Living in Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, China's First Water Town

Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, located in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, is hailed as China's first water town. With its unique scenery, it perfectly embodies the charm of a picturesque water town with bridges, flowing streams, and quaint houses. This time, I chose to stay within the scenic area, hoping to experience the tranquil and leisurely atmosphere of the ancient town with fewer crowds. Entry to the scenic area requires a ticket priced at ¥100, even for overnight guests. However, when I arrived at 9 PM, I was able to enter the area without a ticket! At night, Zhouzhuang is serene, with lights reflecting on the river and shops along the streets still open for business. Occasionally, you might encounter a few tourists in the alleys, and the town becomes increasingly peaceful as the night deepens. During the day, I took advantage of the early hours before the crowds arrived to visit landmarks such as the Twin Bridges, Grandma's Bridge, Shen Wansan's Former Residence, Zhang Hall, and South Lake Autumn Moon. Transportation to Zhouzhuang is not very convenient. I opted for the Suqi Direct Bus, and here’s a brief overview of transportation options for reference: ① Self-driving or taking a taxi ② Suqi Direct Bus: Search for it on the WeChat mini program. The vehicle is a small business van. It departs from Suzhou North Square Station and goes directly to "Zhouzhuang Ancient Town." For the return trip to Suzhou city center, the driver will call to confirm the pick-up location. The one-way fare is less than ¥50, and the journey takes less than 1.5 hours. ③ Public transportation: Not recommended, as it takes at least 3 hours one way and requires transfers.