5 Days in Nantong

The Nantong Museum, founded by Zhang Jian in 1905 as China's first public museum, sits by the moat dug in 958; his 1915 hillside residence stands on its south slope, and a night boat loops the water.

1. nantong bowuyuan
2. nantong haohe river

Langshan rises barely 105 m from the Yangtze, its Guangjiao temple founded in 669; Junshan tops the five hills at about 108 m, and the riverside greenway links them.

1. nantong langshan
2. nantong junshan

Zhang Jian, the 1894 top graduate, set up the Dasheng mill in 1895; wheels turned from 1899 and the red-brick works are now the 1895 cultural block, with the old canal-side streets around it.

1. nantong tangzha ancient town
2. nantong dasheng mill

The memorial park where Zhang Jian was buried in 1926 lies south of the city; back on the Haohe, small museums cover the silk-embroidery art of Shen Shou, who died in 1921, and the story of the abacus.

1. nantong seyuan
2. nantong shenshou art museum
3. nantong zhusuan museum

An hour west in Rugao, one of Nantong's county-level cities, the Ming-era water garden of Shuihui pairs ponds and pavilions with the old town streets; return for an afternoon train.

1. nantong shuihui garden