I recently took a trip to Wuzhen, and although I encountered rainy weather, my heart was still leaping with joy. After all, a rainy day in Jiangnan is what gives it its unique charm.
I must confess that I used to think Wuzhen was too famous, leading to an excess of tourists and a strong commercial atmosphere. This preconception made me feel reluctant to visit. However, after this trip, I realized how wonderful it truly is.
To be honest, Wuzhen is quite large. If you have the time, you could easily spend three to four leisurely days exploring it.
However, I went with a specific purpose this time, so I only visited the West Gate (Xi Zha). But even just visiting the West Gate allowed me to experience the purest form of a Jiangnan water town.
Wuzhen is a magical place. You can’t quite call it a truly ancient town, but it’s not entirely fake either. Once you step into the West Gate scenic area and walk along the old alleys paved with bluestone, the world changes. All the poetic descriptions of Jiangnan water towns in ancient poems come to life in the West Gate, with small bridges, flowing water, and households at every turn.
Moreover, the experience of visiting Wuzhen during the day and at night is different. The West Gate, where I went this time, preserves a large number of old streets, alleys, and Ming and Qing dynasty ancient buildings.
At night, the West Gate scenic area features paddle boats gently swaying on the water surface, passing under bridges, forming the classic picture of a Jiangnan water town alongside the ancient houses on both sides. Every casual snapshot turns out to be a picturesque beauty, making me fall even more in love with this Jiangnan water town.
With that said, you probably know that today’s article is about Wuzhen.
Before coming to Wuzhen, I always felt that ancient towns were all the same and overly commercialized, so I could never muster much interest. But after visiting Wuzhen, I discovered that things aren’t that simple.
First of all, the thorough commercialization of Wuzhen has so many benefits. Eating and shopping in Wuzhen is even cheaper than outside the scenic area. You can’t even find two small shops selling the same thing. The most shocking thing is that even if you go to a guest house or homestay and order a plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, they are required to use 4 eggs per plate. Not one egg less.
Moreover, as you walk through Wuzhen, you will also see some shops that are closed and not operating. This is to restore the tranquil atmosphere of the ancient town. If all the shops were open, it would be too noisy and bustling.
Therefore, reflected in the data, Wuzhen has the highest revisit rate among the numerous scenic areas.
Wuzhen is divided into East, South, West, and North Gates. “Zha” means “fence,” so you can think of Wuzhen as having four main streets: East, South, West, and North. Currently, the East Gate and West Gate are operating as scenic areas.
The East Gate was developed earlier and has a smaller scenic area, but it has more cultural elements. Most one-day tours organized by travel agencies go to the East Gate.
The West Gate boasts beautiful scenery, a large area, and stunning night views.
I definitely recommend visiting the West Gate. It’s the part of Wuzhen that will make you feel completely different from other water towns.
What to do in the West Gate (Xi Zha) of Wuzhen?
Mu Xin Art Museum
In the past, life moved at a slower pace. Cars, horses, and mail were all slow. A lifetime was only enough to love one person. The locks of the past were also beautiful, with exquisite and stylish keys. If you locked it, people would understand.
Wuzhen is the starting and ending point of Mr. Mu Xin’s legendary life. There are currently two places in Wuzhen related to Mr. Mu Xin: the Mu Xin Art Museum and Mu Xin’s Former Residence.
Wuzhen Grand Theatre
This theatre was built specifically for the first Wuzhen International Theatre Festival. Its design style matches Wuzhen perfectly, without looking out of place at all. It is also a grand theatre that becomes more beautiful as the night progresses.
In the past, Ms. Rene Liu held a concert here; Mr. Stan Lai also frequently brings his plays to perform here; every year during the Wuzhen Theatre Festival, this is the main venue.
Wuzhen Outdoor Theatre
A charming open-air theatre with over 2,300 fan-shaped audience seats made of raw wood. From a high vantage point, the main stage on the nearly 7,000-square-meter crescent-shaped lake is fully visible.
The Outdoor Theatre also frequently hosts performances. During the Theatre Festival, it is likely to be packed for every show.
Soy Sauce Fermentation Yard and Dyeing Workshop
The Soy Sauce Fermentation Yard is where soy sauce and bean paste are fermented. It’s not just for show; Wuzhen’s Xuchang Soy Sauce brand is a time-honored Chinese brand.
Indigo-dyed cloth is also a specialty of Wuzhen. This dyeing workshop always has many indigo-colored long cloths hanging for tourists to photograph.
What to eat in the West Gate (Xi Zha)?
To be honest, there are numerous snacks here, but the longest queues are always for radish pastry, Dingsheng cake, and baked buns.
For solo diners, Wu Ma’s wonton and Scholar’s lamb noodles never disappoint. Despite the long queues, turnover is quick. After tasting this bowl of lamb noodles, even Wilber Pan exclaimed that he wanted another bowl.
For a proper meal, Jinan Private Kitchen and Momo’s Home next to Memories are both worth a visit. The latter is said to be a must-visit for Huang Lei as well.
Finally, as usual, here’s a summary:
Honestly, Wuzhen feels very different from other ancient towns and is worth revisiting. I’ll also list my own accommodation recommendations for everyone.
- Wuzhen Village/Rice House: For friends who have been to Wuzhen and want to experience the countryside scenery, as well as parent-child families, you can’t go wrong with these.
- Wangjin Lane/Shengting No.2 Interchangeable: High-end room types! Can meet the needs of any group. The room style leans towards petite bourgeois, but rooms are limited, so you need to be quick.
- Wuzhen Village Homestay: Students, feel free to go for it! The price-performance ratio is super, super high!
