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  Zhouzhuang, a Town on Water
 

The ancient town of Zhouzhuang is in Kunshan City, between Shanghai and Suzhou. It is known as the No. 1 Water Town in China. 

Zhouzhuang abounds in waterways, and boats are a must. The town features a typical waterscape of the regions south of the Yangtze River, with houses built along the rivers and streams. Thanks to these waterways, the town avoided the chaos caused by wars in the past dynasties, and its architectural layout from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties has remained intact.

The rivers and streams in Zhouzhuang crisscross in the form of the Chinese character 'Jing' and are spanned by 14 stone-arch bridges from the Yuan (1271-1368), Ming, and Qing Dynasties. The water, streets, bridges, houses, trees, and sailboats blend into a harmonious whole, affording a simple, leisurely life for the residents.

Zhouzhuang also has a rich cultural heritage. The Shuangqiao, Fu'an, and Zhenfeng bridges show the town's unique bridge culture. The house of the Zhang family, where a boat can enter through the front gate and sail past in the courtyard; the splendid residence of Shen Wansan, a wealthy man of the Ming Dynasty; the Milou Pavilion where the poet Liu Yazi chanted poetry while drinking wine; and the teahouse that San Mao, a writer from Taiwan, felt emotionally attached to- all contribute to the cultural flavor of the town.

In 1998, Zhouzhuang was included in the supplementary list of World Cultural Heritages by UNESCO.


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