Canals, bridges, and old times: Wuzhen beyond theaters

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Late October was usually not the peak season for travel in Wuzhen, but the situation changed five years ago with the inaugural Wuzhen Theater Festival. At this time of the year, theater fans or not are flocking in to enjoy the extravaganza and the ancient town.

If you travel to Wuzhen for the first time, be prepared to get lost in its winding water channels and slabstone-paved pathways.

Sitting in the “Golden Triangle” formed by Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou, Wuzhen is the most representative of China's Jiangnan – south of the Yangtze River – area.

Wuzhen is the most representative of China's Jiangnan area. /Photo via wuzhen.com.cn

The 1,300-year-old water town is crisscrossed by numerous river lanes with stone bridges connecting one another, resembling Venice of Italy. Along the banks are centuries-old wooden houses with white walls and grey rooftops.

Wuzhen is often known as the "Venice of the East." /Photo via wuzhen.com.cn

Of its four areas, namely Dongzha (East Zone), Xizha (West Zone), Nanzha (South Zone), and Beizha (North Zone), the east and west areas are well-developed for tourism while the north and south zones are mostly residential.

An overnight stay in the water town is highly recommended if you want to fully appreciate its charm. From luxurious five-star hotels to homestays and youth hostels, the small township offers a wide range of choices to accommodate the needs of all travelers.

Highlights of West Zone

Indigo Fabric Workshop

You can find this kind of workshop in both the West and East zones. The indigo fabric workshop was first founded in the West Zone during the 13th century before it was moved to its present location in the east in late 19th century.

At the dye house, visitors can get to know the whole procedure of the craftsmanship. The workshop today still applies the traditional methods used generations ago. It still serves as both the production base and distribution center for indigo cloth. Its blue and white motifs stand out as an unmistakable representation of folk art.

Indigo fabric workshop. /Photo via wuzhen.com.cn

On a large open field are piles of tall poles with newly dyed clothes drying. When the wind blows, the clothes in various colors would dance along against the white walls, creating an image with artistic merits.

Almost all households in this area use this fabric as curtains, kerchiefs, aprons, wrappers, quilts and tablecloths. Though the fashion in the young generation has changed, the old ladies stick to the good old times.

Yida Silk Workshop

Since the fabric was mentioned, how can we miss silk? Hailed as the "Land of Silk," Wuzhen is one of China’s most famous centers for silk production.

Yida Silk Workshop was founded in 1875. Its owner of the second generation invented the brocade weaving machine in 1923, greatly simplifying the working processes. Nevertheless, it takes more than 100 days to finish a piece of brocade.

Yida Silk Workshop. /Photo via wuzhen.com.cn

The production area here demonstrates the whole process of silk manufacturing. Visitors can view decades-old mulberry trees growing along the river, watch silkworms growing and spinning their cocoons, try reeling silk themselves on antique machinery, and appreciate some of the beautiful finished silk works on display.

Wedding Museum

It is the first museum to display the marriage culture in this area. The hall, a two-storied complex with four entrances and four courts, is composed of the front hall, the wedding hall, the meeting hall, the sedan hall, the worship hall, the colored pavilion, the bridal chamber and the back garden.

Wedding Museum. /Photo via wuzhen.com.cn

Visitors are treated to the dowry, decorations, tools, furniture, costumes, jewelry, wedding boats, and musical instruments in the old times.

The museum also provides several interactive games for the visitors such as shaking the sedan chair while carrying the bride or jumping over the wall to meet your lover.

Chinese Foot-binding Culture Museum

It may be intriguing and confusing to foreign visitors who are not familiar with Chinese history. In more than 1,000 years in ancient China, women were required to bind their feet to three inches long for beauty.

Chinese Foot-binding Museum. /Photo via wuzhen.com.cn

The museum is considered the most authoritative of its kind in the country, with 825 pairs of shoes designed for bound feet, numerous pictures and associated items, all accompanied by detailed descriptions.

Water Market

Living by the rivers, local residents have long begun exploiting this natural advantage to conduct commercial exchanges. The result? A water market that spans about 3,400 square meters.

The riverside denizens could call out to passing boats once they spot anything in need, and the boatmen would steer their way towards the houses, much to the delight of local people then and now.

Water market. /Photo via wuzhen.com.cn

After spending much of your time and energy in those workshops and museums, a visit to the water market would be a relaxing and fun experience. You just need to hop on a boat and sail down the river channels. You can stop anytime and anywhere. Buying some fresh food at the market and cooking a meal at your homestay would become a memorable moment during the trip.

The night in Wuzhen is never to miss. When lights are on and the daylight chaos recedes, Wuzhen reveals another side of its beauty – the more tranquil, elegant one. Take a walk along the canals and hear the water murmuring and the waves patting on the stone banks. At this time, Wuzhen is all yours.

Wuzhen at night. /Photo via wuzhen.com.cn

Highlights of East Zone

Bamboo Acrobatic Show

Close to the entrance of the East Zone stands a wooden platform upon which is a sky-pointing bamboo pole. It is where the bamboo acrobatic show takes stage twice a day.

Bamboo acrobatic show. /Photo via wuzhen.com.cn

The 10-minute show is adrenaline-inspiring. The performer will climb to the upper part of the pole which is seemingly easy to break. Yet he manages to perform all kinds of scary stunts.

Wine distillery workshop

Wuzhen's wine distillery dates as early as the 14th century when there were already 20 workshops producing this liquid. Among them, Gaogongsheng, Shunxing and Yongsheng were the most famous.

Wine distillery workshop. /Photo via wuzhen.com.cn

Gaogongsheng Distillery, the only one that survives today, was first founded as a purveyor of pickled food in the 1360’s. The most famous of its output? Sanbai Wine, literally means "Three Whites Wine" as it is made primarily of white rice, white flour and white (crystal-clear) water. It is famous for its soft yet lasting mellowness flavor. It was presented at the enthronement ceremony of the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty in 1368.

Ancient Bed Museum

Seated on Dongzha Street, the museum is the first of its kind to feature the collection and exhibition of antique beds. Exquisitely carved beds with local styles are on display, with the oldest dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Ancient Bed Museum. /Photo via wuzhen.com.cn

Here, visitors can easily observe the differences between the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the first hall is a framed bed from the Ming Dynasty, with hoof-shaped legs and rails that look like a writing brush. No complicated designs or elaborate decorations, the bed is a perfect reflection of that time when people better appreciated the original flavors and simplicities.

Lying in the second hall is the Bed of a Thousand Craftsman from the Qing Dynasty. It took more than 1,000 craftsmen to shape the bed in three years. It is regarded as the finest example of the Lower Yangtze River craftsmanship in the museum.

Shadow Play

Before you leave, remember to spare some time for a shadow play. This traditional Chinese folk art is the equivalent to silent cartoons.

Shadow Play. /Photo via wuzhen.com.cn

The body parts of the puppets are separately cut out and joined together so that they could have as much as 24 movable joints. The sophisticated puppeteers were able to operate five rods on one puppet with only one hand.

The local shadow theater troupes have been invited to several places around the world to perform, attracting a large number of fans overseas.

The traditional culture and picturesque scenery make Wuzhen shine brightly both domestically and internationally. However, its charm doesn't just stop there.

The old town is also a remarkable blender of past and present. Benefiting from the world-leading e-commerce development of its home province of Zhejiang in east China, Wuzhen has made huge progress in its smart tourism action. E-tickets, mobile payment and WiFi coverage make the visit to the town more convenient than ever. It has also been chosen as the permanent site of the World Internet Conference.

1084km