The quaint Zhenshe Ancient Town is brimming with a lively, local atmosphere

The charm of Zhenshe Ancient Town lies in its relative tranquility, likely due to the lack of commercialization and the small number of visitors. It's a place where you can stroll and relax in peace! Along the riverbank, there are many teahouses~ The local ecology is largely preserved, with riverside shops run by locals who have lived here for generations, closely tied to their daily lives. Zhenshe boasts numerous historical sites, particularly the Ci Yun Temple Pagoda, an ancient pagoda from the Ming Dynasty, which is a five-story, octagonal brick and wood pavilion-style tower; and the Yu Ji Bridge, a single-arch stone bridge built during the Qing Dynasty. Together, the pagoda and bridge form the iconic landmarks of Zhenshe Ancient Town. Zhenshe is also known as the home of silk in China. It remains serene as time flows by, unchanged. Walking here, one feels a sense of relaxation, free from over-commercialization, making it a suitable place for a weekend getaway to reminisce about the small town's appearance decades ago. Recommended attractions: Jiangnan's number one hall, Shi Jian Hall. A Qing Dynasty building, with the West Residence and East Garden. The garden in the East Garden, despite its small size, includes rockeries, pavilions, and a hall on all four sides, truly deserving of its reputation as a miniature garden. The private residence, with its carved beams and painted rafters, as well as brick carvings, stone carvings, and wood carvings, is breathtaking. Ci Yun Temple Pagoda & Yu Ji Bridge The large bridge in front of Ci Yun Temple is a rare sight in the ancient towns of Jiangnan with its wide river surface. Standing on the bridge and looking at the Ci Yun Temple Pagoda, one feels a sense of age-old vicissitude as if from another era. ☕️: There are particularly many tea-drinking restaurants in the ancient town, basically one after another, with transparent pricing, ranging from 20-30-40. The coffee shop 'Bangdou' CAFE on Baota Street is highly recommended. The price is around 20, and the environment is simple and rustic, elegant yet fashionable. Additionally, at the very end of Baota Street (the westernmost part), there is an old Suzhou brand, Ren Chang Shun, offering various Suzhou snacks to try. There's also the 'Old Yan Lu Cai Guan' on Baota Street, which closes early due to the large number of people. 🍝🍲🫕 📍: It's very convenient to drive there, just search for 'Zhenshe Ancient Town Tourist Center' in your navigation system. 🅿️: There is a dedicated free parking lot at the entrance, and the parking spaces along 'Zhen Xin Nan Road' are also free, so you can park anywhere.