Tourists take a bout tour down a waterway in Nanxun district, Huzhou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Nanxun district, often known for its Nanxun Ancient Town, is located in eastern Huzhou, covering an area of 702 square kilometers and housing a population of 490,000 people (2019 statistics). It has jurisdiction over nine towns and the Nanxun Economic Development Zone.

Located in the central area of the Yangtze River Delta region, the district is strategically positioned as the main window of communication between Huzhou and Shanghai. It is roughly equidistant -- at 100 kilometers -- from Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou. In addition, the No 318 State Road, Huzhou-Haiyan Freeway, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and several other major transportation channels pass through the district.

Nanxun Ancient Town, Huzhou's first national 5A-level tourist attraction, has been labeled as one of the 10 most charming towns in China. With its uniquely preserved ancient water-town style and original Jiangnan-style gardens, the 760-year old water town has been shortlisted as a candidate for entry into the UNESCO world historical and cultural heritage list.