个房间的明代大宅院，以及坐落在白蚬湖畔的美丽佛寺全福讲寺。

凤凰

凤凰古城坐落在青山脚下、沱江之畔，被新西兰作家和政治活动家路易·艾黎称赞为中国最美丽的小城。这座湖南古城是众多苗族人的家园，苗族风俗文化元素在这里随处可见。沿江有一座座传统的吊脚木楼，一家家小店里出售着蜡染布以及酸辣椒和姜糖等当地美食。当地的重要历史遗迹之一是建于687年的黄丝桥古城，这是中国保存最完好的石头城堡。黄丝桥古城位于凤凰古城以西几十公里处。

和顺

中国云南西部距离缅甸边境不远处，有一个名为和顺的偏僻小镇，人口只有6000人。和顺曾是南方丝绸之路（又称“茶马古道”）上的一个驿站，许多早期的和顺居民利用其优越的地理位置出国闯荡。回国后，他们建起了一座座融合中外建筑风格的豪华住宅。这样的民居在今日的古镇里仍然可以看到。走在美丽的鹅卵石街道上，游客会看到许多当地景点，其中包括和顺图书馆——中国最大的乡村图书馆之一。……