# Wuzhen (乌镇)

Nanxun, Zhejiang Province · East China, China · Guidebook rating: 5/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/wuzhen
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Admission:** Dongzha Scenic Area ¥110; Xizha Scenic Area ¥150; combined Dongzha and Xizha ticket ¥190
- **Opening hours:** Xizha 9:00–22:00; Dongzha 7:00–18:00
- **Time needed:** 1–2 days
- **Getting there:** Wuzhen Bus Station is about 2 km from Xizha; take bus K350 directly. The bus station is about 0.5 km from Dongzha and can be reached on foot
- **Good for:** History & Culture, Old Towns & Villages, Photography, Waterfront

## About Wuzhen

Wuzhen lies at the junction of two provinces, three prefectures and seven counties. During the Spring and Autumn period, when the states of Wu and Yue were at war, the King of Wu stationed troops here to guard against Yue invasions, and the name “Wushu” (乌戍) is said to come from this. In the Qin dynasty it fell under Kuaiji Commandery, and in the Tang dynasty under Suzhou Prefecture. The name “Wuzhen” first appears in the 872 Suojing Mingwang Temple Stele, which may mark the beginning of the town's history under the name “Wu.”
As one of the six famous water towns of Jiangnan, Wuzhen's four old streets, to the east, west, south and north, cross in a “十” shape, forming a dual-grid layout of parallel river and street, with water and land side by side. Many Ming and Qing buildings survive here, and the old houses built along the rivers, together with the stone bridges spanning them, create the charm of a Jiangnan town of little bridges, flowing water and ancient homes. Xizha's old street is one of the best-preserved Ming and Qing architectural complexes in China. Other highlights include the Xiuzhen Temple Opera Stage, the Shuangqiao (Double Bridge) scenery, the Liangyuan historic sites, and a Tang dynasty ginkgo tree. In short, Wuzhen's beauty is something you must savour slowly, with care.

## Tips from the guidebook

- Try to spend the night in Xizha. Touring Xizha after dark is a completely different experience from daytime: as evening falls, warm, dancing lights reflected on the water make the whole of Xizha shimmer. Taking a sculling boat out on Xishi River is the most classic way to experience Xizha.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 1251. 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.
Site: China Trip (https://cnatrip.com) — independent China travel guide in 13 languages.