Evening Wuzhen tour with dinner from Hangzhou

Hangzhou is in Zhejiang Province, China. It is one of the most important tourist cities in China, famous for its natural beauty and historical and cultural heritage. It is the political, economic and cultural center of Zhejiang province as well. It's worthwhile to know that it's extremely humid in summertime, which is from early June to early September. The city was the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty from 1127 until the Mongol invasion of 1276. This historic city is a showcase for traditional medicine, religion and art as well as a shining example of China’s rapid economic development. Combining idyllic natural beauty, a grand heritage through the ages and an air of affluence, Hangzhou is one of the country’s most livable and pleasant cities to linger in.

Wuzhen Water Town, lying in the northern part of Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, is a typical ancient town in southern China. It is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from both Hangzhou and Suzhou, and 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Shanghai. As one of the top six ancient towns in the southern region of the Yangtze River, Wuzhen Water Town boasts more than six thousand years of history and has always been a fertile land with abundant rice, fish and silk. It preserves the ancient appearance well and oozes charm of the water town itself. The small town, with houses made of black bricks and gray tiles contrasting sharply with the white walls, making it appear like a Chinese ink wash drawing. Stone bridges are seen here and there. Small boats with black awnings are floating on the murmuring rivers. Whether wandering along the riverside or strolling in the lanes paved with blue flagstones, you will be deeply impressed by the picturesque scenery and slow lifestyle.

The street on the entrance side has souvenir shops and restaurants, and the street on the far side has various museums, exhibiting beds, clothes, blue flower printed fabric, etc. There are various exhibitions showing the old way of life in this water town. In the peak season the streets are thronged with Chinese tourists (few foreigners), and the waterway is busy with single-oar skiffs carrying up to six passengers up and down the waterway. The biggest highlight of East Area are the folk performances, such as shadow plays, Huagu Opera, martial arts performances on boats, and bamboo pole climbing.

West Area is less crowded, quieter (during the day), and is more spacious. There is a marsh with a firefly aviary, a wooden irrigation system, and a sizable pagoda at one end by the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal. It is similar in layout to East Area with a main waterway and streets either side, but longer by 1,000 meters, with a good number of side alleys, bridges, ancient docks, and secondary waterways, which makes it a fascinating place to stroll around. West Area has been rebuilt and renovated in the original style with many charming architectural features: colonnades, small bridges, balconies, piers, wooden windows and doors, and gray stone walls and paving. Xi Zha is beautifully lit at night, subtly highlighting various architectural features and the bridges. The streets of Xi Zha are lined with guest houses, restaurants, bars, and souvenir and arts and crafts shops.