乌镇水乡

Synopsis

Overview

Wuzhen, located in Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, China, lies in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta. It is a classic ancient water town of southern China, often hailed as "China's Last Waterfront Community." As a National 5A-level Tourist Attraction and the permanent site of the World Internet Conference, Wuzhen perfectly blends the serene charm of a millennia-old town with...

Overview

Wuzhen, located in Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, China, lies in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta. It is a classic ancient water town of southern China, renowned as "China's Last Water-Bound Household." As a National 5A Tourist Attraction and the permanent site of the World Internet Conference, Wuzhen perfectly blends the serene charm of a millennia-old town with the convenient vitality of modern civilization. Its streets are formed by rivers, connected by bridges, with houses built along the waterways, integrating the water and town into one. It has preserved the complete appearance and layout of a water town from the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China era, making it an excellent destination to experience Jiangnan culture and water town life.

History

Wuzhen's history can be traced back over 7,000 years to the Majiabang Culture. During the Spring and Autumn period, it was a border area between the Wu and Yue states. The Wu state garrisoned troops here to defend against Yue, hence the name "Wu Garrison" (Wu Shu). It began to be called "Wuzhen" during the Xiantong era of the Tang Dynasty, with its historical and cultural lineage continuing unbroken. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal runs through the town, making it an important commercial and distribution hub historically. Wuzhen has long been a gathering place for talented individuals, nurturing luminaries such as literary giant Mao Dun (Shen Yanbing), political activist Shen Zemin, and renowned writer Mu Xin. Having weathered the vicissitudes of time, and under the guidance of scientific preservation and development principles, the ancient town has retained the original living atmosphere of Dongzha (East Scenic Zone) while pioneering the "integrated property development, composite diversified operation" model of Xizha (West Scenic Zone), becoming a model for ancient town preservation.

Main Attractions

The Wuzhen scenic area is mainly divided into Dongzha (East Scenic Zone), Xizha (West Scenic Zone), Wucun (Wu Village), and the not yet fully developed Nanzha (South Scenic Zone) and Beizha (North Scenic Zone). Among them, Dongzha and Xizha are the core touring areas.

• Dongzha (East Scenic Zone): Primarily focused on sightseeing, it has a stronger living atmosphere. It retains more original residents and traditional handicraft workshops, allowing visitors to experience the daily life of water town inhabitants up close. Main attractions include Mao Dun's Former Residence, Jiangnan Hundred-Beds Museum, Hongyuantai Dyehouse, Jiangnan Folk Customs Museum, Mu Xin's Former Residence Memorial Hall (Wanqing Xiaozhu), etc. Strolling along the ancient streets of Dongzha, one can see elders sitting by the river, smell the aroma of Gusao cakes, and experience a more rustic ancient town charm.

• Xizha (West Scenic Zone): Renowned for leisure vacations and night tours, it is uniformly managed by Wuzhen Tourism Co., Ltd., with well-developed facilities and particularly famous night scenery. The scenic area is larger, crisscrossed by waterways and featuring as many as 72 bridges. Besides cultural sites like Zhaoming Academy, Bailian Pagoda Temple, Three-Inch Golden Lotus Museum, and Wuzhen Grand Theatre, it is also dotted with various boutique hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and artistic shops. Taking a night boat ride on a rowing boat is the best way to appreciate the essence of Xizha, with lights from both banks reflected dreamily in the water.

• Wucun (Wu Village): Adjacent to Xizha, it is a high-end rural leisure resort area offering an all-inclusive package experience, suitable for family trips to enjoy pastoral pleasures.

• Mu Xin Art Museum: Located within the Xizha scenic area, next to the Wuzhen Grand Theatre, it was designed by disciples of the architectural master I. M. Pei. It displays the artistic and literary works of Mr. Mu Xin, representing a clever dialogue between modern art and the ancient town's风貌.

Practical Information

The following is a summary of core practical information for traveling to Wuzhen.

References

1. Wuzhen Tourism Co., Ltd. Official Website. Scenic Area Introduction. https://www.wuzhen.com.cn
2. Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism. Wuzhen Scenic Area. http://ct.zj.gov.cn/art/2021/8/20/art_1229111364_1751076.html
3. Tongxiang Municipal People's Government. Discover Tongxiang - Historic Sites - Wuzhen. http://www.tx.gov.cn/col/col1229434825/index.html