# Luzhi Ancient Town (甪直)

Suzhou, Jiangsu Province · East China, China · Guidebook rating: 4/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/luzhi-ancient-town
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Admission:** Combined ticket ¥78; large boat ¥100 (seats up to 5 people); single-person boat ride approx. ¥10; Zhanglin Garden ¥20
- **Opening hours:** 8：00—17：00
- **Time needed:** 3-5 hours
- **Address:** No. 21 Xiaoshi Road, Wuzhong District, Suzhou
- **Getting there:** Take Route 518 from Suzhou Railway Station to Luzhi Station; or take a tourist line from Suzhou North Bus Station to Luzhi
- **Good for:** History & Culture, Old Towns & Villages, Photography, Waterfront

## About Luzhi Ancient Town

Luzhi Town is a Jiangnan water town known for its Arhat sculptures and its historic commercial street. Its 72.5 bridges are also world-famous. Ye Shengtao, the modern writer, taught here in his early years and often called Luzhi his 'second hometown', a sign of his deep affection for the place. He is buried here. 'Many small bridges span the waterways, and every home is built along the river' is a true portrait of Luzhi's rich water-town atmosphere.
Baosheng Temple — Luzhi's Baosheng Temple is a thousand-year-old monastery, reputed to be one of the Four Great Temples of Jiangnan. Its surviving buildings include the Second Mountain Gate, the Hall of Heavenly Kings and the Museum of Antiquities. The sculpted arhats in the museum are said to be the work of Yang Huizhi, the Tang-dynasty master sculptor. They are extremely precious and remain remarkably well preserved after a thousand years.
Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall — This is where the writer, educator, publisher and social activist Ye Shengtao worked. To honour and remember him, the people of Luzhi rebuilt several of the sites where he taught and turned them into the Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall. Ye wrote a number of novels set in Luzhi, including The Song of the Cold Dawn Lute, More Grain Harvested Than Ever, and The Tall Ginkgo Tree.

## Tips from the guidebook

- Driving Route
- Shanghai → Yan'an Elevated Road → Hu-Qing-Ping Expressway (A9) → Outer Ring Expressway (A30) (toward the Hu-Ning Expressway) → Chongu Dayin Exit → Beiqing Road → Su-Hong Airport Road → Luzhi
- Be Sure to Stroll Across the Small Bridges
- Be sure to walk across some of Luzhi's small bridges. Strolling over the different bridges, watching the water flow beneath your feet and admiring the old buildings on either side, is a delight in itself.
- Getting to Luzhi
- 1. The minibus from Zhouzhuang to Suzhou passes through Luzhi; the journey takes about 30 minutes.
- 2. Luzhi is right next to the Suzhou Industrial Park. From the airport expressway, the drive takes about 30 minutes.
- 3. There are direct services to Luzhi from Suzhou, Hangzhou and Nanjing, and also by water.
- 4. On weekends and public holidays, special tourist shuttle buses run from the Shanghai Yangpu Sports Center, the Hongkou Football Stadium and the Shanghai Stadium to Luzhi, returning in the afternoon.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 1052. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
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