This is the town within the western gates of Tongxiang. Once you step into the place, you will understand why it is one of the UNESCO sites. This water township is very well preserved. Buildings are well maintained and retain the original architecture. While commercial shops and restaurants line up the river banks, you will still get a good sense of what the old town would have looked like. One must certainly see the place both in the daytime as well as at night. If you can afford the time, choose to stay within the town and start venturing at dusk. That is when the day trippers have not made their way into the park. It is quieter and you can just take your time to soak it all in. In my opinion, the night lights are the highlights and are not to be missed. You can just spend your entire time with the gates as there is plenty to eat, shop and do. But if you wish to go out for a meal, that is also within walking distance. For those who enjoy the clubbing scene, there are also pubs at the end section where you can get a good mix of live bands performing pop and folk songs. Entrance fee for the West park is 150 RMB. If you are staying within the park, you will get a 20% discount for the entrance fee.

The west part of town is much bigger than the east, but both are overly crowded. There is perhaps a better chance of finding a somewhat quieter space in the west simply because it's much bigger. If you only have time to see one of the two sides, this one is probably the one to see explore, again because it's much bigger. However, if you're looking for more authentic and less gentrified, than the east side is perhaps better as the west is almost "too perfect". Come early to avoid the crowds or stay the night inside.