A tranquil view of Meili Ancient Town in Wuxi, Jiangsu province. [Photo by Shen Shenghua/provided to wndonline.cn]

Meili Ancient Town in Meicun town, Wuxi's Xinwu district was recently included in the ninth batch of overseas Chinese international cultural exchange bases in China by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.

A total of 79 bases were included in the list this time. The move aims to promote more cultural exchange activities for returned overseas Chinese and overseas Chinese. Meili Ancient Town was the only place in Wuxi to make the list.

Meicun town, which was known as Meili in ancient times, is the birthplace of Wu culture. The Wu culture, which values morality, literature, pragmatism, and innovation, has been passed down for generations and has brought prosperity to the region.

The town is also renowned for being the "home of the erhu", the traditional Chinese musical instrument often referred to as the "Chinese fiddle". Today, it is home to 18 workshops producing approximately 40,000 instruments a year.

Meicun Erhu Culture Park. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

The recommended travel route including Meili Ancient Town, Meicun Erhu Culture Park, Taibo Temple, and Meicun Erhu Culture Industrial Park can explain the history and development of the erhu and Wu culture.

The streets of Meili Ancient Town opened to the public with a brand-new look in November 2020. With a total investment exceeding 1 billion yuan ($155 million), the area now offers a multitude of entertainment options, including creative cultural products, as well as food and drink, entertainment, shopping, children's amusement and cultural experience facilities.