Zhouzhuang Water Town

Zhouzhuang is a canal town in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, about 250 km (155 miles) southeast of Nanjing and close to Shanghai and Suzhou. It is one of the best-known water towns in the Yangtze delta, with stone bridges, narrow lanes and Ming and Qing houses lining the canals. The usual route is a high-speed train from Nanjing South Railway Station to Kunshan South Station, taking about 1 hour 15 minutes for roughly ¥100-120 in second class, followed by a bus or taxi of about 40 minutes to the old town. Total travel time is therefore around two to two and a half hours each way, so an early start is important. The main sights include the Twin Bridges (Shuangqiao), a pair of connected stone bridges made famous by a painting, the Fu'an Bridge, Shen's House, a large Ming-era merchant residence, and Zhang's Hall. Visitors can also take a small rowing boat along the canals, which gives a good view of the waterside houses. A good plan is to arrive before 10:00, walk the main lanes and bridges in the morning, and take the boat ride around midday. Lunch in the town often features Wanshan braised pork knuckle, river shrimp, and local rice dumplings, served in canal-side restaurants. The afternoon can be used to explore quieter side lanes and small museums before the crowds thin in the evening, when the lanterns come on. April to May and September to November offer comfortable weather, while summer is hot and holidays are very crowded. Entry to the ancient town is ticketed, with additional fees for boats and some houses, so check the current prices. Since the return journey is long, visitors should plan an evening train back, or consider staying overnight in Zhouzhuang or Suzhou to enjoy the town after the day-trippers leave.