Zhouzhuang | Experience the Most Gentle Winter Love Song in Jiangnan Water Town
Everyone says that Jiangnan is good, while tourists only cater to the elderly in Jiangnan. Spring water is clear in the sky, painting boats and listening to the rain to sleep. When it comes to Jiangnan, one always thinks of Zhouzhuang.
White walls and black tiles, small bridges and flowing water, blooming flowers on the branches, the sound of paddles and the shadows of lights
Images full of poetic and picturesque elements are unfolding in people's minds.
It is said that there is heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below, separated by Zhouzhuang.
Zhouzhuang, with its profound historical and cultural heritage, beautiful and graceful water town scenery, and simple and gentle Wu Nong dialect, is a dream water town that I will never forget in my heart.
On the weekend, escaping from the city and carrying infinite beautiful imagination of Dongyun Zhouzhuang, I arrived at Zhouzhuang, the first water town in China. A water town every day, a village every night. Within 3 days, I experienced the beautiful water town scenery in both the winter version of "Yanyu Jiangnan" and the "Clear Sky Edition"; Received a deep trip to the countryside, stayed in a local homestay with a unique era, and even enjoyed delicious farmhouse dishes. Let's follow in the footsteps of Leyou and take a look together.
Fragrant flower
Keywords: One of the 50 most worthwhile places for foreigners to visit in China, the world's best charming water town, rated by CNN as one of the "Five Most Beautiful Water Towns in China"“
Although Zhouzhuang is the smallest ancient town among the six major water towns in Jiangnan, although it is small and has all five organs, there is also a lot of content to experience. Our itinerary is 3 days and 2 nights, integrating the cultural and ancient architecture of the ancient town, water town cuisine, intangible cultural heritage experience, rural farmhouse entertainment, etc. We have provided practical suggestions for the best photography points and parent-child play in the scenic area.
Experience the production of Piyi pendants at Wansan Winery
Let's first introduce the characters in the travelogue, mainly composed of Lewan himself (myself), Xiaomo, and Xiaofenghuang. Below, the travelogue begins to unfold in lines
▲ Part 1: The southernmost route ▲? Ancient Town Scenery
Zhouzhuang is located in Kunshan, Suzhou and is one of the six ancient towns in Jiangnan. Zhouzhuang has a long history and is a typical water town in Jiangnan. 60% of the buildings in the town are left over from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with unique cultural landscapes. It is a treasure of Chinese water town culture and Wu local culture. Below, Lexiaojun will introduce a millennium old town in Jiangnan from four aspects: the ancient town's waterways, cultural landscape, internet celebrity check-in, and ancient architectural appreciation.
? Night Ancient Town
When we arrived, it happened to be rainy. Walking in the ancient alleys of Zhouzhuang, rainwater drips onto the bluestone slabs, making a ticking sound, quiet and moving, quite charming. The small bridge, flowing water, and the pink walls and black tiles all contain a cloud of light smoke. You will find that its impression of the ancient town of Jiangnan, which is born by the water, is very beautiful in the scene.
There are many small alleys in the water town, and everyone sleeps by the river. Walking in the ancient town of Zhouzhuang, one needs to slow down because there are too many stories from the past hidden in this small town. A century old stone road, ancient houses built along the river, and hundreds of diverse ancient river ports tell the story of the prosperity that once existed here.
In front of me, these long streets and winding alleys exude a familiar familiarity amidst their simplicity, which is shrouded in a long lost freshness.
The most common way of life is hidden in the alleys of the ancient town, where there is the most authentic background of life. The night in Zhouzhuang is like opening another door in Jiangnan, crossing time and space, and arriving at the beautiful picture of Zhouzhuang's nightlife. After passing through the Nanhu Fishery Market, locals have seen that they have made various fish caught by the banks of the Xianjiang Bay into dried fish and sold them in the market, all of which have a lively atmosphere.
These dried fish and shrimp are very fragrant and have not been refrigerated. After buying them, they are stewed in their own rice cooker. Dried shrimp can be mixed with egg soup. This dish is absolutely fragrant and has a Jiangnan flavor.
Following the water alley, a tall stone bridge casually leans against the shore of the stone bars, with exquisitely carved stone lions on the railing.
Stepping onto the stone bridge, Zhou Zhuang immediately stood in front of you. The streets and ancient houses were scattered and winding, rushing towards you one after another. The water flowing under the bridge was as still as ever. The lights and shadows of the ancient bridge, water alley, and old house intertwined like a painting, reflecting on the river surface. This is the most beautiful night scene in Jiangnan that I have ever seen.
The ancient town of Zhouzhuang preserves more than ten stone bridges from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Among them, Fu'an Bridge is the most famous bridge in Zhouzhuang. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and later rebuilt with funding from Shen Wansi, the younger brother of Shen Wansan. It became a stone arch bridge and was renamed Fu'an Bridge, hoping to be both prosperous and safe.
Fu'an Bridge is the only remaining tower building in Jiangnan. There are four towers around the bridge, and the bridge body is made of exquisite Jinshan granite. The bridge railing and steps are stacked with Wukang stone.
The replacement of the bridge is engraved with auspicious floating patterns. On the four sides of the bridge, there are pavilions with flying eaves and upturned corners. The flying eaves peck high and face each other from afar, like a flying bridge in the pavilion or a house built on the bridge. The combination of the bridge and the building creates a pleasant contrast, making it the crown of the Jiangnan Bridge and the building. It is a symbol of the ancient town of Zhouzhuang.
Standing on the Fu'an Bridge to See the Ancient Town of Shuixiang
The most famous ancient town of Zhouzhuang is Shuangqiao. It is located in the center of the water town and is connected by the Shide and Yong'an bridges. It was built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. With a T-shaped river and two stone bridges, one horizontal and one vertical, it resembles the ancient key bridge, also known as the Key Bridge.
In 1984, American painter Chen Yifei, accompanied by Mr. Yang Mingyi from Suzhou Academy of Painting, arrived at Zhouzhuang by boat. He then created the oil painting "Memories of Hometown" based on the theme of Shuangqiao. This oil painting was later selected as the first day cover of the United Nations and was purchased by Armand Hammer, the Chairman of Western Oil Company in the United States. In November 1984, when he visited China, he gifted it to Deng Gong, causing a wide and profound influence. From then on, Zhouzhuang also became famous worldwide.
On the wall of the Shen Hall, there are photos of the painting site that were gifted at that time.
Under aerial photography, the position of Shuangqiao in the ancient town can be more clearly seen.
Standing on Shuangqiao and Looking at the Ancient Water Town
The night is like water, and the water town is like a painting. Strolling through it, I also become the person in the painting.
Looking at this most legendary world-renowned bridge from different perspectives.
The Old Stone Bridge is built from stone slabs without the use of any steel or cement. The simple mechanical support of the ancients is a testament to the thousands of years of history of these ancient bridges.
The Bao'en Bridge outside the Quanfu Lecture Temple.
There are currently 14 ancient bridges in Zhouzhuang, each with a unique style and unique features. Together, they create a beautiful water town landscape painting of "small bridges, flowing water, and homes".
The Qinglong Bridge near the main entrance of the scenic area is said to be a place where a scholar set off to Beijing for an exam. Passing by this small river, he saw mist rising from the surface, resembling a green dragon soaring away. The scholar believed it was a good omen and indeed achieved the top spot in the imperial examination, so he donated funds and built this stone bridge in his hometown.
The Taiping Bridge is connected by bridges and streets, with deep houses and courtyards, high ridges and eaves, a riverside corridor, arcades crossing the street, bamboo and stone railings, and a water pavilion facing the river, presenting a quaint and tranquil atmosphere.
Zhouzhuang's riverway is the narrowest in the Jiangnan water town, but it is small and exquisite, and concentrated with essence.
The streets in front of Grandma's Bridge are all paved with stones and very narrow. Next to it is the high wall of a residential building. It's very quiet at night, walking on the gravel road will make a crisp sound, which is very interesting.
Under the bright white moonlight, strolling in the water alley, countless swaying boats are all moored by the riverbank of Grandmother Bridge. Quiet streets, dreamy water towns, in the hazy world, are the night scenery of Jiangnan depicted by countless ancient people.
Siwu Jiangge
Zhang Han
The autumn wind rises, and the wooden leaves fly,
The water in Wujiang is full of sea bass.
Three thousand miles away, my home has not returned,
Hate is hard to control, I look up to heaven and feel sad.
Once Zhang Han served as an official in Luoyang. One day, when he saw the autumn wind rising, he remembered the water shield vegetables and sea bass in his hometown of Zhouzhuang. Therefore, he resigned from his position and returned to his hometown, achieving the beautiful talk of "the thought of water shield and sea bass".
Fishing by the shore of South Lake, admiring the autumn moon of South Lake, and savoring the freshness of sea bass, the beauty of Zhouzhuang's scenery has made Zhang Han so persistent that he is indifferent to fame and fortune. Perhaps Zhang Han, who traveled back then to the present-day Zhouzhuang and admired the charming scenery of Zhouzhuang on a moonlit night, must be even more eager to return home.
In winter, Zhouzhuang is peaceful and picturesque. At night, I take a walk to the edge of Nanhu Lake to breathe fresh air. The iconic building of Zhouzhuang, the Quanfu Bridge, is like a beautiful necklace lying on the lake. The calm lake water reflects its beautiful image.
The sailboat shaped lights outline the water town scenery of the ship. The reeds on the Nanhu Autumn Moon Garden boardwalk and the pavilions and water pavilions complement each other, creating an infinite charm of night tours in Jiangnan gardens.
To truly appreciate the charm of the ancient water town, one needs to take a boat ride. The visual experience on the ship is completely different from that on the shore.
There are many upstream water lines in the ancient town, among which the most famous is the water alley amusement line. A ship can accommodate 8 people. The ship sailed out from the pier opposite the Shen Hall and passed through Fu'an Bridge, Taiping Bridge, and Qinglong Bridge along the way; Sitting at the bow of the boat, listening to the singing of the boat girl and the sound of the water stirred by the oars, is the most flavorful way to visit the water town.
The ship slowly moved along the river, with willows lining both sides. Old houses were connected on both sides of the river, with wooden framed windows on white walls and green ivy climbing all around.
The boatman, dressed in a blue printed cloth shirt with a floral collar, leisurely paddles and occasionally hums a piece of "Zhouzhuang Folk Song" to us in Wu Nong's soft language, with a soft and intoxicated melody.
Across the ancient bridges, people from the shore have come one after another. Sitting at the bow of the boat, let your heart soar on the water.
These stone bridges have a variety of shapes, including round arch bridges and square shaped stone beam bridges, with exquisite and charming structures.
? places of historic figures and cultural heritage? Inheritance of Intangible Cultural Heritage Skills
The people of Zhouzhuang are very artistic, and both men and women here can call it handicrafts. Walking on the Zhenfeng Cultural Street, you can see Su embroidery houses, tofu houses, shoe art houses, bamboo weaving houses, nuclear carving houses, wine workshops, earth cloth houses, and banquet art houses... These are all intangible cultural heritage inheritance projects in Kunshan City.
Within the twelve neighborhoods of Zhouzhuang, traditional handicrafts that have been honed over time are arranged in rows, like an open traditional craft museum. People who have lived here for generations weave the authentic and simple lifestyle of a water town with their authentic handicrafts.
The following picture shows the traditional craftsmanship of spinning and weaving in Zhouzhuang, which is an authentic reproduction of traditional handicrafts. The spinning wheel and weaving machine, the agile hands of the grandmother, and the rhythmic weaving sound create a unique Jiangnan style picture of the production of local cloth.
A grandmother in her 60s sat in front of an old-fashioned weaving machine, skillfully manipulating the shuttle with very professional techniques.
The concept of soil cloth and blue and white cloth in Jiangnan is not the same, as soil cloth represents a more simple and durable water town in Jiangnan. Because hand woven earth cloth, although not very delicate, is very soft and carries human body temperature, making it very comfortable to wear.
The inheritor of palm leaf weaving technique, a municipal intangible cultural heritage in Suzhou, is currently using palm leaves to weave dragons.
Palm Palm Grass Weaving - Pig
Next year is the Year of the Rat, and these two are grass woven mice.
There is also a inheritor of bamboo art, who is said to have had friendly exchanges with Emperor Qianlong on his ancestors, known as the "Bamboo Industry Society" with the highest level of expertise So, this street is definitely a street of "Min" star.
Bamboo water well toy, shaking the small wheel can lift out the water bucket at the bottom of the well.
Bamboo Weaving Machine, this small bamboo toy can be made on site by inheritors. Bringing children here and letting urban children smell the fragrance of bamboo is also quite good.
? Bricks and tiles have stories
Zhouzhuang is located in the ancient fiefdom of Wu and Yue, and the brick and tile craftsmanship has been passed down since ancient times. During the Song Dynasty, Zhouzhuang relied on family workshops or several households working together to make bricks and tiles for a living. The Ming and Qing dynasties reached a mature and exquisite stage, and brick carving and carving were popular for a time. On the basis of inheriting tradition, the brick workshop reproduces the scene of folk brick making in the past, reflecting the cultural aspect of rural life in Zhouzhuang.
Bricks and tiles, as building materials, have a history of over 2000 years in China. Bricks are the most traditional masonry material, commonly known as bricks, and tiles are important roof waterproofing materials.
The exhibition hall in front displays the functions, categories, and technological processes of various types of bricks and tiles. You can find the commonly seen open bricks, tube tiles, drip tiles, and other agricultural tools used for farming, fishing, and woodcutting made of simple bricks and tiles in rural areas when you were a child. In the back workshop, there is a complete set of tools for making adobe, including mud and adobe figurines made on site. Although it may seem simple, it is full of skills. Visitors often enthusiastically participate in the production process on site, experiencing the mysteries behind it.
The mural depicts the scene of ancient tile making, including selecting mud, sun drying mud, crushing, screening mud, making adobe, kiln loading, and firing finished products.
The old craftsman is showcasing the ancient tile making skills of Zhouzhuang.
? [Listening to Kunqu Opera]
Here, you can enjoy tea and listen to Suzhou Pingtan, or you can go to the Zhouzhuang Ancient Theater and listen to a segment of Kunqu Opera.
It is said that "Kunqu Opera" is known as the "ancestor of all kinds of operas". With sincerity and fear, like a donkey in one's ear, the admiration for it is like the continuous waves of the river. After enjoying the "Peony Pavilion" at the Guangdong Music Museum in Guangzhou many years ago, my memory is particularly deep. Now, experiencing it so closely at the Zhouzhuang Ancient Stage is truly the first time.
The performance scene we enjoy is the story of Wu Song buying wine, and between the tongue twitching and throat tuning, it is the most tasteful spiritual enjoyment.
Kunqu Opera has been awarded the first batch of nineteen works on human oral and intangible cultural heritage in different regions of the world. The oldest type of drama in China can be traced back to the Tang and Song dynasties. "Kunshan Opera" was created by Gu Jian, a Yuan dynasty opera performer, 600 years ago. In the Ming dynasty, it was reformed by Wei Liangfu into Kunqu "Shuimo Opera", and Liang Chenyu wrote the first Kunqu Opera "Huansha Ji".
The ancient stage performs Kunqu opera excerpts every day, including classic plays such as "Peony Pavilion", "Garden Tour", and "Dream Hunting".
The facial makeup of Kunqu opera is traditionally referred to as clean and clown. The person picking the dan in the above picture is a clown, and the distinguishing mark is that the clown draws a small white spot between his eyebrows and eyes, indicating comical, witty, flexible, and so on.
Da Mian, also known as Da Hua Mian, is the red face., The later Peking Opera facial makeup also evolved from Kunqu opera.
The Zhouzhuang Ancient Theater is the most inclusive stage in China, which can be seen by national first-class actors, famous actors and actresses, or students from theater schools who work hard for cultural inheritance. In the evening, there is also the Zhouzhuang Night Opera that can be enjoyed at the ancient stage.
? Appreciation of Ancient Buildings
Zhouzhuang is the smallest of the six ancient towns in Jiangnan, with only 0.47 square kilometers of area. Nearly a hundred ancient houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties have been preserved in this town, among which the most famous are the Shen Hall and Zhang Hall built by the descendants of Shen Wansan.
?? About Shen Wansan
I don't know that Shen Wansan has basically never been to Zhouzhuang. In this small town, everyone is familiar with this word, which was tailor-made by Shen Caishen.
Shen Wansan is classified as a hero because he is a typical representative of many outstanding town residents who have donated funds to their hometown. Shen Wansan started from Zhouzhuang and became the richest man in Jiangnan during the early Ming Dynasty. He became the first sponsor of Zhu Yuanzhang's founding of the country, making Zhouzhuang a cultural and economic center town that has been radiating to the surrounding areas for hundreds of years. Therefore, without Shen Wansan, perhaps there would not have been the classic Zhouzhuang water town of today.
Shen Wansan's original name was Shen Fu, with the courtesy name Zhongrong. He was the richest man in Jiangnan during the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. Because he was too wealthy and ranked third, he got the nickname of "ten thousand three". Wansan means "three beauties among ten thousand households", also known as "three beauties", which stands for "great wealth". There have been many stories and legends about Shen Wansan's wealth, luxury, business, and family life circulating in the local area.
Zhouzhuang developed from a small village to a large town, with Shen Wansan making the greatest contribution. After Shen Wansan became wealthy, he promoted the overall economic development of Zhouzhuang.
Zhouzhuang has a mild climate, fertile land, and convenient water conservancy, making it a good place for agricultural production since ancient times. When Shen Wansan first came here with his father, his family cultivated a low-lying area, only producing reeds and thatch. They dug channels for drainage, worked diligently in farming, and quickly made it a high-yield mature land. As the family gradually became wealthier, they began to extensively purchase farmland and houses, accumulating a large amount of gold and jade wealth, earning them the title of the richest person in Jiangnan. One of the Eight Scenic Spots of Zhouzhuang, "Dongzhuang Snow", depicts the scenery of the Shen family back then. There are many huge granaries in Dongzhuang, which store a large amount of grain. There are many historical records about this point.
According to the "Wujiang County Annals", "Shen Wansan had a residence in Zhouzhuang, the 29th capital of Wujiang. He was wealthy and was said to have obtained it from Tongfan.". Famous historian Wu Han also said, "The reason why Shen Wansan in Suzhou became rich was through overseas trade." Shen Wansan accumulated a wealth of wealth by transporting goods overseas for trade. He relied on Zhouzhuang, which had developed waterway transportation, as a base for commodity trade and circulation, to transport silk, porcelain, grain, and handicrafts from the mainland to overseas. He also brought overseas jewelry, ivory, rhinoceros horn, spices, and medicinal materials to China, starting a foreign trade activity of "striving for wealth", also known as "Tongfan", gradually making himself the richest person in Jiangnan.
Shen Wansan has been the god of wealth in New Year paintings since the mid Ming Dynasty. During his lifetime, he exerted his ability to cling to power to the extreme. He first supported Zhang Shicheng in defending Suzhou. After Zhang Shicheng's defeat, Shen Wansan turned to donate money to Zhu Yuanzhang. He repaired the city wall and later offered to reward the army, but accidentally offended Zhu Yuanzhang. He was exiled to Yunnan under the pretext of this, and eventually died in a foreign land.
There are many related experiences of "Wansan Guanming" in Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, and the most famous cuisine includes "Wansan Hoof", "Wansan Noodle", and "Wansan Cake". The "Wansan Family Banquet" at Shenting Restaurant cannot be missed; There are "Wansan Huangjiu" for brewing, and there is also Wansan Winery in Qicun where you can experience homemade wine and other activities. The following will introduce them one by one.
? Shen Ting
Shen Ting is the residence of Shen Benren, a descendant of Shen Wansan, but people prefer it as the home of Shen Wansan, the richest man in Jiangnan. The house is a building from the Qing Dynasty, which is very storytelling.
Seven entrances and five gates, with over 100 rooms in size, distributed on both sides of a 100 meter long central axis, covering an area of over 2000 square meters.
The Shen Hall consists of three parts. The front part is a water wall gate and a river port, used for family members to dock boats and wash clothes; The central part is the wall gate tower, tea hall, and main hall, which are used to pick up and drop off guests, handle wedding and funeral events, and hold business meetings; The back is the main hall building, small hall building, and back hall house, which are the living quarters.
The entire hall has a typical architectural pattern of "front hall and back hall". The front and rear houses are connected by a street tower and a corridor pavilion.
Xiangfu Window, the one next to the lantern in the middle of the picture is Xiangfu Window. In ancient times, marriage was decided by parents. But the Shen family is a wealthy family, and Shen Wansan also does business with foreigners. He is open-minded, and his daughter has a high status and the right to choose her own partner.
At the window upstairs, when a good groom comes to propose a marriage, the young lady glanced at the hall from the window upstairs. If she liked it, she would throw a embroidered ball down for him.
The main hall hall is called "Songmao Hall". The brick carved gatehouse in Chaozheng Hall is the most magnificent among the five gatehouses, reaching a height of 6 meters. The central plaque reads "Accumulating Thick Flowing Light", and the surrounding area is decorated with relief sculptures of "Red Plum Welcoming Spring". The characters, animals, pavilions, towers, and stories depicted are lifelike, comparable to the brick carved gatehouses in Suzhou Netlion Park. There are large and small halls and buildings in the back, with a distinct architectural style from the main hall. Shen Hall is a key cultural relic protection unit in Jiangsu Province.
The pink walls and Li windows in the ancient houses of Shen Ting quietly open and close, and the vicissitudes of life quietly dye the windows. Each window is a beautiful story.
This half table also has a story. Its name is "Hehuan Table". When the male host goes out, he uses half decorations. After the male host returns home, he connects the table into a round shape, symbolizing reunion and roundness.
Shen Ting Shen Ting Shen Ting Shen Ting Shen Ting
The statue of Shen Wansan, the God of Wealth minted by modern people, has a treasure trove in front. Throwing coins into the mouth of the copper coin in the middle will make one rich.
? Zhang Ting
The original name of Zhangting was Yishuntang, built in the Ming Dynasty. It is said to be the Jiangnan Bieyuan of the descendants of Zhongshan King Xu Da in the Ming Dynasty. In the early Qing Dynasty, the Xu family declined and the Zhang surname was transferred to Yuyantang, commonly known as Zhangting. Zhang Hall has seven entrances to the front and back, carved beams and painted rafters.
Zhang Hall does not have the wealth and grandeur of Shen Hall, but there is also a hint of petty bourgeoisie hidden within it. The Ruojing River passes through the house next to the hall, as the saying goes, "The bridge enters from the front door, and the boat passes through the house.".
Zhang Ting
The biggest architectural feature of Zhangting is perfectly summarized by a famous master with a pair of couplets, the upper couplet of which is "the sedan advances through the door" and the lower couplet is "the ship passes through its own home".
The tour guide said that this type of wooden chair is called "helpless and helpless", which is significantly different from the chairs set against the mountains and waters of the Shen Ting family that I have seen before. The Shen family's recruitment of attendants was a burden, reflecting the strict social hierarchy at that time.
Zhang Ting
The backyard is the corner of the Zhang family that has the most Ming Dynasty petty bourgeoisie atmosphere.
The Zhouzhuang Museum is the residence of Zhu Xianbo and was built in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. The museum collects daily life, production and labor tools from various generations of people, as well as scattered and lost items from various generations of officials and officials. It includes eight categories: wood, pottery, porcelain, jade, copper and tin, stone, purple clay, and bone and horn products. Among them, Ming and Qing furniture, porcelain from previous dynasties, and jade have the highest proportion, and the money spent on bronze is particularly precious. The collection truly reflects the folk customs and Wu cultural history of the surrounding area of the ancient town (at the junction of the three counties).
The panoramic model of Zhouzhuang Ancient Town can touch multimedia buttons. Each time a point is touched, the corresponding point on the model will flash, and relevant cultural and historical introductions will also appear on the large projection.
Wooden collectibles with exquisite sculptures of characters on them.
Female junior, holding a golden brick. The golden brick inside is this one. He is a building material. Because their prices are relatively high, the value of a piece of gold brick is equivalent to one or two pieces of gold, so it is called a gold brick.
Shuangqiao pottery mold
There are many celebrities in Zhouzhuang, and Shen Tilan is a famous Chinese educator who has written works such as "The British Secondary Education System" and "Selected Chinese Education".
museum; Making history no longer distant is a good place to understand the past, present, and future of Zhouzhuang.
? Quanfu Ancient Temple
The Quanfu Lecture Temple (Quanfu Xiaozhong), which is of the same age as the ancient town, is one of the eight scenic spots in Zhouzhuang. Quanfu Lecture Temple is located on the west side of Zhouzhuang by the Bai Xian River. Originally called "Quanfu Temple", it was renovated from the residence of Zhou Digong and his wife.
Zhouzhuang was first built in 1086 (the first year of Yuanyou in the Northern Song Dynasty), named after Mr. Zhou Digong's donation of land to build Quanfu Temple. During the Spring and Autumn period, it was a fiefdom for the young son of the King of Wu, named Zhenfengli. At that time, the mayor of Zhou Digong's town, who had just arrived in Zhenfeng, encountered a natural disaster and food shortage. Seeing the people of the town praying for good weather, he donated his old house and 200 acres of land to build Quanfu Temple. In order to repay Zhou Digong's kindness, the town residents named themselves Zhouzhuang and officially renamed it Zhouzhuang Town during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty.
At the southernmost end of the ancient town, the sound of distant bells and ethereal Zen sounds accompanied by starlight and lake breeze, Buddha's light dotted, the Zen atmosphere silent, and forgetting fatigue when meditating.
Quanfu Lecture Temple is known as the "Water Buddha Kingdom", which has undergone continuous expansion over generations, with overlapping Buddhist palaces, towering pavilions, and surrounded by clear water. The entire temple has five buildings. Hundreds of years later, incense flourished. In the 1950s, it was converted into a granary, and the current Quanfu Temple was renovated in 1995.
The overall area of the renovated Quanfu Lecture Temple is one tenth of that of Nanhu Garden, and it has the charm of an ancient water town.
According to aerial photography, the main buildings along the central axis of Quanfu Lecture Temple are the mountain gate, Zhigui Pavilion, the Shakya ManiHall and Sutra Pavilion. The lake in front of the door is shimmering with light, and the water port is lying flat with blue waves, creating a poetic and picturesque atmosphere.
Zhouzhuang is surrounded by Chenghu Lake, Baixuan Lake, Dianshan Lake, and Nanhu Lake, like blooming water lilies.
Overlooking the ancient town from the air, with black tiles and high walls, there are no cars in sight, only the sound of rowing. As described in the writings of ancient people: 'When you meet in Gusu, they all rest on the river.'. There is little idle land in the ancient palace, and many small bridges in the water harbor. The night market sells lotus roots, and the spring boat carries Qiluo. I know from afar that I have not slept yet, and my homesickness lies in fishing songs.
Yanyu Jiangnan is a beautiful ink painting.
The entire ancient town is divided into eight long streets by four well shaped river channels. Hundreds of ancient residential buildings are densely packed and crowded, merging into a street and alleyway.
The stone bridge lies horizontally, with old vines covering the side. It is full of ancient charm and makes people linger and forget to leave.
Strolling on the slate road, the ancient town gives people a three-dimensional and vivid impression. There are also many creative and beautiful internet celebrity check-in spots in the ancient town, which bring fresh meanings to the town through cultural and creative tourism.
? [Maokong Bookstore]
The Cat's Sky City is a popular place among the cultural and cultural elites in the ancient town. You can feel the continuation of beauty inside, which is quite romantic.
You can send yourself a letter. There is always a lazy cat sleeping on the cashier, with white fur and a soft touch.
There are many small items related to cats here, which is also a good place to take photos and check in.
Experience the slow life of Zhouzhuang. In the afternoon, come to Maokong Bookstore to pick up a book, buy a cup of hand ground coffee, sit in front of the window sill, hold the coffee, and look out the window at the pedestrians on the road, quietly enjoying the quiet beauty.
At the entrance of Carton King, wire dolls are waving to tourists.
Carton King is located next to Qinglong Bridge in the ancient town. It is a themed creative park that uses paper to savor life, design life, and create life. Walking in is like entering a world of paper art.
The sofas, chairs, and bedside tables in the lobby are all made of paper.
When wandering around, you will find many paper made scenic spots in Zhouzhuang, such as Shuangqiao, Shenting, Xiaoqiao Liushui and other landmark buildings, all recreated on paper. The innovative elements of paper art culture perfectly blend with local culture, making people feel very interesting.
In the cardboard king homestay, the super special iron stairs are all made of wire. Very artistic.
The iron mushroom house is next to a children's slide.
In the world of paper art, what interests me the most is the small train made of paper. Sitting on it and circling around the courtyard is full of childlike fun.
Along the way of the cardboard train, there are scenic spots such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Sailing Hotel Building. The attractions are all displayed here in the form of paper carvings, giving the feeling of traveling around the world!
The cardboard box king cultural and creative specialty store has a paper forest inside, with owls on top, squirrels and rabbits picking pine cones under the trees.
A little boy wearing a paper baseball cap
Paper Gundam Warrior
Paper Zhouzhuang
A zoo made of cardboard boxes, featuring giraffes and sika deer.
There are many children's fun products in the Carton King theme creative park, which are more suitable for children. Then there are also some romantic scenes such as the moon in the water in the garden, and beautiful girls can go there to take photos and check in.
We had a four-day journey in Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, and on the third day we arrived at Zhouzhuang Green Park, which is five kilometers away from the ancient town. We could experience rural life and pick fresh and delicious fruits. However, time was limited, so we played at the children's amusement park for a while before leaving.
Green Park is a natural and unpowered park with an area of 30000 square meters. It is a parent-child park mainly focused on nature education, including a wooden house town, adventure park, sand pit animal park, nature museum, farmer's garden, etc,
The first attraction in the park is the ecological farm. The cute pet zoo houses very cute animals such as rabbits, peacocks, sika deer, horses, and sheep. The surroundings are lush with green grass and fresh air, like poetry and painting.
After pulling out the radish, it can be used to feed small animals such as goats, two peacocks, and a few little rabbits. The children are playing around the fence happily.
Animal shaped swings, with a variety of entertainment facilities available, do not require admission to the green park, and most of the amusement facilities in the park are free of charge. However, some facilities are outsourced to private individuals, such as running karts, which require payment to experience.
? Wansan Winery
Wansan Winery is a great place to explore the Huangjiu culture in Zhouzhuang. The winery preserves the timeless Huangjiu brewing techniques passed down by the Shen family in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. Here, you can explore the history of Huangjiu, observe traditional brewing techniques, and bring urbanites back to the beauty of natural life.
In the Huangjiu Cultural and Historical Experience Area, you can hear recordings of various brewing processes. You can also smell the aroma of the brewing materials.
Peach, pressing can smell the scent of peach wine.
The experience hall was renovated from an old factory, and this is a book bar. There are many books related to Huangjiu and Zhouzhuang on the bookshelf for borrowing.
There are various types of Wansan Huangjiu available for people to choose from in the mall.
Although it is a distillery, there are still many projects that can be experienced, such as DIY painting, leather art pendant making, and wine making experience in the wine jar.
? Leather pendant production
Cut a few pieces of soft leather, sew them together by hand in any form of leather, and make a bell keychain, which is a handmade item.
Using a handful of glistening rice and swaying the lake with the ceiling, brew a rich and delicious wine suitable for your own taste.
Wash the glutinous rice that has not been soaked well for 24 hours, then put it into a steamer and steam over high heat,
From selecting ingredients to mustering courage, making yellow wine requires a total of 12 processes, which is also quite arduous.
Continuing to visit the winery, you will see many copperplate prints of the wine making process.
Every breath of air in the winery is filled with the taste of distiller's grains, and yeast is also fascinated by the tenderness of the warm sun.
Under the sunshine, the scent of winter vanilla and the light aroma of wine intertwine, making even the nose feel tempted. Bathing in warm sunshine, starting a day of brewing process, and experiencing the beauty of ancient techniques.
The winemaker Kairaking Wansan masters the fermentation temperature and time by listening, observing, and exploring, and opens the raking every four hours.
Steaming rice utensils in a distillery, steaming the soaked rice in a steamer until it is cooked without burning, and there is no white heart inside, is success.
? Zhouzhuang · Rural New Life
Xiangcun is only 7 kilometers away from Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, and it is a picturesque and beautiful small village. Coming to Xiangcun is a way of life that is childlike, quiet, and comfortable. Stay away from busyness, crowds, and the hustle and bustle of the city, and when you calm down, you will discover that this rural area is unique.
Xiangcun Qizhuang takes the era as a clue and opens a time tunnel for tourists. Each homestay is a time and a sentiment, allowing visitors to taste different local customs and charm.
Entering the Qizhuang Exhibition Hall, you can see photos from various eras, showcasing the spiritual outlook of farmers living in rural areas back then.
The clay sculpture exhibition has a strong local flavor. They all created groups of scenes full of life in southern Jiangsu based on local villagers.
According to records, the history and culture of Qicun in Xiangcun are deeply preserved. This place was originally the place where Han Shizhong, a famous general of the Southern Song Dynasty, camped to resist the Jin Shui army. The tree camp flag is a symbol of recognition, and many soldiers who have retired have settled here. In memory of the Han general's resistance against the Jin dynasty, the place name was chosen as "Qizhuang", which was later renamed as "Qizhuang".
The book bar is also a local cultural station where you can borrow books for free. Homestays and book houses incorporate projects into the daily lives of residents, making this new rural experience truly fresh.
The spatial layout of the rural caf é is creative, situated on a pond of rice fields. Sitting here drinking a cup of coffee can fully feel the natural tranquility of the countryside, with a sense of happiness that the city cannot provide.
There is a "pink leopard" on the sofa, which is particularly interesting.
There are currently eight characteristic homestays in Xiangcun, each with a decorative style corresponding to the nostalgia of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. The furniture and furnishings are relaxed and distinctive, with various decorative details imprinted with the imprint of the era, yet interpreted with modern design language as warm and comfortable.
Old items such as old tailors have become ornaments.
Most homestays here come with their own farmhouses. A courtyard surrounds the days and adds warmth to the home.
Escaping from the hustle and bustle of the city, and living next to Xiangcun and the simple fields, one can fully relax and enjoy the life of returning to the garden and living in the countryside. In Qizhuang, the era is frozen here, and different courtyards are frozen in different eras.
There are also old stoves for burning firewood.
The nouveau riche of the 1980s, this old motorcycle is from BMW.
The decoration of this household is mainly based on green color.
The fashionable Teng sofa at that time. Each building is a time machine that takes you to experience the different customs of different eras, rediscover the lost beauty, savor the tranquil and warm homesickness, and release the dust in your heart.
In addition to experiencing the unique homestays with a strong sense of the times, traditional rural cuisine is also not to be missed in Qicun. The new rural lifestyle here has made handmade pickled cuisine a trend, and handgrown pollution-free fruits and vegetables have become the most suitable ingredients. In addition to enjoying delicious food, parents can also get close to nature and search for common plants with their babies here. One flower, one grass, one leaf, one wood, imprint rural life into time, retain time, and retain homesickness.
The biggest feature of Qicun is that it allows tourists to experience a brand new and self growing rural life. After seeing the ancient and fragrant Zhouzhuang, it's also great to come here and experience the new life in the countryside of Jiangnan.
? Rural Light Show
After dinner, you can go over the fields and watch the colorful lights with themes of fruits, melons, and animals. The joy of a bountiful harvest permeates everywhere, beautifying the night in Xiangcun and showcasing a full sense of childlike fun.
A heart-shaped tunnel of time.
Happy fields, beautiful fields adorned with frog and lotus shaped lights.
The prosperity of a hundred years ago has receded, but the cuisine of Zhouzhuang has not shrunk. Zhouzhuang cuisine can be divided into three categories based on its purpose: official, commercial, and civilian. Among them, the Wansan Family Banquet is a banquet hosted by Shen Wansan to entertain distinguished guests.
? Wansan Family Banquet
In the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, Shen Wansan became the richest man in Jiangnan and followed the customs of Wu Zhong, emphasizing daily life and diet. All social interactions are between officials, gentry, and tycoons, and guests are warmly welcomed. Under the guidance of Madam Liniang, a renowned chef was specially hired to cook various delicacies, known as the "Wansan Family Banquet". The banquet emphasizes freshness, exquisite selection of ingredients, and excellent color, aroma, taste, and shape.
The main dish of the Wansan Family Banquet consists of eight bowls. The Eight Great Bowls are made with celadon bowls, bamboo chopsticks, and other utensils. The dishes include: Wan San Ti, San Wei Yuan, braised eel tube, snail stuffed meat, braised mandarin fish, fragrant fried golden bricks, oil radish stuffed meat, and farmhouse eel and carp.
Tasting the Wansan Family Banquet is recommended. Located next to the Fu'an Bridge in the ancient town, Shenting Restaurant is the most distinctive and local style restaurant in Zhouzhuang.
Shen Ting Restaurant has a long history, formerly known as Shen Ting Jingye Tang. In 1742, Shen Benren, a descendant of Shen Wansan, reorganized his family business with the intention of promoting the famous dishes of his ancestors' "Wansan Family Banquet". Therefore, he renovated his old house along the river, reset the stove, tables and chairs, and named it "Shen Ting Restaurant". He used his ancestors' old shop, operated it well, and the business flourished day by day, becoming the first famous shop of Zhouzhuang's time-honored brand.
Entering the Shen Ting Restaurant, a waiter dressed in ancient attire and wearing a gray hat greeted the guests with a smile and said in Suzhou dialect, "Sir, please come inside!"
The interior of the store is decorated with an antique and elegant style, while still preserving the original style of the ancient house. The restaurant is filled with wooden tables and chairs, which exude an elegant and rustic style.
Shen Ting Restaurant is divided into two parts: upstairs and downstairs. The downstairs is the main hall, and the upstairs has a street arcade connecting the east and west parts. The eastern entrance is a private room, decorated elegantly, and the environment is comfortable; The arcade leads directly to the Linhe Hall, and sitting in front of the lattice window, below is the clear river water, with the shadow of the rippling bridge and the scenery of the water town, all in view.
The signature dish of Wansanti Zhouzhuang is a must-have dish for the wealthy Shen Wansan family in Jiangnan to entertain guests. There is a local saying that is very popular: "When a family has a banquet, there must be crispy hooves.". After hundreds of years of transmission, it has become the main dish in the Zhou Zhuang people's New Year celebrations and wedding banquets, meaning reunion, and is also a top-notch dish for entertaining guests.
The ingredients for Wan San hoof are carefully selected, using a moderately fat and lean pig hind leg as the raw material. The prepared ingredients are added, and water is added to a large clay pot. After a day and night of simmering or steaming, the heat needs to go through several tens of thousands of wen, mainly on a low heat. The cooked whole Wan San hoof is steaming hot, with a sauce red skin color.
The eating method is to take a thin bone from two long bones that run through the entire pig's hoof and gently pull it out. The hoof shape remains unchanged, using the bone as the knife. This was a difficult problem that Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty encountered during his examination of Shen Wansan. Shen Wansan took the opportunity and used this bone as a knife to solve the problem. Zhu Yuanzhang then said, "Let's call it a bone knife," which later became the traditional way of eating in Zhouzhuang.
Stir fried river shrimp
The common ones in Zhouzhuang are river shrimp, which have a bright color, full and resilient shrimp meat, and a natural and delicious taste. No need to peel shrimp shells and supplement calcium. After stir frying, it tastes delicious and has a unique flavor.
Snail stuffed meat cooked with fresh snails and pig legs
Carefully cooked braised eel tube after live eel slaughter
The Three Flavored Rounds of Kundun
Sanweiyuan, commonly known as soup gluten, uses water gluten as the skin, and the stuffing core is finely chopped with chicken breast, fresh shrimp, pork leg, onion, ginger, rice wine and other seasonings. It is cooked in chicken soup with thin skin and tender filling. It is crystal clear and has Dim sum, dishes and fresh soup as one pot. In the Jiangnan region, San Wei Yuan is a popular dish that every household can make. Every June in the lunar calendar, new wheat comes on the field. The sun dried wheat is ground and crushed, sieved through a fine sieve, and the snow-white flour is stored separately. Only the bran is mixed with an appropriate amount of salt and water to form a paste. After being left for one or two hours, it is rinsed in clean water. The sticky dough that is washed out is gluten, which can be used as the skin of the three flavored round and wrapped in various meat fillings.
Wansan liquor
In winter, Jiangnan is covered in shallow snow. Jiangnan Bieyun is yellow wine.
Zhouzhuang is rich in rice, and the wine industry is very developed, among which Baijiu is the best. Steam the new glutinous rice into rice, add alcohol and medicine, and place it in a vat. Wait for it to become wine, drain the lees, and add river water to store it in the vat. Then place the vat next to the wall. After more than a month, it becomes a clear and delicious "leaning against the wall". According to legend, the wine brewed by Shen Wansan's family in the lunar October is the most precious, hence it is also known as "Wansan Wine".
Huangjiu tastes long and mellow, with a rich and mellow flavor. When poured lightly, it warms the heart and slowly intoxicates, perfectly complementing the beautiful scenery of Zhouzhuang.
Water shield vegetable
Water shield vegetable is a pampered aquatic crop that prefers warmth and is suitable for growing in the pure and calm waters of Hong Kong and Han. Water shield vegetable can be divided into red stem and green stem. Generally planted before and after Qingming Festival, it can also be planted before and after Bailu. Start picking after 2 months of plant growth. The leaves float on the water surface and are elliptical in shape, relatively smooth and tender, with a gelatinous transparent substance on the back of the leaves. Boiling soup with tender leaves and stems of water shield vegetables is delicious and nutritious. Zhang Han, a literary figure from the Western Jin Dynasty, referred to his "thoughts on the sea bass", which means that he was far away in Luoyang City and still missed the delicious food in his hometown day and night, even though he didn't want to become an official. People store water shield vegetables in bottles or can them, and they can be tasted all year round.
West Lake water shield is a traditional famous product in Hangzhou, produced in freshwater lakes such as West Lake, also known as horseshoe grass or water lotus leaves. The leaves are elliptical in shape, dark green in color, and there is a gelatinous transparent substance on the tender stems and back of the leaves. In history, with& quot; San Tan Yin Yue& quot; Water shield vegetables are the most famous.
It is said that there have been records of sea bass with water shield soup since the Jin Dynasty. According to legend, Emperor Qianlong went to Jiangnan and would eat water shield soup every time he arrived in Hangzhou, and sent people to regularly transport it back to the palace for consumption. It is fresh, tender, and smooth, used for making soup, with a strong and fragrant aroma, and is considered a precious food at banquets. Fresh water shield vegetables can also be mixed with white sugar for consumption; Nutrient rich, fresh and fragrant; quot; West Lake Water Shield Vegetable Soup& quot; It is one of the famous dishes in Hangzhou.
Many people later mentioned in their poems the "thoughts of the sea bass", linking the longing for hometown with the sea bass, which is truly poetic. Many poets, tourists, and poets have come to Jiangnan to experience the delicious taste of sea bass with water shield vegetables due to their fascination with Zhang Han's thoughts on sea bass... The signature sea bass soup with water shield vegetables is named after this.
? Water town snacks
When you come to Zhouzhuang, be sure to taste the natural delicacies of the Zhouzhuang indigenous people, indulge in the hospitality cuisine of the water town, enjoy the delicious homemade wine that lingers in your mouth, watch traditional food preparation in specialty shops, and see how ordinary people interpret life in their daily work. Having tasted authentic flavors, I believe you will love Zhouzhuang even more.
Shen Ting Kitchen Room
Passing through the deep corridor of the Shen Hall, a fragrant aroma wafts in. The kitchen lady, dressed in blue printed fabric, is skillfully and elegantly crafting the authentic Zhouzhuang Qingtuan. Wash the fresh wormwood just picked and beat it into juice. Add lime powder and boil it together. After cooking, rinse off the bitter taste. After mashing, mix it with glutinous rice powder and rub it repeatedly to start making dumplings. The filling of Zhouzhuang Qingtuan is made of delicate red beans and white sugar, and now other fillings such as jujube paste and roses are also used.
Jiangnan specialties such as Qingtuan are also deeply loved by tourists. The soft and sweet words of Wu Nong turned into fragrant and soft cakes. Green dumpling is made of glutinous rice flour mixed with green vegetable juice. The white sugar, bean paste and lard stuffing have the smell of spring from color to taste.
● Wansan Cake
The specialty of Zhouzhuang, Wansan Cake, has a history of hundreds of years and is produced by the town's Zou tea and food workshop. It is said that due to Shen Wansan's frequent ordering of large quantities of pastries as gifts to family and friends, they simply changed their name to Wansan Cake. The ancestors of the Zou family established the Gongmao tea and food workshop as early as the early Ming Dynasty, and the Zou family tea and food workshop became famous. More than 20 types of pastries, including sesame cake, peanut cake, walnut cake, mint cake, pine nut cake, and thousand layer cake, are produced according to the season. The pastries are smooth and sticky, and can melt upon entry.
The Dim sum of the richest family includes Xiqingzhuang Cake and Dufan Cake.
Dingsheng Cake made of glutinous rice flour, brown sugar, red beans and sesame seeds tastes delicious, sweet and not greasy. Its color is crimson.
In addition to experiencing the unique homestays with a strong sense of the times, traditional rural cuisine is also not to be missed in Qicun. The new rural lifestyle here has made handmade pickled cuisine a trend, and handgrown pollution-free fruits and vegetables have become the most suitable ingredients. In addition to enjoying delicious food, parents can also get close to nature and search for common plants with their babies here. One flower, one grass, one leaf, one wood, imprint rural life into time, retain time, and retain homesickness.
Quangonglou Fashion Restaurant is located in the southern part of Quangongqiao in Zhouzhuang Ancient Town. It specializes in Hong Kong style dishes and is most suitable for eating hot pot in winter. The main promotion here is Chaoshan beef small hot pot.
get accommodation:
Zhouzhuang is very close to Shanghai and Suzhou, and you can travel back and forth on the same day or stay overnight. The local accommodation facilities are relatively complete.
In the quiet of the night, it's time to rest on water and build dreams. The accommodation in the ancient town of Zhouzhuang is usually a family style inn, with many options available.
The types are also similar. Generally, rooms with windows facing small bridges and flowing water, as well as those with retro decoration, are relatively more expensive.
Below, let me share my experience of staying in a homestay that I have stayed in before.
? [Era Show Homestay]
The Era Show Homestay provides travelers with an attitude of returning to their original way of life. Its advertising slogan is "hidden in ordinary people's homes", and the villas here are very unique. They are renovated according to their original condition, which not only protects traditional houses but also provides us with a good experience.
Lexiaojun's favorite is still this futuristic house, a brand new technology smart homestay, with black and white as the main color tones. Between light and shadow, it exudes a faint bourgeois atmosphere and artistic style everywhere.
The corners of the room are decorated with green potted plants, making the room very lively.
The master room is on the second floor, and there is also a set of tea sets placed in front of the bed.
Tea room, decorated in Japanese style.
The tea sets are also quite exquisite
There are also many vegetable fields at the entrance of the homestay, which is situated by the river,
The cooking aunt mixed a table of authentic and delicious dishes with freshly picked vegetables from the field, fish caught in the small river, and freshly dried new rice. Each dish is filled with the taste of sunshine, and a large bowl is filled with a sweet sense of happiness
? [Thoughts on the Water Bass]
Half of the window, the misty rain enters the clear dream, and the moonlight fills the lake with a refreshing breeze. If you want to be clean, staying at the Branstone Hotel is a good choice. The Chinese style water courtyard is built on the South Lake, adjacent to the autumn moon of the South Lake. From the balcony of the room, you can see the dreamy light and shadow show, bathed in the clear breeze and moonlight of the South Lake Bay.
Pushing open the balcony glass door, you will face the fresh air on South Lake, basking in the sunshine, making you intoxicated.
The Chun Si Zhi Si Resort Hotel is named after a historical story about Zhang Han resigning from his position as a culinary official. It is located by the South Lake, with rooms built on the water surface. Taste a bowl of unforgettable water shield and sea bass soup in the landscape restaurant, sit on the balcony of the room and enjoy a dreamy South Lake Bay light and shadow show. The beautiful lake scenery of the long bridge lying on the waves is intoxicating.
According to the "Biography of Zhang Han" in the Book of Jin, Zhang Han resigned from his position and returned to his hometown because he missed the delicious food in his hometown. This is a true story in history.
Stay in the ancient town and experience Zhang Han's "longing for home" at the Bran Perch Wisdom Resort Hotel.
The homestay is decorated in a new Chinese style, integrating fashion and classical elements, which is very beautiful.
Slow down and you will find that the store is filled with scenery every step of the way. At the corner, various potted plants and ancient paintings are placed, which are very charming.
The address of Chunsi Resort Hotel is No. 7 Chenjia Lane, Fuguiyuan Road, Zhouzhuang.
▲ Part 5: Dry goods ▲? Clothing matching+check-in guide
1. Qipao, Hanfu, Chinese style, and Republic of China style are all very suitable for the ancient water town with pink walls and black tiles, entering the scenery in one second! You can prepare similar clothing in advance, which can also be purchased within the scenic area or rented Hanfu; Xiangcun is more suitable for rural or British style clothing.
[Best shooting time]
1. In the alleys of the ancient town, it is most suitable for winter afternoon play. When the sun sets in the west, the sunlight shines on the alleys. In the afternoon
2. In the evening, when the lanterns are first lit, it is the best time to shoot night scenes!
[Photography Guide]
1. Children are lively and active, with their own ideas. It's important to play with them and take timely photos!
2. When shooting, one should be good at identifying areas with light and try to avoid shooting in backlight.
About Transportation
Address: Zhouzhuang is located between Shanghai and Suzhou. The specific address is Quanfu Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Kunshan City, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province (at the border with Wujiang, Wu County, and Qingpu County in Shanghai)
Transportation:
Zhouzhuang Transportation Guide
① Aircraft: Zhouzhuang is approximately 90 kilometers away from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, with a one hour drive; It is one hour drive from Wuxi Shuofang Airport on Highway 82. It is 150 kilometers away from both Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport;
② High speed rail: The Shanghai Nanjing Railway and the Beijing Shanghai High speed Railway pass through Kunshan
③ High speed: It can be quickly reached along the Shanghai Nanjing Expressway, Shanghai Hangzhou Expressway, Suzhou Jiahang Expressway, etc
④ Subway: Shanghai Line 11 Huaqiao Station transfer to You 7 bus to reach Zhouzhuang
Xiangcun Qizhuang Transportation Guide
【 Shanghai direction 】 Shanghai terminal, direct to Zhouzhuang passenger station.
Take the subway to Huaqiao Station and take Bus No. 7 directly to Zhouzhuang Bus Station;
Shanghai South Station (Hongqiao), direct to Zhouzhuang Bus Station.
【 Suzhou direction 】 Suzhou South Station and North Station, direct to Zhouzhuang Bus Station.
Bus 161, 130, 133, and You 1 will take you directly to Zhouzhuang Bus Station in the direction of Kunshan.
After arriving at Zhouzhuang, you can go to Xiangcun by yourself.
About Photography
The night scenery of Zhouzhuang amidst the sound of paddles and the shadows of lights is charming. When shooting, try to use a tripod, set ISO to 100, reduce aperture, extend exposure time, and change focus to manual mode.
The phone can use night mode for shooting. My filming equipment for this time is Canon 6D2, with a F2.8 lens.
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