Zhouzhuang description · Description in Zhouzhuang
All Destinations | Europe | Asia | North America | Africa | South America | Oceania | Hotels
Description in Zhouzhuang
Description in Zhouzhuang
Zhouzhuang, known as Zhenfang Lane in ancient times, is located southeast of the city of Suzhou and to the Southwest of Kunshan. I In the Spring and Autumn Period, Zhouzhuang was a part of the King of Wu and called Yaocheng. It was called Zhouzhuang after ZhouDigong donated more than 200 acres to the local Quanfu Temple during the Yuan Dynasty (1860). By the mid-Yuan Dynasty, Wanshan Shen was using its superior geographical advantage to do trade, hence, Zhouzhuang became a distribution center of food, silk, ceramics, arts and crafts in the south of China. It was officially named Zhouzhuang town on the beginning of Qing Dynasty.
The ancient town, which has a history of more than 900 years, still retains the style and pattern of its ancient village. Its most famous attractions are Fu’an Bridge, Double Bridge and Shen's Hall of Residence. Fu’an Bridge is the only remaining structure that made a connection between bridge and house. Zhouzhuang is surrounded and divided by lakes and rivers, 14 stone bridges cross the rivers, showing distinctive views of the water-town. Double Bridge connected by two bridges as a whole. Stone Bridge was built in Ming Dynasty. It is firm and simple, and composed by a stone arch bridge and a beam bridge. The Stone Bridge, likes a lock, tightly connects the north-south River and Silver Band River. The Hall of Shen’s Residence is Qing-style. The overall structure looks very rigorous and the parts of the hall have different scenery. In addition, there are Quanfu Temple (Buddhist) and Chengxu Temple (Taoist) and other religion sites. The whole town connected to the bridges and streets, all houses were built on the river. The boat gently rocking and green shadow whirling on the bank of river. When you visit it, you will feel you are in a picture. Overseas newspapers called Zhouzhuang as "China's first water village".
“Small bridge, Flowing water, people” is the special characteristics of Zhouzhuang. Every family has its own pier in the water town. There is a proverb in Zhouzhuang is the “sedan chair through into the front door and the boat through the home gone”. “The boat through the home gone” means that there is a stream flows in the yard of the Hall of Zhang’s Residence. There is a big pool in Zhang’s Residence which used unloading in the past.
There is no seasonality in Zhouzhuang’s tourism, but you had batter not to go there on National Day and Labor Day. Because there will be over-crowing and you hardly move in the narrow alley and bridge. If you stay there, don't miss the nightfall and morning. Because you will feel the simple and original beauty of Zhouzhuang.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Zhouzhuang
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Zhouzhuang - updated May 2024
SAVE up to 75% on Last Minute deals! Search for discount Zhouzhuang hotels, motels, apartments, hostels, guest accommodations and vacation resorts. Book now and pay at the hotel. Instant email confirmation!
>>> SEARCH FOR DEALS <<<
WHERE TO TRAVEL NEXT IN 2020
Zhouzhuang Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.