Winding water channels, stone bridges, age-old wooden houses and slab stone paved pathways. Our last episode of "Ancient Charm of China" takes you to east China's Zhejiang Province to trace the "Venice of the East."

On the west bank of the Grand Canal in Tongxiang, Jiaxing City, stands a 1,300-year-old ancient town of Wuzhen. Local people's way of life revolves around rich water resources. Traditional buildings in white and grey remain intact after hundreds of years.

Over the years, Wuzhen has been revitalized from a residential area to a popular tourist destination. Today it showcases fascinating China via its gorgeous water town scenery, growing soft power and international influence.

The meandering canals divide Wuzhen into four sections. Among them, the East Scenic Zone, or Dongzha in Chinese, and the West Scenic Zone, or Xizha, are well-developed tourist attractions, receiving large crowds of visitors from home and abroad.

The East Scenic Zone maintains the original water town lifestyle as well as local customs such as shadow plays, martial arts, and Huagu Opera – a form of Chinese local opera. There are also various workshops displaying traditional Chinese crafts. 

When it comes to the West Scenic Zone, you'll find an harmonious mix of modern and ancient times. There are quite a few historic sites to explore with buildings and streets built in Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912). 

In a quiet corner, there's a must-visit modern architectural site. The Mu Xin Art Museum presents the lifelong work and legacy of Chinese artist, writer and poet Mu Xin (1927-2011). It has become a rising cultural destination in the past years.

However, Wuzhen is not just about travel. In recent years, it has not only witnessed growing popularity as a tourist destination but it has also become a hub for cultural exchanges and creative economy.

Wuzhen has been picked as the permanent venue for the World Internet Conference (WIC), also known as the Wuzhen Summit. The sixth WIC will be held from October 20 to 22 under the theme of "Intelligent Interconnection for Openness and Cooperation: Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace."

This October, Wuzhen is destined to draw numerous attention. Following the WIC event, it will welcome the seventh year of Wuzhen Theatre Festival, to be held October 25 to November 3, themed "Emerge."

A dozen of Specially Invited Plays will be introduced to radiate their enormous cultural charms. Besides, the Outdoor Carnival is a highlight that one shall always NOT miss. 

For more information, visit the official website .

Food in Wuzhen is a delight to indulge in. Wuzhen is home to abundant fish, so pickled Taihu Lake whitewater fish is a good start. The meat is delicate, smooth, and tender, but mind the fish bones. 

Travel tips:

Transportation: Wuzhen is 1.5-hour drive from Hangzhou and 2-hour drive from Shanghai. The Shanghai-Wuzhen Highway is well serviced and there are special bus lines available. It would be a good option to include a journey of a day or two to Wuzhen next time you visit Shanghai or Hangzhou.

Climate: Typical subtropical monsoon climate with great sunshine and rich rainfall

Admission fee: 150 yuan (21 U.S. dollars) for the West Scenic Zone and 110 yuan (15.5 U.S. dollars) for the East Scenic Zone. 190 yuan (26.7 U.S. dollars) for both zones.

Opening hours: The West Scenic Zone opens from 9:00 a.m. to 22:00 p.m. The East Scenic Zone opens from 7:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. in summer and 7:00 a.m. to 17:30 p.m. in winter.

(Video edited by Zhang Chunnan, cover image by Jia Jieqiong)