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Open WhatsApp ChatLicensed professional driver in China's Silk Capital. Fixed price. Visit Taihu Lake, Nanxun water town, Feiying Pagoda, and silk workshops — with a private car and driveand silk workshops — with a private car and driver for your comfort.
Huzhou (湖州) — "Lake Prefecture" — is a prefecture-level city in northern Zhejiang Province, on the southern shore of Taihu (Lake Tai / 太湖), China's third-largest freshwater lake. Huzhou is one of the birthplaces of Chinese silk — Huzhou silk (湖丝) has been produced for over 4,000 years and won the first prize at the 1851 Great Exhibition in London. The city is home to the famous Nanxun (南浔) water town — one of the most prestigious water towns in the Jiangnan region — and is famous for Huzhou white tea (湖州白茶), freshwater pearls from Taihu Lake, and the ancient Feiying Pagoda (飞英塔). Huzhou is approximately 80km from Shanghai, 90km from Hangzhou, and 70km from Suzhou.
Huzhou is one of the birthplaces of Chinese silk, with silk production in the region dating back over 4,000 years to the Neolithic period. The unique water quality of Taihu Lake and the region's humid climate create ideal conditions for silkworm cultivation, producing silk of exceptional quality. Huzhou silk (湖丝) was designated as a tribute silk (贡缎, gòngduàn) to the imperial court during the Tang and Song dynasties — meaning it was reserved exclusively for the emperor and his court.
Huzhou silk achieved international recognition at the 1851 Great Exhibition in London — the world's first World's Fair — where Nanxun silk won the first prize in the international silk category, marking the first time Chinese silk received formal international recognition. Today, Huzhou is one of China's most important silk production and trading centers, with the China Silk Museum (中国丝绸博物馆) — the world's largest silk museum — located in Huzhou's capital.
The name Huzhou (湖州) — "Lake Prefecture" — dates to the Sui Dynasty (602 CE) when the city was officially elevated to prefecture status and named for its location on the southern shore of Taihu (Lake Tai, 太湖). The character 湖 (hú) means lake, and 州 (zhōu) means prefecture or region. The name has been in continuous use for over 1,400 years. The city has also historically been known as 乌程 (Wūchéng) during the Spring and Autumn period and as 吴兴 (Wúxīng) during the Eastern Wu and Jin dynasties.
Nanxun (南浔) — Huzhou's most famous water town, located approximately 50km south of the Huzhou city center — is widely considered the most prestigious and wealthy water town in the Jiangnan region. Unlike the more tourist-oriented water towns of Wuzhen and Xitang, Nanxun retains a more authentic atmosphere and is famous for its wealthy merchant mansions (豪宅) — the mansions of the Nanxun silk merchants were among the most magnificent in China during the late Qing Dynasty. The town's 百间楼 (Bǎi Jiān Lóu, "100-Room Building") — a 300-meter-long traditional residential complex built during the Ming and Qing dynasties — is one of the most impressive examples of water town architecture in China.
Huzhou is located in northern Zhejiang Province, on the southern shore of Taihu (Lake Tai, 太湖) — China's third-largest freshwater lake. The city sits at the heart of the Yangtze River Delta integration area, approximately 80km from Shanghai to the east, 90km from Hangzhou to the south, and 70km from Suzhou to the north. The Taihu Lake area — with its fertile farmland, abundant water resources, and excellent transport connections — has been one of China's most economically productive and culturally rich regions for over 2,000 years. The city is connected to Shanghai and Hangzhou by the Shanghai–Hangzhou Expressway (沪杭高速) and the high-speed rail line.
From Taihu Lake to Nanxun water town, the China Silk Museum, and Feiying Pagoda — explore China's Silk Capital with a private driver.
Fixed-price private car service for Huzhou's most popular journeys.
~50 km · 1 hr drive · 4–5 hours · Business vehicle
Your driver takes you to Nanxun (南浔) — approximately 50km south of Huzhou city center — for a half-day visit to the most prestigious water town in the Jiangnan region. Explore the Baijianlou (百间楼), the wealthy merchant mansions, the traditional gardens, and the water town's canals. Your driver waits during your visit.
~10 km · 25 min drive · 3–4 hours · Business vehicle
Your driver takes you to the China Silk Museum — the world's largest silk museum — and the Feiying Pagoda (飞英塔) in the Huzhou city center for a half-day of cultural exploration. The Silk Museum includes live silk weaving demonstrations and the Feiying Pagoda is one of the oldest stone pagodas in Zhejiang.
~60 km · 1.5 hr drive · Full day · Business vehicle
Your driver takes you to Changxing County (长兴县) — approximately 60km from Huzhou — for a full day at the Huzhou white tea (湖州白茶) plantations. Tour the tea fields, visit a tea processing facility, participate in tea picking (seasonal), and taste the fresh spring harvest at a traditional tea house.
~110 km · 1.5 hr drive · Economy/Business/MPV
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) is approximately 110km from Huzhou (1.5 hours by car). Your driver meets you at the airport arrival hall with a name board and drives you directly to your Huzhou hotel, Nanxun water town, or Taihu Lake.
Getting to Huzhou by air, rail, or road
Shanghai–Hangzhou high-speed rail corridor
Huzhou Railway Station (湖州站) is on the Shanghai–Hangzhou high-speed rail corridor, with frequent high-speed services to Shanghai (via Suzhou, 1.5 hours), Hangzhou (1 hour), Nanjing (2 hours), and Beijing (4.5 hours via the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed rail). The station is the main arrival point for high-speed rail visitors to Huzhou. The Ninghang high-speed rail (宁杭高铁) connects Huzhou directly to Nanjing and Hangzhou.
~110 km · 1.5 hr drive
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) — Zhejiang Province's main international hub — is approximately 110km from Huzhou (1.5 hours by car). Most international visitors to Huzhou fly to Hangzhou first, then take the high-speed rail (1 hour) or private car (1.5 hours) to Huzhou. Hangzhou Airport has flights to most major Chinese cities and international destinations including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia.
~130 km · 2 hr drive · 1.5 hr by rail
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) — Shanghai's main domestic and regional international hub — is approximately 130km from Huzhou (2 hours by car or 1.5 hours by high-speed rail via Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, which is connected to the airport terminal). Hongqiao Airport is a major arrival point for visitors to the Yangtze River Delta and is well-connected by high-speed rail to Huzhou.
~150 km · 2.5 hr drive
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) — Shanghai's main international hub for long-haul flights — is approximately 150km from Huzhou (2.5 hours by car). Most visitors arriving at Pudong continue by private car or by high-speed rail from Shanghai Railway Station (reachable by the Shanghai Metro from Pudong Airport). A private car from Pudong Airport to Huzhou is the most comfortable option for international arrivals.
Capture China's Silk Capital from its most evocative angles.
Best at sunset
The Baijianlou (百间楼, "100-Room Building") — the 300-meter Ming-Qing residential complex on the water's edge in Nanxun — is most photogenic at sunset when the golden light illuminates the traditional white-walled, tile-roofed buildings reflected in the still canal water. The traditional stone bridges crossing the canal in front of the Baijianlou create classic water town compositions. Arrive 1–2 hours before sunset and position yourself on the bridge for the classic Nanxun photograph.
Best mid-morning
The China Silk Museum — with its live demonstrations of traditional silk weaving on antique jacquard looms — offers compelling photography of the silk production process. The contrast between the white silk threads, the dark wooden loom mechanisms, and the silk weaver's hands at work creates compelling documentary photographs. The museum's architecture — with its modern interpretation of traditional Chinese design elements — is also highly photogenic.
Best morning
The Feiying Pagoda (飞英塔) — with its unique double-shell stone structure (an inner pagoda inside an outer pagoda) — is most photogenic in the morning light when the pagoda's stone texture and the temple complex are at their most atmospheric. The pagoda's seven-story height and its position above the temple complex gives it a commanding presence. The Feiying Temple complex surrounding the pagoda is also atmospheric in the early morning.
Best at dusk
The Moon Harbour (月亮湾) on the Huzhou shore of Taihu Lake — with its modern lakeside architecture and evening light show — is most dramatic at dusk when the 湖州月亮湾灯光秀 (Taihu Moon Harbour Light Show) illuminates the lake surface and the modern towers. The light show — featuring LED lights on the lake surface and the surrounding buildings — is best viewed from the Moon Harbour waterfront promenade.
Best mid-morning in spring
The Changxing tea plantations (长兴茶园) — with their rows of tea bushes stretching across the hillsides — are most photogenic in mid-morning (9–11 AM) during the spring harvest (April–May) when the fresh green tea shoots are at their most tender and the mist has cleared. The tea fields are most beautiful when the new leaves are being picked — tea pickers in traditional hats working the rows make compelling foreground elements.
Best with available light
The Huzhou Museum — with its important collection of Liangzhu culture (良渚文化) jade artifacts from the Neolithic period (5,300–4,300 years ago) — offers exceptional photography of ancient jade objects. The Neolithic jade cong (玉琮), bi (玉璧), and axe (玉钺) — with their distinctive carved motifs — are among the finest examples of jade working in world history. The museum's careful lighting creates ideal conditions for photographing the jade artifacts.
The Zhenyuan Tong (震远同) — Huzhou's most famous traditional snack brand — is famous for its 桑叶糕 (sang ye gao, mulberry leaf cake), 湖州大馄饨 (húzhōu dà húntun, Huzhou large wontons), and 千张包 (qiān zhāng bāo, thousand-layer bun). The large wontons — filled with pork and shrimp — are served in a rich, clear chicken broth and are a Huzhou specialty not found elsewhere. The best place to try these is at the Zhenyuan Tong shop near Huzhou's old town.
The freshwater fish from Taihu Lake — including silver carp, grass carp, and the prized Taihu sea bass (太湖鳜鱼) — are among the finest freshwater fish in China. The Huzhou preparation — typically steamed (清蒸) with ginger, scallion, and soy sauce — lets the freshness of the lake fish speak for itself. Found at lakeside restaurants along the Huzhou shore of Taihu Lake.
Huzhou white tea (湖州白茶) — grown in the Changxing tea plantations — is one of China's most prized white teas. The tea is made from the unopened leaf buds of the tea plant, dried in the sun, and has a delicate, slightly sweet flavor with notes of honey and fresh grass. The spring harvest (before the Qingming festival) is the highest quality. Found at tea specialty shops in Huzhou and at the Changxing tea plantations.
The freshwater pearls from Taihu Lake — produced by freshwater mussels in the lake — are among the finest freshwater pearls in the world. The Huzhou area has been cultivating freshwater pearls for over 1,000 years. The pearls — in shades of white, pink, lavender, and gold — are sold at pearl shops throughout Huzhou. The best quality pearls have a thick nacre, a high luster, and a clean surface.
The Dongpo Pork (东坡肉, dōng pō ròu) — pork belly braised in soy sauce, rice wine, and rock sugar — is said to have been first prepared by the Song Dynasty poet and official Su Dongpo (苏轼) during his exile in Huzhou. The dish — rich, tender, and slightly sweet — is a local specialty in Huzhou. The best versions use the traditional recipe with the characteristic cube shape, the dark lacquered sauce, and the longan (龙眼) fruit served alongside.
The China Silk Museum gift shop sells a curated selection of high-quality silk products — including scarves, clothing, and home textiles — from established Huzhou silk brands. The advantage of buying here is the museum's quality assurance — all products are verified as genuine silk. The selection is more limited than the wholesale markets but the quality is guaranteed.
The Huzhou silk wholesale market — in the silk trading district near the city center — offers the widest selection of silk products at competitive prices. The market has hundreds of shops selling silk scarves, clothing, bedding, and raw silk fabric. Prices here are significantly lower than retail shops, and most shops can arrange delivery anywhere in China and internationally.
Huzhou silk (湖丝) — including silk scarves, silk clothing, silk bedding, and raw silk fabric — is sold at the China Silk Museum gift shop and at the Huzhou silk wholesale market. The best quality silk should feel smooth, cool, and slightly heavy. Look for the "100% silk" label and verify quality by touch. The Huzhou silk wholesale market offers the best prices; the museum gift shop offers the best quality assurance.
Huzhou white tea (湖州白茶) — from the Changxing tea plantations — is sold at tea specialty shops in Huzhou and at tea farms in Changxing County. The spring harvest (明前茶, before Qingming) is the highest quality and commands premium prices. The tea should be stored in a cool, dry place. Buy from established tea shops where you can verify quality by taste before purchasing.
Taihu Lake freshwater pearls (太湖珍珠) — in shades of white, pink, lavender, and gold — are sold at pearl shops throughout Huzhou. The best quality pearls have a thick nacre, a high luster, and a clean surface. Look for pearls with a mirror-like reflection. The pearl farms in the Taihu Lake area also sell directly to visitors at wholesale prices.
Traditional crafts and cultural traditions of China's Silk Capital on Taihu Lake.
The traditional craft of Huzhou silk weaving (湖丝织造) — producing silk fabric on traditional wooden jacquard looms — has been practiced in the Huzhou area for over 4,000 years, making it one of the oldest continuous silk production traditions in the world. The craft involves cultivating mulberry trees, raising silkworms, reeling silk thread from cocoons, and weaving the thread into fabric on traditional wooden jacquard looms. The traditional patterns — including dragon, phoenix, floral, and geometric designs — are created by hand-controlled jacquard mechanisms. This craft is documented in the China Silk Museum and practiced in Huzhou's silk workshops.
Where to see: China Silk Museum, Huzhou silk workshops, live demonstrations.
The traditional craft of Huzhou white tea production (湖州白茶制作) — producing China's most prized white tea from unopened tea leaf buds — has been practiced in the Changxing tea plantations for over 1,000 years. The craft involves hand-picking the unopened leaf buds at precisely the right moment (before the Qingming festival for the highest quality), then sun-drying and lightly baking the buds to halt oxidation. The result is a tea with a delicate, slightly sweet flavor and a distinctive white appearance. This craft is practiced at tea farms in Changxing County.
Where to learn: Changxing tea plantations, Huzhou tea houses.
The traditional craft of Nanxun water town architecture (南浔水乡建筑) — the construction and maintenance of the traditional courtyard houses, garden pavilions, and canal-side buildings of the Nanxun water town — has been practiced for over 500 years. The Nanxun merchant mansions — built with silk wealth during the late Qing Dynasty — represent the finest examples of water town residential architecture in the Jiangnan region. The traditional construction techniques — using whitewashed walls, grey tile roofs, carved wooden brackets, and stone-paved courtyards — are maintained by traditional craft practitioners in Nanxun.
Where to see: Nanxun water town, Baijianlou, Nanxun merchant mansions.
The traditional craft of Taihu Lake pearl cultivation (太湖珍珠养殖) — cultivating freshwater pearls in the mussel beds of Taihu Lake — has been practiced in the Huzhou area for over 1,000 years. The craft involves implanting a small bead (nucleus) into the freshwater mussel, which then deposits layers of nacre around the bead to form a pearl. The mussels are harvested after 2–5 years, and the pearls are extracted, cleaned, and sorted by quality. The craft is practiced at pearl farms on the Huzhou shore of Taihu Lake and documented in the Taihu Lake Pearl Museum.
Where to see: Taihu Lake pearl farms, Taihu Lake Pearl Museum.
The traditional craft of stone pagoda construction (石塔建造) — building stone pagodas without the use of mortar, using precisely carved stone blocks fitted together by gravity and interlocking — was practiced in China from the Tang Dynasty onward. The Feiying Pagoda (飞英塔) in Huzhou — with its unique double-shell structure — represents a particular refinement of this craft, with the inner and outer pagoda shells constructed as independent but nested structures. This craft tradition is documented at the Feiying Pagoda site.
Where to see: Feiying Pagoda, Feiying Temple complex.
The traditional craft of Liangzhu jade carving (良渚玉雕) — the Neolithic jade carving tradition of the Liangzhu culture (良渚文化, 5,300–4,300 years ago) centered in the Huzhou area — represents one of the finest jade working traditions in world history. The Liangzhu people produced jade cong (玉琮), bi (玉璧), and axe (玉钺) with intricate carved motifs that are still not fully understood by modern scholars. The craft tradition continues in modified form in Huzhou's jade carving workshops, which produce contemporary jade items inspired by Liangzhu designs.
Where to see: Huzhou Museum, Zhejiang Provincial Museum (Hangzhou).
Insider tips to help you experience Huzhou like a local.
Nanxun (南浔) is the most prestigious water town in the Jiangnan region but also increasingly popular with tour groups from Shanghai and Hangzhou. The water town is most magical in the early morning (7–9 AM) — before the tour buses arrive — when the morning mist rises from the canal, the locals practice tai chi on the canal bank, and the traditional buildings are at their most atmospheric. Your driver can arrange an early departure from Huzhou so you arrive at Nanxun at opening time.
The Huzhou silk wholesale market — not the tourist shops near the attractions — is where locals and professional buyers purchase silk. The prices are significantly lower and the quality is often better. Look for shops where the owner is actively working — this usually indicates they are a primary producer rather than a middleman. Ask to see the silk production process — most primary producers are happy to show how their silk is made.
If you're visiting Huzhou in spring, plan your trip to coincide with the Changxing tea harvest (明前茶, before Qingming Festival) — the highest quality Huzhou white tea. The spring harvest season (typically late March to early May) is when the tea fields are at their most beautiful and the tea is at its best. At this time, the tea pickers can be seen working the rows in the early morning, and the tea houses at the plantations serve the fresh spring harvest to visitors.
The Taihu Lake shoreline restaurants in Huzhou — serving fresh Taihu Lake fish — are at their best at sunset when the lake views are most dramatic and the evening breeze provides relief from the summer heat. Arrive around 5:30 PM to secure a good lakeside table. The signature dish is steamed Taihu sea bass (清蒸太湖鳜鱼) with ginger, scallion, and soy sauce — best eaten with cold beer while watching the sunset over the lake.
The Taihu Lake pearl farms on the Huzhou shore sell freshwater pearls directly to visitors at wholesale prices — significantly lower than retail pearl shops. The pearl farmers can show you the mussel implantation process and explain how the pearls form. The best time to visit the pearl farms is in the afternoon when the farmers are cleaning and sorting the harvested pearls. You can select individual pearls or pearl strands to your exact specifications.
The Feiying Pagoda (飞英塔) — one of Huzhou's most distinctive landmarks — is most atmospheric in the early morning when the temple complex is quiet and the stone pagoda is bathed in morning light. The temple complex is typically visited by tour groups from mid-morning onwards. Arriving at opening time (typically 8 AM) gives you the pagoda almost to yourself. The pagoda's unique double-shell structure — one pagoda inside another — is best appreciated when you can walk around it without crowds.
Explore the Yangtze River Delta from Huzhou with a private car and licensed driver.
Each season reveals a different face of China's Silk Capital on Taihu Lake.
Mar–May · 10–24°C
Excellent. Spring is the best season for Huzhou — comfortable temperatures (10–24°C in April and May), fresh spring vegetation, and the tea harvest at Changxing (April–May). April is particularly recommended for the combination of comfortable weather, the spring tea harvest, and the blooming lotus flowers on Taihu Lake. The Nanxun water town is at its most atmospheric in spring before the summer heat. The spring silk production season also means the silk workshops are most active.
Highlights: Tea harvest (Apr–May), comfortable weather, Nanxun most atmospheric
Jun–Aug · 24–34°C
Hot with water town festivals. Summer in Huzhou is hot (often above 30°C) and humid. The lotus flowers on Taihu Lake are in full bloom during July and August, creating spectacular scenery on the lake. The Nanxun water town has evening boat tours during the summer months. Summer is peak season for visitors from Shanghai and Hangzhou, so expect more crowds at Nanxun and Wuzhen.
Highlights: Lotus bloom on Taihu (Jul–Aug), summer evening boat tours
Sep–Nov · 10–24°C
Excellent. Autumn is the best season for Huzhou — comfortable temperatures (12–22°C in September and October), lower humidity, and clear skies. October is particularly recommended as the best all-around month for weather and outdoor sightseeing. The autumn harvest at the Changxing tea plantations brings the second tea harvest of the year (秋茶, autumn tea). Hotel prices normalize after the summer peak season. The Taihu Lake autumn scenery — with the surrounding hills in autumn colors — is also beautiful.
Highlights: Best weather, autumn tea harvest, autumn colors on Taihu Lake
Dec–Feb · 2–10°C
Cold but peaceful. Winter temperatures in Huzhou range from 2–10°C, and the water towns are at their quietest. However, winter is low season for tourism — hotel prices are at their lowest and there are almost no crowds at Nanxun or Wuzhen. The Feiying Pagoda and the China Silk Museum are fully accessible in winter without crowds. The Taihu Lake winter scenery — with mist over the lake and the surrounding hills sometimes dusted with snow — has a stark beauty.
Highlights: Lowest hotel prices, no crowds at water towns, atmospheric winter lakeside
A few words for China's Silk Capital on Taihu Lake.
你好
Hello — The universal greeting.
谢谢
Thank you — Locals appreciate the effort.
我要买丝绸
I want to buy silk — Tell the silk market shops that you want to buy Huzhou silk products.
我要去南浔
I want to go to Nanxun — Tell your driver you'd like to visit the most prestigious water town in the Jiangnan region.
我要买白茶
I want to buy white tea — Tell the tea shop you'd like to purchase Huzhou white tea from Changxing.
我要看太湖
I want to see Taihu Lake — Tell your driver you'd like to visit Taihu Lake and the Moon Harbour.
Fixed price, licensed professional driver. From Hangzhou Airport or Huzhou Station to Nanxun water town, the China Silk Museum, and Taihu Lake.
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Make your Huzhou Silk Capital journey smoother with these services.
Stay connected across the Yangtze River Delta with a pocket Wi-Fi device. Pre-book online and pick up at Hangzhou Airport or Shanghai airports, or have it delivered to your Huzhou hotel.
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Book Guide at VIPChinaGuideAdd a health checkup, dental cleaning, or traditional Chinese medicine session to your Huzhou trip. Hangzhou has excellent international-standard medical services, about 1.5 hours from Huzhou.
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