Zhouzhuang, known as the foremost of the six major ancient towns in Jiangnan, is characterized by its small bridges over flowing streams, whitewashed walls, black tiles, and distinctive wupeng boats. As someone who has visited Zhouzhuang countless times, here are some tips for you:
1⃣ To reach Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, you can take the high-speed train 🚄 to Kunshan South, then take a taxi or bus 🚌. The bus takes relatively longer. If you're coming from Shanghai or Hangzhou, it's more convenient to take a shared ride, which is also not very expensive. It only takes about 1 hour from Kunshan or Shanghai to Zhouzhuang.
2⃣ Zhouzhuang is still home to many local residents, making it more vibrant and full of life compared to other ancient towns. The essence of Zhouzhuang's life is found in the alleys and edges of the ancient town.
3⃣ When choosing accommodation in Zhouzhuang, you can stay inside the ancient town. Enter through the North Gate of Zhouzhuang (the ancient archway), and the inns on the right-hand side as you enter are quieter 🤫 and more beautiful. Many inns have small alleys filled with flowers and plants, and the prices are relatively cheaper. If you want cheaper prices, staying outside the ancient town is cheaper than inside.
4⃣ There are many accommodations in Zhouzhuang, and the prices are not high during the off-season. Be sure to compare several to choose one with a high cost-performance ratio. For example, the inn we stayed in had an ordinary standard room, and the cost-performance ratio was not very high when we went on a weekday.
5⃣ Zhouzhuang has its own specialties: sock-bottom crisps, grandmother's tea, Wansan pig's trotters, and Ao Zao noodles. Personally, I think the sock-bottom crisps are good, but the Wansan pig's trotters are a bit greasy. You can look for restaurants with high ratings online.
6⃣ The ticket 🎫 for Zhouzhuang is 100 yuan, valid for 3 days. You can enter the ancient town for free before 8 am and after 10 pm. If the lantern festival is over after October 8th, you can enter for free around 8 or 9 pm.
7⃣ There is a San Mao Tea House in Zhouzhuang, a tea house that San Mao once visited. If you like San Mao, you can go and take a card. The consumption is not expensive, 39 yuan per person.
8⃣ There are attractions in Zhouzhuang, such as the former residence of Shen Wansan, Fuan Bridge, and the double bridge Shen Hall. If you are interested, you can visit.
9⃣ Zhouzhuang has daytime and night cruise boats, each with a different feeling. You can take a rowing boat to experience the tenderness of the water town.
1⃣0⃣ If you want to take good photos, you must wear the right clothes. You can wear Hanfu, cheongsam, new Chinese style, and national style clothes, and bring a small group fan for more feeling.
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