Wuzhen Water Town

Wuzhen is the crown jewel of Jiangnan's water towns. Located 80 km from Hangzhou in neighboring Tongxiang, it has over a thousand years of history and has been beautifully preserved. The town is divided into two scenic areas: Dongzha (East Gate) — the more traditional area with workshops, museums, and narrow lanes — and Xizha (West Gate) — the more scenic area with wider canals, grander architecture, and the famous evening lanterns.

Key sights include the Hundred-Bed Museum (exquisite antique carved beds from the Ming and Qing dynasties), the Indigo Fabric Workshop (watch artisans dye cloth using centuries-old techniques), and the former residence of Mao Dun, one of China's most important 20th-century writers who was born here. The canal boat ride through Xizha at dusk, as red lanterns begin to glow across the water, is the quintessential Jiangnan experience.