Here is the travel guide for Wuzhen, the ancient town in the south of the Yangtze River!

I had no intention of entering Jiangnan, but Jiangnan entered my heart Overview: Wuzhen is located in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. It is one of the typical representatives of China's Jiangnan water towns and is known as the "land of fish and rice, and the home of silk." Wuzhen has a history of thousands of years. Its crisscrossing waterways, ancient bridges, bluestone roads, and houses with white walls and black tiles are full of Jiangnan charm. It is divided into four scenic areas: East, West, South and North, among which East Gate and West Gate are the main tourist areas. 1. Best time to visit: •        Spring and Autumn (March to May, September to November): The weather is pleasant and suitable for walking and taking photos. Wuzhen in autumn has cool weather and charming scenery. •        Winter (December-February): Wuzhen in winter has a tranquil beauty, which is especially suitable for avoiding the peak tourist season and experiencing the quaint charm of the water town. 2. Recommended major scenic spots: •          Dongzha Scenic Area: •         With traditional handicrafts and water town life as the theme, it retains a large number of original water town life scenes. •          Recommended attractions: Indigo Printing Workshop (where you can learn about traditional printing and dyeing techniques), Hundred Beds Museum (displays ancient precious wooden beds), and Former Residence of Mao Dun (the former residence of Mao Dun, a giant of modern Chinese literature). •          Xizha Scenic Area: •          It has later opening hours, the night view is particularly charming, and the architectural layout is more modern and complete, which is suitable for the accommodation experience. •          Recommended attractions: Wuzhen Grand Theater (a modern building in Jiangnan style), Caomu Bense Dyeing Workshop (experience hand-dyed cloth), and Xishi River night view (a must-see attraction for a night tour of Xizha). •          Floating Market: •          The floating market in Xizha retains the traditional commercial atmosphere of the water town, with boats trading on the river during the day, which is unique. 3. Tour method: •        Walking: Wuzhen scenic area is suitable for walking tours. The distances between various attractions are not far. You can leisurely stroll along the river and feel the tranquility of the ancient town. •        Hand-rowed boat: You can take a hand-rowed boat to travel through the rivers in Wuzhen, which is especially suitable for taking pictures of the ancient buildings and sunset along the river. 4. Accommodation recommendations: •          Hotels in Xizha: There are many characteristic homestays and high-end hotels in Xizha Scenic Area. You can check in directly after a night tour of Xizha, which is very convenient. •          Recommended accommodation: Tong’an Inn (traditional Jiangnan architectural style, antique style) •          Waterfront Resort Hotel (built by the water, quiet environment, suitable for vacation) •        B&B outside Dongzha: If your budget is tight, you can choose a B&B outside Dongzha, which is within walking distance of the scenic area. •          Recommended accommodation: Banyan Tree Wuzhen. 5. Food recommendations: •          Braised lamb: a famous Wuzhen dish with tender meat and rich aroma, especially suitable for consumption in winter. •          White water fish: a specialty river fish along the Xizha River, with a light, delicious taste. •          Dingsheng cake: a traditional snack in Wuzhen, a small cake made from glutinous rice flour with a soft and sticky texture and auspicious meaning. •          Gusao Cake: a traditional crispy cake with sesame aroma, one of the special snacks in Wuzhen. 6. Traffic Information: •          From Hangzhou/Shanghai: Take the high-speed rail to Tongxiang Station, and then transfer to the Wuzhen tourist bus, which takes about 30 minutes to reach the scenic area. •          Self-driving tour: Wuzhen is about 1.5 hours’ drive from Hangzhou and about 2 hours’ drive from Shanghai. Parking is convenient, and there is a large parking lot outside the Xizha Scenic Area. 7. Notes: •         Tickets: Tickets for East Gate and West Gate are sold separately, and a combined ticket is more cost-effective. The East Gate ticket is about 100 yuan, the West Gate ticket is about 150 yuan, and the combined ticket is about 200 yuan. •        Night tour experience: Xizha’s night view is very famous. It is recommended to stay at least one night to experience the unique charm of the water town at night. •        Comfortable clothing: There are many cobblestone roads in the ancient town, so it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes for long-term walking.