Wuzhen is one of the renowned ancient towns in the Jiangnan region and a 5A-rated tourist attraction. Located relatively close to Shanghai, it enjoys convenient transportation. The residential buildings along Wuzhen’s streets are predominantly from the Qing Dynasty and are well-preserved. The entire town is laid out with rivers serving as streets, connected by bridges. Various residences and shops are built along the waterways, featuring deep courtyards, century-old houses, river wharves with covered corridors, and arcade-style buildings spanning the streets—a classic Jiangnan scene of “small bridges, flowing streams, and households.” Wuzhen is a historic cultural town; throughout history, it has produced 64 Jinshi (successful candidates in the imperial examinations) and 161 Juren (provincial graduates). Notable figures such as Mao Dun, Shen Zemin, and Yan Duhe were all natives of Wuzhen.
My last visit to Wuzhen was in 2003, when only the East Zone was open to visitors. This area began development in 1999 and officially opened in 2001. The currently popular West Zone had just started construction in 2003 and opened to the public in 2007. On this trip, I stayed exclusively within the West Zone and spent a night there. The West Zone is expansive, covering an area of 4.92 square kilometers, and the river water inside has been filtered.
The scenic area is managed very professionally. All homestays and hotels within the zone are under unified management, and all residents are employees playing specific roles to serve tourists.
Vehicles must be parked in the designated parking lot outside the scenic area. Check-in is handled at the Tourist Service Center, where facial recognition registration allows for unlimited entry and exit during your stay. Upon entering, a shuttle bus will take you to your booked hotel, and electric carts within the scenic area can be used free of charge without limit, making travel very convenient.
There is a Starbucks and a Lawson convenience store at the Tourist Service Center. Dining options within the scenic area are also abundant, and there is a FamilyMart convenience store available.
“Morning Tea Guest” is the unified breakfast venue within the scenic area, featuring over ten different stalls where you can experience a unique breakfast.
If your time is limited, you don’t live in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region, and you plan to visit only one ancient town, Wuzhen should undoubtedly be your top choice.
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