Called the Venice of the East due to its historic canals, Wuzhen Water Town (乌镇 Wūzhèn) is an amazing Chinese travel destination known for its unique Chinese architectural masterpieces, scenic rivers, colorful festivals, and mouthwatering local cuisine. There is so much to see and do in this beautiful ancient water town that it should feature on any serious traveler’s bucket list. What is Wuzhen Water Town? Wuzhen Water Town, or simply Wuzhen, is an ancient water town in Zhejiang Province, just south of the Yangtze River. The water town falls within a triangle created by three of China’s most well-known cities: Suzhou, Shanghai, and Hangzhou. It is 140km (87 miles) away from Shanghai and 80km (50 miles) away from Suzhou and Hangzhou. Wuzhen was founded in 872 CE, and many of the town’s ancient buildings have remained intact for hundreds of years. Things that make Wuzhen Water Town famous 1. Traditional Chinese architecture Thanks to its well-preserved traditional architecture, visitors to Wuzhen can feel as if they’ve traveled back in time. The region around Wuzhen was extremely prosperous throughout much of its history, and this prosperity is reflected in the beauty of its ancient buildings, which are adorned with elegant traditional wood carvings and stonework. The town also displays its architectural beauty through the numerous stone pathways that tie the ancient houses and canals together. 2. Canals and bridges Wuzhen is called the Venice of the East for a reason. As the name “water town” suggests, the town is crisscrossed by a network of canals. These waterways help connect Wuzhen to the oldest and longest canal in the world, the Grand Canal, which runs beside the town. Wuzhen is also famous for its many picturesque bridges. The most well-known is the Bridge within a Bridge, which is actually made up of two bridges, the Renji Bridge and Tongji Bridge, each of which can be seen through the arch of the other. 3. Local delicacies Reflecting its watery roots, Wuzhen’s most famous local delicacies are fish dishes, particularly baishui fish, which you can eat steamed, fried, or boiled. The town also serves a variety of flavorful local dishes such as the qingtuan (glutinous rice with barley grass), soy sauce mutton, and round gusao baked rolls. You can also enjoy fried fermented tofu, seasoned duck, and ginseng cake. 4. Markets and feasts A visit to any Chinese town isn’t complete without experiencing a local market and partaking in a traditional feast, and Wuzhen is no exception. There is so much to discover in Wuzhen at different times of the year. During the winter, you can enjoy the Long Street Feast, where people sit around a long table for a banquet. In the summer months, you can catch local farmers selling fresh fruits and vegetables from their boats at Wuzhen’s traditional Floating Market. |
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