Zhouzhuang 周庄古镇Zhōuzhuāng Gǔzhèn

Why go to Zhouzhuang

A canal town of old houses, lanes and stone bridges in Kunshan, usually counted as the most famous of the Jiangnan water towns. Its Twin Bridges became widely known after a painting by Chen Yifei was presented to Deng Xiaoping in 1984, and two great houses, Shen Hall and Zhang Hall, are national monuments. It is heavily visited and commercialised, so go early or stay overnight.

The story

Shen Hall was built in 1742 by a descendant of the Ming tycoon Shen Wansan, a Zhouzhuang merchant of legendary wealth; legend credits his fortune to a magic treasure bowl. Zhang Hall is a house of the mid-15th century with a stream flowing through its grounds.

What to see at Zhouzhuang

• Twin Bridges 双桥: A stone arch and a square bridge crossing at right angles over two canals, the town's emblem and the subject of the painting that made it famous.
• Shen Hall 沈厅: The large 1742 merchant house of more than 100 rooms in three sections, with a water gate and wharf at the front and a richly carved brick gate tower; the town's most impressive residence.
• Zhang Hall 张厅: A mid-15th-century house with a stream running through its grounds, so that boats could once pull in from the canal.
• Fu'an Bridge 富安桥: A Yuan-dynasty stone bridge of 1355 with small towers at its ends, a good viewpoint over the canal and the busy lanes.
• Quanfu Temple 全福寺: A quiet Buddhist temple on the western edge of town by the Baixian River; land donated to it in 1086 is said to have given Zhouzhuang its present name.

How to visit Zhouzhuang

Enter at the main gate and walk the old streets to the Twin Bridges, then Shen Hall and Zhang Hall, which take about an hour each at an unhurried pace. Half a day is enough for the highlights; a night boat ride on the canals shows the town lit up and much less crowded.

How to get to Zhouzhuang

About 30 km south-east of central Suzhou and 60 km west of central Shanghai, roughly an hour by road from either; buses run from both cities, and a taxi or ride-hailing car is the easiest way.

Where to stay

Stay inside the old town in a small canal-side inn to see Zhouzhuang at dawn and dusk, or in Suzhou or Kunshan if you are just passing through.

What to eat

• Wansan pork knuckle 万三蹄: A slow-braised, sweet-savoury knuckle named after the Ming tycoon Shen Wansan, the town's signature dish.
• Aozao noodles 奥灶面: A Kunshan noodle soup topped with red-braised or fried fish or meat; found in restaurants around the town.

Tips for visiting Zhouzhuang

• Arrive when the gates open or stay overnight: day-trip groups arrive by late morning and the town is very crowded on weekends and public holidays.
• Wear flat shoes for the cobbled lanes; mornings and evenings are much cooler than midday.
• Some houses and boat rides are ticketed separately, so decide what you want before you buy.

Nearby

• Classical Gardens of Suzhou 苏州园林 30 km
  Whole landscapes of rock, water and pavilion folded into a city block
• Wuzhen Water Town 乌镇 50 km
  Stone bridges and lantern-lit canals in a water town that's best after dark
• Former French Concession 原法租界 60 km
  Plane-tree streets, garden villas and shikumen lanes for Shanghai's best city walk
• Shanghai Museum 上海博物馆 60 km
  Ancient Chinese bronzes, ceramics, painting and jade, now shown at Shanghai Museum East
• Yu Garden & City God Temple 豫园与城隍庙 60 km
  A Ming-dynasty garden of rockeries and dragon walls beside a Taoist city temple
• The Bund & Lujiazui Skyline 外滩与陆家嘴 60 km
  1920s banks on one bank of the river, a sci-fi skyline on the other

Also within 30 km: Shanghai Grand View Garden 上海大观园 (under 10 km), Jinxi Ancient Town 锦溪古镇 (under 10 km), Jinze Ancient Town 金泽古镇 (10 km), Retreat & Reflection Garden 退思园 (10 km), Tongli Ancient Town 同里古镇 (10 km), Siben Bridge 思本桥 (10 km).

On the map

Open Zhouzhuang on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Wikipedia (Chinese)