Zhouzhuang, rated by 'National Geographic' as the most beautiful ancient town in China, is truly exceptional
I have visited quite a few water towns, but Zhouzhuang remains my favorite.
The layout of the ancient town is compact, with streets and canals running perpendicular to each other, crisscrossing neatly. This relatively regular pattern makes my stroll more enjoyable; I start with the horizontal streets, finish them one by one, then move on to the vertical ones. After one round, I have covered all the places I intended to visit without getting lost.
Almost every type of street can be found in Zhouzhuang. The wider ones have a canal in the middle, with boats shuttling back and forth, stone embankments on both sides, willows swaying gently, and shops lined up. The narrower ones have a path on only one side, with buildings directly facing the water on the other. From this side of the street, if you're lucky, you might see beautiful women sitting in front of the windows on the first or second floor, dining and chatting elegantly—a lovely sight indeed.
Even narrower are the 'water streets,' where buildings stand back to back on both sides of the canal. Residents facing each other through their windows might even engage in cross-canal communication. Some houses have steps leading down to the water at the back, convenient for mooring boats or washing rice and vegetables in the river. However, since there are no paths along the riverbank, you have to stand on a round arched bridge to get a good view of these water streets.
In Zhouzhuang, my favorite street is called Zhongshi Street. It's not adjacent to the water and is extremely narrow, less than two meters wide, with flagstone paving and shops on both sides. After visiting a Suzhou embroidery shop on the left, you step out, take a few steps, and enter a fan shop on the right. The feeling is wonderful. Compared to the city streets that are hard to cross, it even feels a bit magical.
If you have ample time, you can also venture deeper into the ancient town. Behind the main streets, there are winding alleys with grey bricks, flanked by mottled white walls, as if you have stepped back into ancient times. Occasionally, you pass by a house with closed doors, with banana leaves peeking out from the corner of the wall, arousing curiosity about what lies inside the courtyard.
These streets, large and small, diverse in form and character, converge in this town of less than one square kilometer, making a visit to Zhouzhuang a delightfully interesting experience.
Zhouzhuang, an ancient town located in Kunshan City, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China, is famous for its unique water town style and rich historical and cultural heritage. Zhouzhuang Ancient Town is located at the junction of Kunshan, Wujiang and Shanghai, with a town area of 38.96 square kilometers.
Zhouzhuang, an ancient town in Kunshan City, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China, is famous for its unique water town style and rich historical and cultural heritage. Zhouzhuang Ancient Town is located at the junction of Kunshan, Wujiang and Shanghai.
Zhouzhuang, an ancient town located in Kunshan City, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China, is famous for its unique water town style and rich historical and cultural heritage. Zhouzhuang Ancient Town is located at the junction of Kunshan, Wujiang and Shanghai, with a town area of 38.96 square kilometers.
When you come to Suzhou, Zhouzhuang, the famous ancient town, is not unbelievable. Zhouzhuang is actually located in Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province. It is a Jiangnan town. It is one of the six ancient towns in Jiangnan. It is known as China's first water town. It takes about 1 hour to block the car from the old town of Suzhou. Come to play these days, Suzhou weather is very good, the temperature is suitable, blue sky and white clouds, green mountains and green waters, the air is moist, I obviously feel that the skin is getting better. Entering the ancient town, you can go to the Zhouzhuang Museum at the door first, probably understand the history of Zhouzhuang first, and then you can stroll slowly along the stone road on both sides of the river. There are small businesses on both sides of the road, eating, drinking and having fun. The weather is good, there are few people, and there are landscape paintings everywhere, so beautiful. It is recommended that friends must take a boat to feel it. The rocking boats are all hand-shaking by the local eldest sister. The hull is also made of wood. It is very classical. It is charged according to the boat. A boat is 280 yuan. The main route is outside the ancient town. Finally, I arrived at the former residence of Shen Wansan, the richest man in the south of the Yangtze River. Then return along the original road, the whole journey is about 80 minutes, the big sister who rocked the boat along the way will explain, and will also sing Jiangnan songs. Shen Wansan's former residence can take a good look, three in and three out, pass through the copper money hole, and then touch the richest hand of wealth, walking on the copper road, it means getting rich. I sincerely suggest that you must not go on holidays. The people in Wuyi have no experience at all. You must go in the spring and autumn festivals in the week. It really feels very good to take a stone road and take a boat.
Zhouzhuang is worth a visit. When you come to Suzhou, you will definitely think of visiting the surrounding ancient towns. When you mention the ancient town of Suzhou, you will definitely think of Zhouzhuang. When I left, I read the online reviews and strategies. I really said everything. I think it’s better to experience it yourself and see it for real. Go straight to Zhouzhuang early the next morning in Suzhou. Come into Dezhuang, walk along the river and enjoy the scenery of Zhouzhuang. At the same time, arrange the route according to the layout of the two horizontal and vertical shafts in Zhouzhuang in your brain, and miss a horizontal or vertical as little as possible. On the basis of arranging the marching route, the important punching points introduced in the guide should also be activated and matched with the actual attractions. For example, the shape of the key, the Zhouzhuang sound of the double bridge at home and abroad, "the car from the door forward, the boat from the home" Zhang Hall, the magnificent treasure pot home Shen Hall, the charming rocking boat in the south of the Yangtze River, of course, there are writers Sanmao patronized Sanmao teahouse. Especially worth mentioning is that the female boss of Sanmao Tea House is particularly hospitable and left a good impression on us.
After more than ten years, I came to Zhouzhuang again, and I felt that Zhouzhuang still seemed to be in memory, and it felt different. But the same thing is that people in Zhouzhuang are still so enthusiastic ❤️ This time I brought a dog 🐶. Every restaurant is very 🧑🤝🧑. It is very good for dogs. Zhouzhuang's night view 🎑 is still as beautiful as in memory. During the Spring Festival holiday, I had a great time in Zhouzhuang for three days and two nights.
The first time I came to Zhouzhuang, I chose to stay in Zhouzhuang Scenic Area for one night at night. I visited the night view and took a cruise. Zhouzhuang's cruise was very cost-effective and the night view was beautiful. It was worth experiencing. I went shopping for a long time the next day and rushed to the next stop. Overall, I liked Zhouzhuang very much!
The price is super high, it is worth a visit, the Jiangnan water town is full of charm. Experience the customs of Nanjiang water town.