Getting Around Jiashan: A Visitor's Guide
Jiashan County sits in the north of Zhejiang Province, bordering Shanghai to the northeast and Jiangsu to the north, and is administered by the prefecture-level city of Jiaxing. Its county seat is in Weitang Town, and the county is made up of several towns and subdistricts, including Xitang in the north, Yaozhuang in the northeast, Taozhuang in the northwest, Tianning in the southwest, Ganyao in the centre and Dayun in the south. For a visitor, the practical picture is simple: a compact, walkable county seat, a well-connected high-speed rail station, and a local bus network that links the stations to the towns and the popular water town of Xitang.
Rail: Two Stations, Two Very Different Roles
Jiashan is served by two railway lines, the Hu-Kun Railway and the Hu-Hang High Railway, and it is important not to confuse the two stations that serve them.
- Jiashan South Railway Station (嘉善南站) is the high-speed rail station and the one most visitors will use. It is the nearest high-speed station to Xitang, and there is no "Xitang Station" on the high-speed network.
- Jiashan Station (嘉善站) is a separate station serving regular K-trains. It is not the same as Jiashan South, and local bus K210 serves it.
High-speed trains connect Jiashan South with major cities in the region, including Hangzhou East, with frequent daily departures. Because the station sits outside the centre, plan on a bus or taxi for the final leg into town or on to Xitang.
Buses: The Backbone of Local Travel
Local buses are the most useful and cheapest way to move between the rail stations, the county seat and the towns. Fares are low and paid on board.
- Bus K222 is the key route for visitors: it runs between Jiashan South Station and Xitang Scenic Area, terminating at the scenic area about a five-minute walk from the old town entrance. Departures follow a posted timetable rather than a constant stream, so check times before you set out. The fare is ¥2.
- Buses K215 and K216 also run from Jiashan to Xitang, and are useful if you arrive by train into Jiashan rather than by direct coach.
- Bus K210 serves Jiashan Station, the regular-rail station.
For the return trip from Xitang to Jiashan South, the last K222 of the day departs in the late evening, but schedules change — verify locally before relying on a late bus.
Coaches and Longer-Distance Connections
Xitang is also reachable by long-distance coach, which can be simpler than juggling a train and a local bus. Xitang Bus Station (西塘汽车站), also known as Jiashan North Bus Station (嘉善北站), receives coaches from Hangzhou's Jiubao Coach Center, with the drop-off about a five-minute walk from the old town. Coaches also run from Hangzhou East Railway Highway Bus Station. Return coaches from Xitang to Hangzhou stop running in the late afternoon to early evening, so plan your day around the last departure.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis fill the gaps where buses are infrequent or where you are carrying luggage. The most common visitor trip is between Jiashan South Station and Xitang, which is a straightforward taxi ride of roughly twenty to thirty minutes. Taxis are also the fallback if you miss the last bus or coach — for example, a taxi from Xitang back to Hangzhou is possible, though it costs many times a bus or train ticket. Ride-hailing apps work in the area as they do elsewhere in China, and are a convenient way to summon a car from the stations or the old town.
Walkability
Walking is the main way to experience Jiashan's towns, and especially Xitang. The old town is a compact network of narrow lanes, stone bridges and a long covered waterside corridor, all best explored on foot. Be aware that the stone-paved lanes and bridges are uneven and can be slippery when wet, so wear sensible shoes. Elsewhere, the county seat around Weitang is laid out along ordinary streets and is walkable for short errands, but you will generally want a bus or taxi to cover the distance between the stations, the seat and the outlying towns.
Getting In from the Airport
Jiashan has no airport of its own; visitors arrive via the major airports of the surrounding region, principally Shanghai, Hangzhou or Suzhou, all of which lie within roughly 80 to 95 km of the county. The practical route from any of these is by high-speed rail to Jiashan South Station, then a local bus or taxi onward. From Hangzhou, for example, high-speed trains run from Hangzhou East to Jiashan South in well under an hour, after which you can pick up bus K222 to Xitang or take a taxi. From Shanghai or Suzhou, the same pattern applies: rail to Jiashan South, then a short bus or taxi ride to your destination. Allow extra time on arrival, since the station is some distance from both the county seat and Xitang.
Practical Tips
- Buy bus fares on board; keep small change or use a transport card or mobile payment.
- Check posted bus timetables rather than assuming frequent service, especially in the evening.
- Note the last return buses and coaches from Xitang, and keep a taxi as your backup.
- Don't mix up Jiashan South (high-speed) with Jiashan Station (regular rail).
- Schedules and fares change — confirm locally on the day you travel.