Is Zhouzhuang Worth Visiting? Where is Zhouzhuang? Zhouzhuang Travel Guide

Meeting people is a kind of fate, just like meeting Zhouzhuang. Before coming to Zhouzhuang, I didn’t have too many ideas. Mainly, my friend strongly recommended the night view here, saying it was good, and I could come here to see the beauty when I had time. The scenery is not only charming but also easy to calm down a restless heart. Sometimes it’s not a bad thing to let yourself go blank. Thinking too much makes you tired.

Zhouzhuang has always been a name that I’ve longed for; Zhouzhuang has always been a place I’ve yearned for; Zhouzhuang has always been a dream in my heart. Finally, I found the time and dragged z to go with me.

It was almost dusk when we arrived. Zhouzhuang, with its gray tiles and white walls, wasn’t very bright, like an ancient painting. After a short rest, z dragged me out to solve the problem of my five internal organs. After dinner, Zhouzhuang had already fallen completely into night. The lights, one by one, lit up, and the light, one by one, fell down. This is Zhouzhuang at night.

Wearing a denim overalls dress, flip-flops on my feet, and a bun, I held z’s sleeve, and z put his hands in his pockets. Together, we walked through the streets of Zhouzhuang, until all the lights came on and then went out.

The night wind, blowing in my face, passed gently. The people on the street, bustling and noisy, walked and stopped. Crossing bridge after bridge, the sound of water gurgled, with grandpas and grandmas rowing their boats by. Passing by shop after shop, the noise of people was loud, and the shop owners, aunties and uncles, warmly greeted you to come in and eat.

Zhouzhuang, it turns out, is not cold, not an otherworldly fairyland, not a hermit who is indifferent to the world; it is the bustling world, it is a youth with both movement and stillness.

Walking and stopping, we came to a store themed on “paper” (my brain is not very sharp, the name seems to be called “Paper Box King”). Inside, objects of all sizes are all made of paper, mostly kraft paper color. Being in it, you feel a sense of simplicity, nature, and the rough peace of mind.

I like the paper lantern section the most. There are all kinds of shapes and colors, like a dream, making me feel like I’m in a colorful fairy tale world.

Zhouzhuang has several famous residences, the most famous being the Shen Residence. Walking through the Shen Residence, following the tour group behind, and eavesdropping on the tour guide talking about history and the changes of time. What impressed me most was not the legendary epic of Shen Wansan and his wealth that rivaled the country, nor was it the Shen Residence, which was still visible even after years of time. It was an inadvertent glance up, and the lanterns hanging above.

The light inside the house was dim, and the diffused light was not very bright. In this ancient space, looking up, the light seemed to quietly open the door of time. One lantern after another, one step after another. They carry the years, and they precipitate time.

Zhouzhuang is full of guesthouses. They are all similar, but they are also different. The most impressive one is a guesthouse called “Hidden Lane”. If you walk along the lights, what kind of world will be at the end? “Hidden Lane”, hidden in the lane, quiet in the midst of the noise. Is it the wisdom of the so-called “small hiding in the wild, big hiding in the city”?

Wandering through the crowd, I still want to embrace the tranquility of Zhouzhuang. So I avoided the crowds and went to places with fewer people. Winding through the narrow lanes, I saw a wide expanse of water.

Lights, ancient bridges, and the reflection of boats.

A gentle breeze rose, and my skirt fluttered. The lake surface was like a mirror, but it was not very peaceful. The scenery by the shore was shadowy. The bridge in the distance, the moon in the sky, the trees on the shore, and the nearby pavilions and terraces. Everything was immersed in the light, like a dream, like a fairyland.

Zhouzhuang at night is beautiful and moving. The river lights and the flowing water are intertwined, and the ancient bridges of thousands of years old are reflected in the river water.

Lotus lanterns on the water surface flicker and drift by, and the ancient buildings are quietly asleep under the streetlights,

making you subconsciously slow down your pace and appreciate everything your eyes can reach.

Travel Guide

【Itinerary Tips】

1. If you are not in a hurry, it is best to stay overnight in Zhouzhuang. It is very comfortable.

2. If you stay overnight inside or outside the town, you can take a photo before entering Zhouzhuang. This will allow you to enter and exit Zhouzhuang for free for 3 days. The entrance is at the main gate.

3. Because you can enter and exit Zhouzhuang for free for 3 days, we ate outside Zhouzhuang, which was cheaper! There are 2 supermarkets outside. In the morning, there is nothing to eat in Zhouzhuang. So, we bought 2 boxes of instant noodles to eat the next morning.

4. Don’t stay too far away in Zhouzhuang, because it is very dark at night. It feels quite scary in places without lights. There is a guesthouse called Hongfu Guesthouse, which has a good location. I don’t know how the decoration is. There is also a Youth Hostel, where they charge by bed. It felt pretty good when I passed by. The location is also pretty good, suitable for budget travelers and backpackers. (There are a lot of guesthouses, you can also go there to find one temporarily. There are many empty rooms in the off-season. I don’t know about the peak season.)

5. It is best not to buy the braised pork knuckle inside. The guesthouse owner said that the braised pork knuckle is sold again the next day after it is not sold on the first day. If you really want to buy it, it is better to buy vacuum-packed ones. (Suzhou cuisine is sweet. If you don’t like to eat sweet, buy one to taste at home.)

6. It is best to bring a teacup to drink water if possible. The water inside is very expensive. Old lady’s tea is everywhere. It is just tea water=0= and it costs 10 yuan per cup.

7. If you are buying things inside, you can go to several stores and bargain more.

【Zhouzhuang Expenses】

Ticket + round-trip Suzhou ticket: 116 Accommodation: 200/room Rowing: 15/person*2=30 Rowing tip: 10 yuan (because the boat is shared with others)

Pan-fried dumplings: 10/serving Other miscellaneous expenses: 50*2=100

【Zhouzhuang Accommodation】

There are many guesthouses in Zhouzhuang. You can find them on the spot. Double rooms are available for between 80 and 200 yuan.

But I am a loyal budget traveler who prefers youth hostels. So, I chose the Zhouzhuang International Youth Hostel. The hostel is right next to the Twin Bridges and the Ancient Stage. The accommodation conditions inside can be rated 4 out of 5. If you, like me, are staying in a bed, try not to choose the bed in the back, which is stuffy. Try to choose the top bunk. They also have two shy dogs. Very shy……

【Zhouzhuang Cuisine】

Coming to Zhouzhuang, you can’t miss the local snacks here. There are many characteristic snack shops near Zhenfeng Street and around the Shen Residence. Zhouzhuang’s snacks are very rich. Wansan Thigh, Old Lady’s Tea, and White Clams are the most famous. You can also find various pastries here, such as Qingtuan, Socks Bottom Pastry, and Supporting Waist Cake, which are characteristic of Jiangnan. You can explore the streets and find them to taste.