Due to the geographical features of the southern area of Yangtze River, which is known as Jiangnan, rivers lay everywhere. Not only does Jiangnan contain beautiful scenery, it is also famous for its rich culture, architecture and transportation history. However, the fast growth of the economy destroyed the heritage of this traditional water town culture and many examples of ancient architecture are facing the risk of being destroyed. The traditional culture has gradually been neglected, and its status eroded. Because of this, people have focused on ancient poetry, paintings, and craftwork; while in modern masterpieces, all kinds of elements of Jiangnan culture are depicted through modern elements.

This study analyzes the form and organizational structure of elements of Jiangnan culture, classifies and sorts them, summarizes the types of Jiangnan water town elements used in metalworking, and classifies the characteristics of water town elements in Jiangnan. This research is divided into four steps: "cultural extraction", "symbol transformation", "transformation process" and "creative design". Through the analysis of the above four stages (collectively called "Suggestions on transforming the Jiangnan water town into metalworking design mode by buildings"), the derivation of design can help designers to clarify their design direction, gather design concepts, and awaken people's love for the Jiangnan water town.