Zhouzhuang Town

城市概覽

Zhouzhuang was known as Zhenfangli in ancient times. In the Spring and Autumn Period, Zhouzhuang was a part of the Kingdom of Wu and called Yaocheng. The town was renamed as Zhouzhuang after Zhou Digong donated more than 200 mu (13.3 hectares) of land to the local Quanfu Temple during the Northern Song Dynasty (1086). By the mid-Yuan Dynasty, the wealthy merchant Shen Wansan was using the town's geographical advantage to do trade, hence, Zhouzhuang became a distribution center for food, silk, ceramics, arts and crafts in the south of China. The town retains the styles and patterns of its ancient past. Its most famous attractions are Fu’an Bridge, Double Bridge, Shen's Residence and Zhang's Residence. Zhouzhuang is surrounded and crisscrossed by lakes and rivers, and no less than 14 stone bridges cross the rivers, giving the town its distinctive appearance. All houses were built on the river banks and every family has its own pier. “Small bridges, flowing water, and people” are the words Chinese people typically use to summarize Zhouzhuang's characteristic features. Administratively, it is part of Kunshan which in turn is part of Suzhou, but it is located right on the border with Shanghai Municipality. There is no seasonality in Zhouzhuang’s tourism industry, but it's probably better not to go there on public holidays when it typically becomes overcrowded and you can hardly move, especially when walking the narrow alleys and bridges. If you stay there overnight, don't miss the vistas at nightfall and in the morning. The local government has a tourism website.

如何抵達

As the transportation is well-developed, it is very convenient to get Zhouzhuang. It is 60 km from Shanghai downtown; 38 km from Suzhou downtown; 30 km from Kunshan downtown.

By car From Shanghai: A9 highway-getting off at Jinze- go about 4 km of 318 State Road-Shangzhou Road- Zhouzhuang From Kunshan: Kunzhou Road-Jinxi-Zhouzhuang, 38 km From Suzhou (via Tongli): Suzhou-Sujia Road-Songling Town- Songbei Road- Pingwang-Huqingping Road-Beiku-Jinjiabei-Zhouzhuang From Suzhou (via Yongzhi):Suhong airport (via Yongzhi and Zhangpu)-Zhouxiang- Kunzhou Road-Dashi-Jinxi-Zhouzhuang,71 km From Zhejiang: Jiaxing exit of the Huhang highway-Sujia Road-Pingwang-Huqingping Road-Beiku-Jinjiabei-Zhouzhuang

By bus Shanghai: 1. Shanghai People Stadium (Shanghai Indoor Stadium, Subway Line 1 and 4). Tel: 24095555. Departure time: 07:00, 08:30, 09:30, 10:10, 10:45, 12:10, 14:00; the price is ¥150 include round-trip fees and visiting tickets ¥120. 2. Hongkou Football Stadium. The No.5 gate. Departure time: 08:15 and 16:15 to return. The price is ¥240 include round-trip fees and enter the tourist area of Zhouzhuang (¥120). In general, the price is reasonable, because the entering fee of Zhouzhuang is ¥160. But it gives you only 5½ hours in the town. It is not enough to enjoy the beauty spot to lots of people. If you go there at night (after 21:30 or even later), you can directly go into it without any payment. It is really a good way to save money. Also, you can get up early the next day and travel around in it, the morning is not crowded, and so you can have a better experience in it. The majority travelers will come after 10:00am. Suzhou: 1. Ferry Terminal. Departure time: 10:40, 14:30. 2. Wuxian bus station. Departure time: 07:15, 9:40, 14:15, 14:20. 3. North bus station. It is a tourist bus. Departure time is 06:45 and 18:00 to return. It comes every half an hour and takes about 60 minutes.

By metro From Shanghai, take a metro train on Line 11 and get off at Huaqiao Station (花

必看景點

The Hall of Shen’s Residence. Built in 1742 and located at the southeast side of Fu’an Bridge, Shen’s house was the private property of the descendant of Shen Wansan, who was the first millionaire of the south of Yantze River in the early Qing Dynasty. His property was envied by the king and he personally funded to repair one-third of the Nanjing Ming city wall. He has many industries in various places, but he always made Zhouzhuang as his foundation. The whole building is Qing-style. Shen’s house occupies an area of more than 2,000 m² (half an acre) and over 100 rooms. It consists of three parts. The first part is the wall of the water gate and pier, which is used by Shen's family moored boats and washed clothes. The middle part includes the gate tower, the tearoom and the main hall. Tea room and main hall are places for serving guests, and handling weddings, funerals and other events. The furnishings in here are all very elegant. The main hall called “Songmao hall” covers an area of 170 m² and up to 6 meters. It carved very vivid figures, beast, and pavilions. The last section is the two-storied dwelling which consists of several buildings which are quite different from the main hall, more comfortable and refined in pattern and atmosphere. The Zhang’s Hall of Residence. It is located to the south of the Double Bridge. Zhang’s house formerly known as “Yishun Hall” which was built by the descendants of XuKui in the Zhengtong era (1436 - 1449) of the Ming Dynasty. It bought by Zhang's family in the early Qing Dynasty. Zhang House has more than 70 rooms and takes up about 1,800 m². Yuyan Hall is the main hall, which is bright, simple, quaint and elegant. Thick west columns of the hall stood upright on a pier at the Phoebe drums, solid as stone, was indeed the legacy of the Ming Dynasty house. There is a river flowing through Zhang’s house that makes Zhang’s house graceful and dapper. The back hall was designed a row of special windows, and through the window and we c

體驗活動

1. Ancient stage (Drama performances, folk songs, ballads, etc.) 2. Zhenfeng Street (the show of tradition handicraft : blacksmith, paper cutting, straw, clay sculpture, spinning, weaving, brewing,) 3. Jubin building (the show of speaking and singing) 4. Water Alley (Osprey fishing show) 5. Zhouzhuang Night (visiting Zhouzhuang at night and appreciating light show) In April, Tea Culture Exhibition (the teas that are Lady Tea, Wedding Rea, etc.) In May, Dragon Boat Festival (visiting ghost boat, dragon-boat race, eating salted egg, dumplings and seasonal fresh fruit, etc) There are many boat tours that will take you all around to see the entire town. A typical boat tour will cost you around ¥20-40.

美食

There are many special snacks in Zhouzhuang and the most famous one is Wansan's pig shank, locally called “Wansan's elbows” or “Wansan's hoof”, which originated in Wansan Shen’s family in the Ming Dynasty. It is commonly eaten when entertaining guests. The other local snacks are Wansan cake, Sesame cakes, peanut cakes, walnut cakes, salt and pepper cake, green cake, tiny cucumber, shrimp and a water vegetable called “Chuncai” commonly used in soup. “Wansan's Family Feast” restaurant located on the Fu’an Bridge is recommended for classical style food and still retains the Ming-style. Specialties include Wansan's pig shank, glutinous rice balls, steamed mandarin fish, steamed eel stew, bass soup with Sh