Zhouzhuang, the dream of not wanting to wake up
The narrow river channel, the long corridor, the bright red lanterns, and the deep water like green wine, the green small stone bridge, and the small boats moored or walked, contain rich poetic and picturesque feelings. The green tree is your beautiful hair, the picturesque stone bridge is your eyebrows, the clear water under the bridge is your beautiful eyes, one or two boats are your small ears, and the rippling blue river is your handsome cheeks... You, with bright eyes and white teeth, quick witted and agile, are extremely cute, and your beauty is delicious. I see you today, it seems like a fantasy. I really want to come forward and kiss your beautiful and slightly shy face, to sniff your charming fragrance. The crisscrossing water alleys, the mossy stone bridges, the soft and sweet voices, and the sound of masturbation soothe the restless hearts of travelers. This is Zhouzhuang, a typical small bridge and flowing house in Jiangnan.
There is heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below, and Zhouzhuang in the middle. China's top water town ranks first among the six ancient towns in Jiangnan. Zhouzhuang is located southeast of Suzhou and southwest of Kunshan, forming a triangular shape with Kunshan and Suzhou, making transportation very convenient
Transportation
airport
There are no airports in Suzhou, where Zhouzhuang and Zhouzhuang belong. Remote tourists can transfer at the nearest Shanghai Hongqiao Airport or Pudong Airport. There are long-distance buses from Shanghai to Zhouzhuang, such as the long-distance passenger terminal and Shanghai South Station. For specific details, please refer to the "Passenger Stations" section.
train station
Suzhou, to which Zhouzhuang belongs, is a must pass station on the Beijing Shanghai line, with over a hundred trains stopping in Suzhou every day, covering 24 hours. The only thing to note is that although there are many stops in Suzhou, the passenger flow is also high. If you want to book a suitable flight, you need to book it at least one week in advance.
There are two stations within Suzhou for stopping and transferring to buses. One is Suzhou Station, and the other is Kunshan Station under Zhouzhuang. The former has many train services but is far away; The latter has fewer trips but closer distances.
Suzhou North Square Bus Station is a 5-minute walk away, and there is also a slightly further Suzhou North Station, which takes half an hour to reach Zhouzhuang.
Take bus 88 or 111 outside Kunshan Station to Xinke Station, and then transfer to a bus in Zhouzhuang at Xinke Station. It takes about 15 minutes from the train station to the new passenger station, and more than an hour from the new passenger station to Zhouzhuang
passenger station
There is a Zhouzhuang Bus Station in Zhouzhuang Town, with shuttle buses to Kunshan, Suzhou North Station, and Shanghai.
To Suzhou: 6:45-17:10, approximately 40 minutes per trip, 16 yuan, travel time 55 minutes
To Kunshan: The first bus departs at 5:30 and the last bus departs at 18:10, every 8 minutes. The fare is 7 yuan per person, and the journey takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes;
To Shanghai Central Station: 6:30, 9:15, 11:20, 13:20, 14:20, 16:30;
To Shanghai South Station: 10:20, 15:20;
To Qingpu: 6:00-17:35, every 30-40 minutes.
In addition, there is a village level bus stop in Jiangze Village, Wujiang City, located in the southern suburbs of Zhouzhuang. There are also shuttle buses to Suzhou (passing through Tongli Town). The first and last trips to Tongli Town are from 6:30 to 18:00, with each trip lasting 20-30 minutes. The fare is 1 yuan (air conditioning fare is 2 yuan).
Zhouzhuang has well-developed land routes, and you can choose to take tourist routes or regular buses from Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Kunshan, Zhejiang, and other places to Zhouzhuang. Shanghai, Nanjing and other large and medium-sized tourist cities adjacent to Suzhou also have direct buses to Zhouzhuang.
Shanghai Zhouzhuang (long-distance bus station)
Shuttle time: 7:30, 13:00
Drive: Approximately 2 hours
Ticket price: 21 yuan/person
Boarding location: No. 80 Gongxing Road (near Laobei Station)
Shanghai Zhouzhuang (South Station)
Shuttle time: 08:11, 13:21
Drive: 1.5 hours
Ticket price: 29 yuan
Address: Liuzhou Road, Xuhui District (from Metro Line 3)
Shanghai - Zhouzhuang (Qingpu Bus Station)
Every 20 minutes, the morning shift starts at 6:30 and the last shift ends at 17:00. The return journey also starts every 20 minutes, with the morning shift ending at 6:30 and the last shift ending at 17:00. The ticket price is approximately 10 yuan
Hangzhou Zhouzhuang
Hangzhou Huanglong Sports Center (Tourist Dedicated Bus), Tourist Tickets: including round-trip air-conditioned tourist bus tickets and tickets
Bus schedule: 8:00 AM every Saturday
Boarding location: Hangzhou Huanglong Sports Center
Ticket price: 178 yuan
Jiaxing Zhouzhuang
Shuttle time: 6:15, 12:05
Return time: 8:50, 14:35
Boarding location: Jiaxing North Bus Station, No. 688 Zhonghuan North Road, Xiuzhou District, Jiaxing City
Ticket price: approximately 15 yuan
Nanjing Zhouzhuang
400 Zhongshan South Road, Nanjing (Tourist Dedicated Bus) Tourist Ticket: including round-trip air-conditioned tourist bus tickets and tickets
Bus schedule: 6:30 am every Saturday and Sunday
Boarding location: No. 400 Zhongshan South Road, Nanjing City
Ticket price: 115 yuan
Suzhou North Bus Station - Zhouzhuang
Bus schedule: Every 30 minutes, the morning bus is about 6:55, and the last bus is about 17:15
Return time: There is a bus every 30 minutes, with the morning shift around 6:55 and the last shift around 17:15
Drive: 55 minutes
Ticket price: approximately 16 yuan (100 yuan including Zhouzhuang ticket)
Wuzhong Zhouzhuang
The departure time is 7:30, 9:30, and 13:00, and the ticket price is 15 yuan.
Kunshan Zhouzhuang
Bus schedules: 6:44, 7:56, 9:26, 10:50, 12:25, 13:50, 15:22, 16:50
Return time: 6:50, 7:50, 9:20, 10:55, 12:30, 13:50, 15:22, 16:37, 17:45
Drive: Approximately 1 hour
Ticket price: 8 yuan/person
Turn left at the exit of Zhouzhuang Bus Station for 2 kilometers to reach the scenic area. You can walk and take a taxi for 10 yuan. If you book a hotel, you can ask the hotel owner to pick you up.
Accommodation
The accommodation conditions in Zhouzhuang are relatively developed. In addition to many star rated hotels and resorts with beautiful environments and well-equipped facilities, there are also many private hotels to choose from in the ancient town that will renovate their old houses. The rooms along the river and bridge are unique and mostly located on Quangong Road, with prices ranging from tens of yuan to hundreds of yuan. The facilities are relatively simple and the hygiene conditions are decent, allowing for comfortable accommodation.
In addition, there are also star rated hotels, guesthouses, and other options available in the new area of Zhouzhuang Town. If you choose to stay in the new district, you can take photos at the centralized ticketing point in the scenic area to complete the relevant procedures, so that you can enter Zhouzhuang again for sightseeing on the second and third days. Friends can book an inn online or go to the scenic area to find it again. Of course, taxi drivers will also recommend it to you. I am the driver who recommended it, and I don't know if the driver has received any kickbacks, but I can accept that the transaction was made in room 120 by Shuangqiao.
[Ticket] Zhouzhuang Ticket Market Price: ¥ 100 (free for children under 1.2 meters in height; free for disabled individuals with a disability certificate; free for elderly people over 70 years old, active military officer certificate, national tour guide certificate, press card, driver's A1 photo; half price discount for children between 1.2 and 1.5 meters in height; half price discount for elderly people between 60 and 69 years old with valid documents.) Opening Hours: 8:00-19:00 Ticket Collection Location: Zhouzhuang Ticket - Parking Lot or Ancient Archway Ticket Office; Upstream of Huanzhen Water - Parking Lot Ticket Office; Jiangnan Pearl Picking Tour - Taishidian Scenic Area on Diannan Road opposite the gate of Zhouzhuang Parking Lot; Four Seasons Zhouzhuang Realistic Performance - South of Xinpailou, Four Seasons Zhouzhuang Ticketing Center Zhouzhuang Ticket includes: Zhangting, Shenting, Quanfu Temple, Ancient Stage, Yifei Home, Nanhu Autumn Moon Garden, Milou, Shen Wansan's Former Residence, Ye Chulun's Former Residence, Shen Wansan's Water Tomb, Cultural Street, Chengxu Daoyuan, Xianjiang Fishing and Singing Fishery Museum, Zhouzhuang Museum, and other 15 scenic spots. Visitors who stay in Zhouzhuang can continue to play at night. Please go to the photo spot next to the ticket office for free photos, and the validity period of the ticket will be extended by 3 days. Night tour ticket to Zhouzhuang: limited to the same night, starting at 4pm, including 2 attractions: Zhangting and Shenting. You need to pay an additional 30 yuan per person to play in the "Strange Tower". Tip: There are many ticket gates in Zhouzhuang, and it is recommended to enter through the ancient theater ticket gate. Just a few steps away will lead to the Shuangqiao in the center of the scenic area. Ticket evasion: It is almost impossible to escape tickets in Zhouzhuang, and I have glanced at it. Each ticket gate is strictly guarded by ticket inspectors. Taking a cruise ship costs 100 yuan per piece, and carpooling is a good choice. The price for the live performance of "Four Seasons Zhouzhuang" is ¥ 150. The live performance time for "Four Seasons Zhouzhuang" in the water town is from 19:00 to 20:00 every night, and tickets are free for those under 1.2 meters in height.
[Departure and Arrival] I departed from Wuxi and took the high-speed train to Suzhou Station. Then, I took a bus from Suzhou Passenger Transport North Station to Zhouzhuang. The ticket and scenic spot ticket were 100 yuan, and the arrival time was about 1 pm. I took a taxi to the scenic spot. The taxi driver contacted the innkeeper to pick me up at the ticket checkpoint of the ancient theater, put down my luggage, and immediately walked away.
[Tourist Route]
This is a tour guide map of the scenic area. In fact, in Zhouzhuang, you don't even need to pay attention to the route, just wander around casually, and when you're tired, sit down and have tea. Of course, some friends have a tight schedule, so you can refer to the classic route map below that you feel after playing,
Entering from the ticket gate of the ancient theater, walking a few steps leads to the Shuangqiao in the center of the scenic area. Starting from Shuangqiao, the red line with an arrow represents the route. It takes 4 hours to circle around and return to Shuangqiao. I followed this route three times in the afternoon, evening, and morning. In fact, in the afternoon, the main focus is to familiarize oneself with the route and observe the shooting location. At night, take photos of the night scenery. In the morning, it is the best time to experience the ancient town. At the same time, with constant shutter speed, it is very casual to take a picture of the scenery of Jiangnan.
In the afternoon, Zhouzhuang is very popular
In the afternoon, Zhouzhuang was crowded with people
The above picture is a classic picture of Zhouzhuang taken standing on Shuangqiao, which is often found in many travelogues
This is Shuangqiao, there are too many people,
Rowing by a rowing boat
The calm water surface splashed with small splashes of water
A stone arch bridge covered in plants
Along the way, shops are standing nearby
Shopping
The commercialization of Zhouzhuang is well-known. To put it this way, if you don't buy anything in Zhouzhuang, unless you have absolute resistance, there are shops everywhere in Zhouzhuang. The people of Zhouzhuang are clever and have developed many high-level traditional crafts over the past 900 years. Zhouzhuang bamboo weaving and Zhuanglu are representative works among them. As a representative of Jiangnan water towns, Jiangsu embroidery, pearls and other Jiangnan specialties are also abundant here. Buy a few more decorative paintings depicting the beautiful scenery of the four seasons in the water town, paired with small and exquisite frames, and you can take the water town home.
The Zhouzhuang Cultural Street is bustling with tea houses and pharmacies, ironsmithing and cotton spinning, bamboo weaving, dough kneading, woodworking, calligraphy... Here, tourists can relax and experience the rare traditional cultural charm in the city.
Zhangting is one of the few remaining Ming Dynasty buildings in Zhouzhuang Town, originally named Yishuntang. It is said to have been built by the descendants of Xu Kui, the younger brother of the Ming Dynasty King of Zhongshan Xu Da, during the Zhengtong period of the Ming Dynasty. It is a typical mansion of a wealthy family. On the wall of the main hall of Zhangting, a pair of couplets are hung to attract attention. The upper couplet reads "the sedan advances through the door", and the lower couplet reads "the ship passes through its own home". The couplet vividly summarizes the architectural characteristics of Zhang Ting, which is that the residence is built across the river, the house is on the river, and when viewed from the window, a small boat slowly paddles by. This architectural pattern, which is connected to the outside world, is truly unique in Chinese tradition, evoking a peaceful and warm water town atmosphere for tourists.
Little Ducks Playing in the Water
Is Zhouzhuang commercial enough? There's still shopping in Zhangting
To come to Zhouzhuang, one must not overlook the Shen Hall. This is a representative work of Jiangnan dwellings during the Ming and Qing dynasties, but people come here more to explore the past of the wealthy Shen Wansan. Shen Hall, originally named Jingye Hall, was built by Shen Benren, a descendant of Shen Wansan, in the seventh year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1742 AD). The construction area of Shen Hall is huge, with a total of seven entrances and five gates, and more than 100 rooms in size. The entire hall has a typical architectural layout of "front hall and back hall", with a grand appearance and well-designed layout.
In the fifth entrance of the Shen Hall, there is a seated statue of Shen Wansan, a wealthy man from Jiangnan. In front of him is a glittering treasure trove. People from all directions are scrutinizing this wealthy man from Wuzhong, who lived 600 years ago, either for inspiration and reference, or to fulfill their wishes for blessings.
In the Shen Hall, the brick carved gatehouse is the most exquisite, with five layers of brick carvings below, arranged compactly. There is a plaque in the center, engraved with the four characters "Accumulating Thick Flowing Light", and the surrounding forehead frames are finely carved with red plum blossoms welcoming spring reliefs. The brick carved gate tower is also engraved with patterns such as figures, animals, and pavilions and towers, including classical Chinese dramas such as "The Story of the Western Chamber" and "The Top Scholar Riding a White Horse". The lines are fine and smooth, and the characters have different expressions, which are lifelike. Engraving the front, middle, and far scenes on a brick slab that is not an inch long, with exquisite carving and clever conception, can rival the brick carved gatehouses in Suzhou Netmaster Park
Viewing lanterns from different angles
Wow, Jin Yuanbao.
All tourists
Zhouzhuang Craftsman
Leisure Grandma
Suddenly, a smell of dry goods drifted in
No wind, no water, no reflection of income
Let's have a glass of vegetable and fruit juice. A Northeastern gentleman is really kind. He has two cucumbers, two tomatoes, and two apples each. It only costs 15 yuan after squeezing the juice
A very narrow river channel
A little dog passing by
Zhouzhuang is located among thousands of lakes, and the temples in the village naturally float on the water. The Quanfu Lecture Temple has five entrances, but some of the buildings are adjacent to the lake and water. The lake light and water color complement the yellow tiles and gray walls, giving it a sense of the sea, sky, and Buddha kingdom. Unlike other temples, the mountain gate of this temple stands tall on the shore of South Lake, and the dock is flat with blue waves. Tourists can take a boat and climb the steps to the shore. If you enter the temple by land, the order of observing and worshipping Buddha is completely reversed.
Quanfu Lecture Temple has a long history and was first built in the first year of the Yuan You era of the Song Dynasty (1086 AD). It is the result of the continuous expansion of the residence of Zhou Digonglang, a local resident, as the temple. For hundreds of years, incense has flourished and become a famous temple in Jiangnan, mainly dedicated to Buddhist scriptures and offering blessings. It is also a must visit destination for tourists visiting Zhouzhuang.
The business of cruise ships is not easy to do either
Sometimes picking up and being picked up can add a lot of color to the journey. Men and women who are unfamiliar with each other play together on the journey. There is no power struggle in the officialdom, no intrigue in the workplace, and no trivial matters in life. Here, everyone is just for the same purpose, enjoying the journey, and I am at ease. On the journey, there is no need to be overwhelmed by the pressure of learning, life, and work, nor to wear masks that even make you feel nauseous. Everyone can freely swim in the water like a fish. During the journey, everyone can experience the vitality and energy brought by nature. Travel can release your stress, and it can make you have a different view of life. Of course, if you are single, travel can make you meet that person (her), which is completely possible. Dear friends, you may have a special desire to travel, but you may not know where to go in your footsteps. If you have nothing to do, you can browse Weibo and read your social media. The last thing you do before going to bed is touch your phone, and the first thing you do when you wake up is touch your phone, including going to the bathroom. Sometimes, you may feel inexplicable sadness. In fact, these are all symptoms of high pressure. If you have two of them, congratulations. You really need to relieve stress, so feel free to take on your luggage and travel together.
The children's shoes above were just paired up. When it comes to being picked up, one must believe in fate, even if they pass by, it is fate. As the saying goes, a hundred years of cultivation leads to crossing the same boat. This child's shoe took the same car as me from Suzhou to Zhouzhuang, and after getting off the car, we greeted each other and went to the scenic area. Surprisingly, we met again at the scenic area. After discussing our respective routes, we found that they were not going well. After saying goodbye, we wandered around and unexpectedly encountered each other again. Alright, let's take a stroll together. Traveling alone requires someone to take photos. For this three sided relationship, I will work part-time as a photographer.
I've arrived at the strange building, and I really want to say that it's not strange. There are a few 3D paintings inside
The cardboard box king has arrived
This child's shoe is showing up again
Daydream
It's all paper products, unbelievable
After walking around and returning to Shuangqiao, it was already evening, filling my stomach with speed, two dishes and one soup, and living a moderately prosperous life
[Food]
Walking on the shore of the small bridge, seeing the ancient buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties, sitting in a tea house hotel, tasting the fresh local water. In the water town of Zhouzhuang, there is a constant supply of delicacies and aquatic products, among which the most famous are the "Three Treasures of Xianjiang": sea bass, white clams, and silver fish. Zhouzhuang also produces eel, and the saying "rice cooked eel competes with ginseng" is well-known in the local area. In addition, there are turtles, river shrimp, and so on. In addition, Jiangnan specialties such as pickled amaranth and green dough are also deeply loved by tourists. Countless pastries and cooked foods, like a flower market that never fails throughout the four seasons.
In terms of cuisine, it is said to be the "Wansan Banquet" passed down by the wealthy man Shen Wansan of Zhouzhuang. It emphasizes freshness, exquisite selection of ingredients, and excellent color, aroma, taste, and shape. Special dishes include: Wansanchi, Sanwei rice dumpling, steamed mandarin fish, steamed eel tube, water shield perch soup, ginger snail, stuffed meat and oil, braised meat, braised dried bean curd, Wushu lotus root, etc.
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I want to find a place to take photos of the sunset, but I couldn't find it. Friends who know can add it
In addition to soaking in bars, there are also several classic entertainment projects in Zhouzhuang
1. Water Lane Tour: There are many boats in Zhouzhuang, and the shuttle boats always add a bit of rush to the visitors, making them more curious about the scenery ahead. In fact, this hurried cruise is the most charming scenery in Zhuangzi.
2. Upstream of Huanzhen Water: ① The upstream of Huanzhen Water is carried by characteristic painted boats "Wansan" and "Zhouzhuang", integrating experience, leisure, and sightseeing, making it one of the best choices for visiting ancient water towns. The captain is 22.6m tall and 5.5m wide, with luxurious decoration. The interior is equipped with air conditioning, tea seats, silk and bamboo, etc., which is extremely rich in local cultural atmosphere and a sense of nobility and comfort.
3. Listening to Kunqu Opera: Kunqu Opera, known as the "ancestor of all kinds of operas," has been awarded the first batch of nineteen "human oral and intangible cultural heritage works" in different regions of the world.
4. Night tour of Zhouzhuang: The night in Zhouzhuang is wonderful and moving, and the lantern boats in the waterways add a touch of night charm to the ancient town. 5. Fishing Eagle Performance: Fishing with fishing eagles in Zhouzhuang is an ancient and magical way of fishing. The fishing eagle, also known as the "water crow" or "cormorant", has black feathers all over its body, a conical beak, a hook at the front end, and a small pouch on its lower jaw. The swimming ability of the fishing eagle is extremely strong. Its legs are long behind its body, and its toes have wide fins. It can kick the water with great force, and after diving into the water, it is agile and swift, swimming fast.
[Night view intoxicating]
The azure sky, calm as the water surface, picturesque and poetic
Stop walking when you're tired, have tea, and send postcards
The water surface replicates the night scene into the water like a mirror
The camera is out of battery, and even people are out of battery. Good night, Zhouzhuang
[Morning seductive]
Getting up too early at 4:30, there's no need for an alarm clock, and the lights haven't turned off yet. In fact, I can't get up in the morning at home because I'm not lazy, but because I don't have the motivation to wake up
Returning to the ancient town hundreds of years ago, there were trees and
The twin bridges in the early morning are empty and deserted
I really like this movie
Good morning, Mr. Dog
The Horse Head Wall Under the Morning Glow
Good morning, Miss Cat
It's not easy. I saw the sunrise now
After shaking around on an empty stomach, I finally had breakfast. Aozao noodles, 20 yuan
The owner of this shop is very interesting
Grandparents drinking tea
Shen Wansan's Water Tomb is located at the bottom of Yinzibang in Zhenbei. That is a winding and clear small creek. Pinghong algae is green, and reeds and bamboo are dense. People say that there is a stream of water at the end of Yinzibang, which flows down to the spring source and does not dry up in the early years. There is an ancient tomb underwater, very sturdy. Here lies the coffin of Shen Wansan. The shimmering waves on the river surface resemble countless silver fragments flickering, shrouded in a mysterious color.
Legend has it that Shen Wansan has a treasure trove. Back then, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty planned to build the Nanjing City Wall. He once sponsored 13000 taels of silver and was responsible for the construction of the section from Hongwu Gate to Shuixi Gate. Later, the project exceeded the budget, and he donated another 13000 taels. But Zhu Yuanzhang was insatiably greedy and ordered Shen Wansan to sacrifice the treasure trove. Shen Wansan refused and transported the silver back to Zhouzhuang, hiding it under the Silver Bank. Later, he carried a treasure trove and traveled far away, only to be caught by Zhu Yuanzhang's imperial army and sent to Yunnan for exile. After Shen Wansan's death, the coffin was transported back to Zhouzhuang and buried at the bottom of Yinzibang.
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