When it comes to traditional Chinese water towns, visitors to the Yangtze River Delta have a host of beautiful examples of to choose from—canal towns like Tongli and Zhouzhuang, for example, or the city known as the "Venice of the East," Suzhou.

Yet if you only had the time to visit one, many in-the-know China travelers would recommend the small but bright gem of Wuzhen (Wūzhèn, 乌镇). Situated between Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou in the heart of the network of waterways that have nurtured this part of China for millenia.

Wuzhen itself possesses over 2,000 years of history, a fact made material in attractions like Tongji Bridge and Renji Bridge (together known as the "Bridge within a Bridge," thanks to a trick of visual perspective), the quaint Fanglu Pavilion and the ancestral Residence of Mao Dun, one of 20th century China's most cherished novelists, who is also commemorated by the Mao Dun Museum.

Entrance to Wuzhen is free, but museums and sites require a ticket to get in. The town is divided into the East Scenic Route (RMB 100) and the West Scenic Route (RMB 120).

Wuzhen itself, however, is the real treasure—its narrow streets, alleys, canals and traditional whitewashed houses with grey slate roofs make for a wonderful day of casual exploration, and it's within easy day-tripping distance of Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou.

History

Situated alongside the Grand Canal, a feat of ancient engineering that rivals the Great Wall of China for sheer size but easily beats it for successfully fulfilling its intended purpose, Wuzhen's long history has been dominated by trade, fishing, rice cultivation and silk production.

The town of Wuzhen went on the official records in 872 AD, though the archeological evidence unearthed at Tanjiawan show that the area has been settled for an estimated 7,000 years. Enjoying a relatively unbroken history of cultural and economic development, Wuzhen's stock of predominantly 19th century buildings and classical stone bridges remain much as they have for generations, providing visitors with a rare chance to see this part of China—the Nanjiang region south of the Yangtze River—in its tradtional state.

The town's most famous native son, the author Mao Dun, grew up here and commemorated life on the Yangtze in his famous tale "The Lin's Shop" before documenting the changes wrought by modernization in epic novels like Midnight. Mao was part of a movement of revolutionary artists and writers who helped usher in China's transformation from Qing Dynasty imperial feudalism to the fitfully modernizing People's Republic, and his family home and a museum built in his honor are popular Wuzhen attractions. Mao Dun became the PRC's first Minister of Culture after the 1949 communist victory.

In 1991, Wuzhen was declared a historical preservation zone and much of its present prosperity derives from tourism.

Climate

Spring and Fall are the best times to visit Wuzhen, with moderate rains and temperatures making for pleasant outdoor weather. April and May see high temperatures in the mid-teens and 20s º C (60s and 70s º F) and moderate precipitation.

September is nice and October is brilliant, with little rain and highs ranging from 15-24 º C (70-84 º F).

Summers are hot and muggy, with August highs reaching well into the 30s º C (90s º F), and winters chilly and damp, with lows occasionally dipping below freezing.

If you're lucky, you can catch the town after a fresh snowfall—the dark waters of the canals and branches of the willows stand out against the snow, adding charm to an already quaint and beautiful scene.

Zhejiang guide | Wuzhen guide | Wuzhen attractions | Wuzhen flights (Hangzhou)
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