One of the best-preserved Jiangnan water towns, Wuzhen is a lattice of stone canals, arched bridges and black-tiled houses south of the Yangtze — especially atmospheric after dark when lanterns glow on the water.
History & culture
Settled for over a thousand years along the Grand Canal trade network, Wuzhen prospered on silk, rice wine and indigo cloth, and was the birthplace of the writer Mao Dun. Today it hosts an international theatre festival.
What to see & do
- ◆The lantern-lit East and West Scenic Zones at night
- ◆Boat rides through the canals
- ◆Indigo cloth-dyeing workshops
- ◆The Mao Dun former residence
- ◆A traditional rice-wine distillery
What to eat
- ●Wuzhen white rice wine
- ●Braised 'grandma's' pork (gusao bing)
- ●Sauced lamb and stinky tofu snacks
Getting there
About 1–1.5h by bus or car from Hangzhou or Suzhou; the nearest high-speed rail is Tongxiang station, then a short bus ride.
Avoid the pitfalls
- The West Zone has separate (and pricier) night tickets — plan whether you'll stay overnight.
- Staying inside the scenic zone lets you enjoy it after the day crowds leave.
- It's polished and ticketed rather than 'undiscovered' — set expectations accordingly.
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