Destinations: Travel routes for visa-free visitors

The scenic area Xikou in Ningbo.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Editor's Note: Earlier this year, China enacted a policy that means eligible visitors or businesspeople traveling in the Yangtze River Delta area - those arriving in Shanghai, Hangzhou or Nanjing - will automatically qualify for a 144-hour visa-free stay that can be used to facilitate travel elsewhere or to explore the region. For those arriving in Hangzhou for the G20 summit who are interested in nearby sightseeing, here are our recommendations:

To the east of Hangzhou: Xikou scenic spot in Fenghua, Ningbo, about 40 km southwest of Ningbo. In recent history, it was home to Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo, making it a treasure house for research into the history of the Republic of China (1912-1949). The scenic area of Xikou is 85 sq km and mainly comprises four attractions - the former residence of the Chiang family, the tomb of Chiang's mother, Xuedou Hill and Tingxia Lake.

To the northeast of Hangzhou: Wuzhen in Jiaxing. Wuzhen is a beautiful area that is representative of Jiangnan (the area south of the Yangtze River) and its old towns. It was established more than 1,300 years ago and is seen as the "last site of waterside households in China". It has also been home to many famous people and is rich in culture and folk customs. It is surrounded by a canal and is crisscrossed by rivers, with an East Gate, South Gate, West Gate and North Gate. It has maintained a number of unique Jiang-nan-style residences that date back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.