Wuzhen Town, in Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, has stood on the riverbanks for nearly 2,000 years. On both sides of a slabstone-paved street stand pubs, restaurants, pawnshops, weaving and dyeing establishments, and other businesses, all housed in wooden structures of brown. Rivers and creeks spanned with stone bridges in various designs flow through the town, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal passes by.
Interesting story about "archway"
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420 - 581), Crown Prince Liang Zhaoming once studied at Wuzhen. The prince is famous for his Literary Selections by Zhaoming, a milestone in the history of Chinese literature, and the town of Wuzhen built a memorial archway to commemorate his stay there and has kept it well preserved.
Sites must see
Wu Zhen is famous for its natural beauty and many talented people in history. Some historical and cultural sites include the Wenchang Pavilion, the Xiuzhen Taoist Temple, the ancient stage, the mansion of a member of the Imperial Academy, and the former residence of Mao Dun, a great master of contemporary Chinese literature.
Former Residence of Mao Dun
Mao Dun is a famous literature Writer in modern China, with novel of "Midnight", etc. literary works. His former home is located in the middle part of Guan Qian Street of the town, where he had his happy childhood. The home is a traditional Chinese style house built in Qing Dynasty.
Xiu Zhen Guan
Xiu Zhen Guan is a Taoist temple which is built in Xian Ping Yuan period of Bei Song Dynasty. It is one of three famous Taoist temples in South Bank in Yangtze River.
Xiu Zhen Guan Stage
The stage is built in 1749. It is sitting back on a major river of the town and facing a plaza. In the ancient time, farmers around the town came to watch plays by rowing boat. While a play was going on, boats were floating on the river.
Pavilion
There is a length of 1000 meters wriggling corridor along the bank of a river, which demonstrate a particular charming of towns in south Bank of Yangtze River.
Local Housing
An architectural complex that is a legacy of Qing Dynasty reflects local architectural style and humanity.
Aged Qingko Tree
There is a gingko tree over 1000 years old in the town, which is a living witness of the history of the town.
Traditions still alive
Tradition is still very much alive in Wuzhen. In addition to flower-drum opera, shadow-puppet shows, and temple fairs, Wuzhen also attracts visitors with its time-honored art of making indigo-dyed printed calico.
In ancient times, indigo-dyed printed calico was used for curtains, scarves, and tablecloths in every household in the countryside of Zhejiang Province. Today, it is still common to see old women in indigo-blue gowns leisurely operating spinning wheels or looms at weaving workshops in the old lanes of Wuzhen, while the squeaks of the looms resound throughout the lanes. Carrying on this tradition has become a part of the lives of the old women.
Rain days is best
Wuzhen is at its best on rainy days. Strolling with an umbrella along an old lane past the centuries-old wooden houses and seeing the rain flow off the engraved eaves that cover the doorways is an amazing experience. The falling raindrops bring ripples on the river surfaces, while boats travel to and from. The waterside pavilions and corridors and the arched bridges, all shrouded in drizzle, make up a charming scene.
Friends in Wuzhen
People in Wuzhen live a simple life. Many of them breed silkworms and raise chrysanthemums, and they have mostly retained the tradition of buying fruit and vegetables from trade boats through the windows of their waterside houses. They benefit from an inherited harmony of man and nature and enjoy the pleasing living environment that comes from social progress.
Efforts have been made by government
In May 1999, the local government invested 200 million yuan for maintaining and improving the town's environment. The project was to be completed within five years, and the first phase, with an investment of 80 million yuan, was completed by the end of 2001.
While taking care to retain the town's original look, efforts have been made in the treatment of the water environment, the renovation of public toilets, the installation of outdoor lighting, and the management of the sanitation and appearance of the town. A clean, beautiful environment has thus been ensured.
Art work suggest to buy
For convenience in transporting the cloth, the weaving workshops and dyeing workshops are usually on the same street, only a few doors from each other. At the dyeing workshop, the cloth is soaked and air-dried again and again to produce white flowers on a blue background. The raw material for dye printing is Eupatorium fortunei, a herb that turns into indigo after being fermented and precipitated.
Folk custom
Wu Zhen boasts its prosperous past and simple lifestyle. Tongxiang's unique folk custom, such as Boxing Boat, Hua Gu Opera with local character, Shadow Play and Gathering Pilgrim, show the rich tradition of the locality!
Local food suggest to try
Visitors can try the famous local food Steamed Pork Slices with Glutinous Rice Flour Wrapped in Lotus. Travelers can also chooes to dine at one of the local's home, provided you know some Chinese. Food is simple but dining at a casual Chinese family's home may provide a quite different experience.
Getting there
By highway
Shanghai-Wuzhen
On weekends or some major festivals, there are special-line buses departing from Shanghai Hongkou Football Stadium at 8:00 am or Shanghai Stadium at 7:50, 8:45 am for Wuzhen. Shanghai Xiqu Bus Station also has some bus connections to Wuzhen and the ticket price is 30 yuan per person.
Hangzhou-Wuzhen
There are no direct buses running between Hangzhou and Wuzhen, Visitors want to travel Wuzhen via bus journey has to make a transfer at Tongxiang.
Nanxun-Wuzhen
Buses from Nanxun to Jiaxing all passing through Wuzhen.
Local Transportation
Rickshaws and taxis are the main transportation means in Wuzhen.