Time Like Water—AAAAA-rated Wuzhen

Wuzhen, located at the northern end of Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, lies in the fertile center of the Hangjiahu Plain. It is one of China’s first top ten historical and cultural towns, one of the top ten charming towns in China, a nationally recognized beautiful environment town, and a national AAAAA scenic area, known as "China’s Last Watertown Family." The town covers an area of 79 square kilometers, with an urban area of 2.5 square kilometers. Its cross-shaped inland water system divides the town into four blocks: East, South, West, and North, known as "Dongzha, Nanzha, Xizha, and Beizha." Currently, Dongzha and Xizha are open for visitors. Dongzha Scenic Area ● Features: Complete watertown style with a strong sense of local life, distinctive handicraft workshops and traditional shops, and many specialty exhibition halls. The scenic area is small but exquisite, ideal for visitors with limited time to experience the watertown charm. ● Attractions: The former residence of Mao Dun, where he was born and spent his childhood and youth; traces of his works such as "Lin’s Shop" can be found here. The Jiangnan Hundred Beds Museum houses representative antique beds from the Ming and Qing dynasties and modern times, with the museum’s treasure "Thousand-hour Labor Bed" taking 1,000 hours to craft. The Jiangnan Woodcarving Museum features camphor wood carvings like the main beam depicting Guo Ziyi’s birthday tribute and ginkgo wood carvings of Maitreya Buddha. At Hongyuantai Dyeing Workshop, visitors can see the process of drying blue printed fabric; Wuzhen is one of the original birthplaces of blue printed fabric. ● Performances: Includes intangible cultural heritage shows such as tall-pole boat performances, Huagu opera, and shadow puppetry. Xizha Scenic Area ● Features: Covering 4.92 square kilometers and composed of twelve islands, it is a "sightseeing plus leisure experience" ancient town scenic area, perfectly blending sightseeing and vacation functions. The area is better preserved and developed, with harmonious integration of people, environment, nature, and architecture. Famous historical sites, handicraft workshops, and classic exhibition halls make it memorable, and the night scenery is magnificent. ● Attractions: The Caomuben Color Dyeing Workshop and Hongyuantai Dyeing Workshop in Dongzha preserve traditional blue printed fabric techniques, with fabric drying yards. Wuzhen Post Office, built with brick and stone, has a Western style and a message wall covered with postcards. Xizha Street is one of the main commercial streets, featuring attractions such as the natural dyeing workshop, grand theater, art gallery, post office, Guandi Temple, popular tea houses, and Bailian Temple. ● Experience Activities: Visitors can enjoy open-air old movies, night patrols, storytelling sessions, Huagu opera, and cormorant fishing. Wuzhen Travel Guide: Transportation ● High-speed rail + bus: Visitors from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai are advised to take the high-speed train to Tongxiang Station, transfer to bus K282 to Wuzhen Bus Station, then switch to bus K350 directly to the scenic area. The whole journey takes about 1.5 hours. ● Self-driving: Navigate to "Wuzhen Xizha No.1 Parking Lot," with a 24-hour cap of 20 yuan and ample parking spaces. ● Night tour shuttle: Night buses run directly from Hangzhou/Shanghai, suitable for visitors who want to enjoy the tranquility of the ancient town early the next morning. Ticket Information ● Dongzha: Tickets start at 110 yuan. ● Xizha: Tickets start at 150 yuan; Xizha night tour tickets start at 100 yuan (opens at 18:00); combined tickets for East and West Zha cost 190 yuan (valid the same day), half price for students; visitors with the surname Li have no discount, but wearing Hanfu grants free entry to some venues. ● Wucun: Tickets start at 100 yuan. ● Wuzhen World Internet Technology Museum: Tickets start at 50 yuan. ● Muxin Art Museum: Tickets 20 yuan, closed on Mondays. Must-See Attractions Dongzha (Pristine Watertown) ● Mao Dun’s Former Residence: Original bluestone courtyard and study room, allowing visitors to feel the literary master’s youth. ● Hongyuantai Dyeing Workshop: Hands-on experience with blue printed fabric tie-dyeing; the blue and white fabrics hanging in the drying yard make excellent photo backgrounds. ● Caishen Bay Tall-Pole Boat Performance: Boatmen perform "water acrobatics" in narrow waterways, starting punctually at 10:30 daily. Xizha (Modern Watertown Aesthetics) ● Muxin Art Museum: Minimalist architecture blending literature and art, with a stepped library built by the water, perfect for quiet reading. ● Bailian Pagoda Night View: Climb the tower to overlook the canal lights; the tower lights up after 19:00, reflecting on the water like a glazed painting. ● Rowboat Night Tour: Shared boat 60 yuan/person, private boat 360 yuan; as the boat passes under bridges, the boatwoman hums Wu dialect tunes, with the interplay of lights and oars enchanting the heart. Hidden Experiences ● Morning Mist at the Water Market: From 6:30 to 8:00 AM, locals row boats selling fruits and vegetables, blending the smoke and fire atmosphere with light mist. ● Lingshuiju Garden: The largest garden in Xizha, with the Mao Dun Memorial Hall hidden deep in bamboo groves, offering a quiet and scenic spot with few visitors. Itinerary Planning One-Day Express Highlights ● Morning (Dongzha): Caishen Bay → Hongyuantai Dyeing Workshop → Mao Dun’s Former Residence → Jiangnan Hundred Beds Museum (about 2.5 hours). ● Afternoon (Xizha): Muxin Art Museum → Zhaoming Academy → Old Post Office to send postcards → Bailian Pagoda. ● Evening: Rowboat night tour → Bar street for a drink (recommend "Time Like Water" wine bar). Two-Day In-Depth Tour ● Day 1: Cultural tour of Dongzha, enjoy Xizha night view in the evening, stay at a waterside guesthouse in Xizha (recommend Tong’an Inn, with river views from the window). ● Day 2: Early morning water market experience → visit Lingshuiju → head to Wucun countryside for fruit picking (with tie-dyeing and farming experiences). Accommodation Suggestions ● Ultimate Experience: "Wangjinli Hotel" inside Xizha, including morning tea experience; enjoy tranquility after night tours end, from 800 yuan/night. ● Cost-effective Choice: "Muyun Chunshu" guesthouse cluster outside the scenic area, 5 minutes’ walk to Xizha, with smart home and butler shuttle services, 200 yuan/night. Food Recommendations ● Dingsheng Cake: Freshly steamed and sold at "Jinji Pastry Shop" in Xizha, with dense red bean paste filling, symbolizing "success in imperial exams," 3 yuan each. ● Shredded Radish Cake: The most authentic stall next to Qian Changrong Restaurant in Dongzha, crispy outside and tender inside, best with spicy sauce, 3 yuan each. ● Scholar’s Lamb Noodles: A must-try in Xizha, tender and non-gamey lamb, rich white broth, 42 yuan per bowl. ● Sanbai Liquor: Free tasting at Gaogongsheng Distillery, with a mellow rice fragrance; small jars available as souvenirs. Seven, Practical Tips ● Avoid Peak Times: Enter before 7:00 AM to enjoy the deserted bluestone paths and morning mist. ● Free Services: Full Wi-Fi coverage in the scenic area, AR audio guides accessible by scanning QR codes; luggage can be sent free to hotels. ● Pitfall Warning: Be cautious buying stinky tofu inside the scenic area (15 yuan/portion), not as authentic as Changsha’s; tricycle rides in Nanzha cost 50 yuan, but it’s only a 15-minute walk. Wuzhen is located on the southeast coast and has a typical subtropical monsoon climate, warm and humid with distinct seasons. The best travel seasons are spring and autumn, with comfortable temperatures and beautiful scenery. Summer is also a good time to visit for night views.