Zhouzhuang - the Best Water Town in China
Zhouzhuang, a historical canal town located between Shanghai and Suzhou, is one of the most scenic places in China. Its profound cultural background, well-preserved ancient residential houses, elegant water views and local colorful traditions and customs attract people from all over the world. In 1998, Zhouzhuang was included in the Supplementary List of World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Moreover, two years later, the UN Center for Human Settlement awarded Zhouzhuang with the best Example Prize at the Dubai International Living Environmental Improvement Conference. Zhouzhuang is the only city in China to have been given this honor.

Zhouzhuang has more than 900 years of history. However, over these years its architectural style and layout from the Ming and Qing Dynasties has remained intact. This is really rare in China. The tourists attracted by the beauty of Zhouzhuang have included both high-rank officials, UN officials and common citizens.

Shuangqiao (Twin Bridges)
As Zhouzhuang is surrounded and at the same time divided by lakes and rivers, the 14 stone bridges crossing the rivers form eye-catching views in town. Twin Bridges, or the Shide Bridge and Yongan Bridge, in the northeast of the town, are the most famous and are considered as the symbol of Zhouzhuang. The bridges were built during the Wanli reign (1573-1619) of the Ming Dynasty. Shide Bridge lies east-west and has a round arch, while Yongan Bridge goes north-south and has a square arch. Joining each other after crossing the two rivers, Yinzi Creek and Nabeishi River, respectively, the Twin Bridges look like an old-fashioned Chinese key. In 1984, Chen Yifei, a promising contemporary Chinese painter, exhibited 38 of his canvases in a New York gallery owned by Armand Hammer, chairman of the Occidental Petroleum Corporation. One of his works, Memory of Hometown, which depicts the Twin Bridges, drew worldwide attention to Zhouzhuang. The painting was chosen as the design of the first-day cover of the United Nations' postage stamps in 1985.

Fuanqiao Bridge
Located at the eastern end of Zhongshi Street, Fuanqiao Bridge was built in 1355 during the Yuan Dynasty. The unique trait of the bridge is the consummate combination of the single-arch bridge and the bridge towers used as tearooms, restaurants and stores, as well as a venue to appreciate the water views.

The Shen House
Located at the southeast side of Fuanqiao Bridge, the Shen House was built in 1742 as a private property of the descendants of Shen Wansan, the first millionaire in the area south of the Yangtze River in the early Qing Dynasty. The whole complex is of the Qing architectural style. It occupies an area of more than 2,000 square meters and has over 100 rooms divided in three sections. The first section includes the water gate and wharf, where the Shens moored boats, and washed clothes. The middle section includes the gate tower, tearoom, and main hall. The bricks of the gate tower are carved with lively and ingenious figures, which either tell historic stories or express good wishes. The tearoom and main hall, where the owner met his guests, are very elegantly furnished. The last section, which consists of several buildings in a different style, is comfortably furnished. In Datang Tower, a colored sculpture of the legendary Shen Wansan is displayed, while precious cultural relics collected by the family are exhibited in the Xiaotang Tower and Back Hall.

Zhang House
It was built by the Xu family in the Zhengtong reign (1436 - 1449) of the Ming Dynasty and bought by the Zhang family in the early Qing Dynasty. Located to the south of the Twin Bridges, the Zhang House has more than 70 rooms in an area of about 1,800 square meters. The Ruojing River winding through it makes the Zhang House an attractive and graceful residential house with a tranquil courtyard, a pond and various halls.

Milou Tower
Once called the Des' Tavern, Milou Tower perches next to Zhenfeng Bridge situated at the southwest corner of Zhouzhuang. It is famous for being a rallying place of the literati in old times. Numerous poems, songs and stories about Milou Tower have been widely spread around China.

Chengxu Taoist Temple
Standing on Zhongshi Street, on the opposite of the Puqing Bridge, Chengxu Taoist Temple, also known as Shengtang Hall, was built during 1086-1093 in the Song Dynasty. After several expansions, it became one of the most famous Taoist temples in the Yangtze River Delta. In an area of 1,500 square meters, there are masterpieces of Taoist architecture in simple but majestic style, including the Shengdi and Doumu Halls, and the pavilions of Yuhuang, Wenchang and Shengdi.

Besides these historic sites, the local folklore, the traditions and legends of this water town, such as the dragon boat race, the "granny tea" and the Wansan home-style banquet are also indispensable elements of a tour to Zhouzhuang.

There is a Chinese saying: Up in Heaven there’s a Paradise, Down on Earth Suzhou and Hangzhou, and in between Zhouzhuang. All in all, the charm of Zhouzhuang is irresistible.