If you only have one day in Nanxun, be sure to save the best few hours for the evening. At this time, Nanxun is quiet and gentle, using just one night banquet to add a lively atmosphere to the ancient town, a sense of everyday life that other water towns simply don't have. Before truly stepping into Nanxun's night, visit Xiaolianzhuam between 4:30 and 5:00 PM, right before it closes.

This was the private garden of Liu Yong, the wealthiest man of his time. It's bustling during the day, but by this hour, most visitors have left, and the garden suddenly falls silent. Standing inside, you'll briefly feel like you own the place.

You don't need to do anything at all; just lose yourself in its poetic scenery and enjoy a leisurely moment. After leaving Xiaolianzhuang, we boarded a boat at the nearby Xiaolianzhuang Pier. The ride takes about twenty minutes.

Nanxun from the water looks completely different than from the streets. Sitting on the boat, you escape the crowds entirely, becoming part of the scenery yourself, while enjoying a Nanxun that belongs only to you. Drifting along the river, you watch the old houses on both banks light up.

This stretch of water isn't long, but it's enough to etch the Nanxun nightscape into your memory. A few steps after disembarking brings you to Baijianlou, the absolute highlight of Nanxun's night views. Legend has it that these hundred-odd old houses were built by Dong Fen, Minister of Rites in the Ming Dynasty, for his female relatives.

Today it is the best-preserved riverside residential cluster in Jiangnan. Every household here hangs red lanterns at their door, and the warm glow falls onto the water, stretching into long red reflections. This is the perfect time for a slow walk along the river.

The night here is so quiet it doesn't feel like a scenic area; it feels more like someone's backyard. Where else but Nanxun could you find such ease? Next, we headed to Yiyuan Garden for a feast.

"Nanxun Night Banquet" is an immersive live performance, and the ancient town's signature night tour attraction. Once the show begins, you can watch performers in traditional costumes dance gracefully on the water stage at Yiyuan, and see a stunning flying phoenix performance. There's no fixed stage for the entire show; you can follow the actors through the garden, discovering new performances at every turn.

The show lasts about an hour. When you leave Yiyuan afterward, the night in Nanxun has deepened, but your heart will feel full. Walking along the water in Nanxun, you won't just feel like a tourist; it feels more like dreaming back to childhood. And by joining the Nanxun Night Banquet, you truly step into the Nanxun of a thousand years ago.