The Secret to China's "Venice of the East"? Wait Until the Sun Goes Down.
You’ll hear Zhouzhuang called the "Venice of the East," but that doesn't quite do it justice. It’s more intimate, more ancient. It’s a town where the main avenues are canals, and the soundtrack is the gentle splash of a sculling oar against water. The best way to introduce yourself is to step onto a traditional, black-roofed gondola. As you glide under stone bridges that have arched over these canals for 600 years, your boatman might sing a local folk song, his voice echoing off the whitewashed walls of homes that seem to rise directly from the water.
By day, you’ll wander a labyrinth of stone-paved alleys, peeking into the courtyards of the magnificent Shen House, the former residence of a 14th-century tycoon. You'll smell the sweet, herbal aroma of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) steaming in street-side stalls. But the real Zhouzhuang, the one you'll fall in love with, reveals itself after the tour buses depart. As dusk settles, red lanterns flicker to life, casting a warm, romantic glow upon the water, and a magical quiet descends.
Insider Tip:
Don't be a day-tripper. The secret to truly experiencing Zhouzhuang is to stay overnight. After 5 PM, the crowds vanish. You can enjoy a peaceful dinner at a canalside restaurant and take a late-night stroll, where the only sound is your own footsteps on the ancient stones. It's a completely different, far more magical town.
