Zhouzhuang (Chinese: 周庄; pinyin: Zhōuzhuāng) is a town in Jiangsu province, China. It is located within Kunshan county-level city, 30 km southeast of Suzhou. Zhouzhuang is a popular tourist destination. It is one of the most famous water townships in China, noted for its profound cultural background, the well preserved ancient residential houses, the elegant watery views and the strong local colored traditions and customs. It has been called the “Venice of the East”.
The ancient town, which has a history of more than 900years old still keeps the intact, original ancient water village’s style and pattern. The most famous attractions are Fu’an Bridge, Double Bridge and the Hall of Shen’s Residence. Fu’an Bridge is the only remaining three-dimensional building which made a connection between bridge and house.
Zhouzhuang is surrounded and divided by lakes and rivers, 14 stone bridges cross the rivers, showing distinctive views of the water-town. Double Bridge connected by two bridges as a whole. Stone Bridge was built in Ming Dynasty. It is firm and simple, and composed by a stone arch bridge and a beam bridge. The Stone Bridge, likes a lock, tightly connects the north-south River and Silver Band River.
The Hall of Shen’s Residence is Qing-style. The overall structure looks very rigorous and the parts of the hall have different scenery. In addition, there are Quanfu Temple (Buddhist) and Chengxu Temple (Taoist) and other religion sites. The whole town connected to the bridges and streets, all houses were built on the river.
The boat gently rocking and green shadow whirling on the bank of river. When you visit it, you will feel you are in a picture. Overseas newspapers called Zhouzhuang as “China’s first water village”. “Small bridge, Flowing water, people” is the special characteristics of Zhouzhuang. Every family has its own pier in the water town.
In the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC), Zhouzhuang Suzhou was a part of the fief Yaocheng and called Zhenfengli. After being donated to Full Fortune (Quanfu) Temple by Zhou Digong, a very devout Buddhist, in 1086 during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), Zhouzhuang got its present name as a memorial of the donor.
More panoramas of Zhouzhuang can be seen in Arounder Shanghai.