Snap Away! Every Day in Zhouzhuang is a Highlight!

Three years ago, I first came to Zhouzhuang to explore the winter beauty of this Jiangnan water town. Zhouzhuang—a name we aren’t strangers to—is the premier water town of Jiangnan. Its beauty is poetry, its scenery a dream. Time has left deep marks here. Every glance back at Zhouzhuang is romantic and exquisite, yet tinged with the delicate melancholy of a Jiangnan water town.

Three years later, revisiting Zhouzhuang, I discovered new, fun places. Taking photos and visiting these spots offer unmissable highlight moments.

Cultural Journey: Bamboo Weaving Workshop, Wine Workshop, and Jiangnan Sculling Boats

Bamboo Weaving Workshop: Zhouzhuang is indeed a Jiangnan water town with deep cultural roots. Whether it’s the architecture, the little shops in the alleys, or the intangible cultural heritage, you can find the crystallization of time-honored wisdom everywhere.

Bamboo Weaving Workshop: If you do something with precision and focus, it becomes a classic. That’s exactly what this workshop represents. Using palm leaves to weave various little animals, the twelve Chinese zodiac signs, and even the legendary dragon, everything is vivid and lifelike. You have to admit, this level of craftsmanship, achieved through patience and total concentration, is something we probably can’t learn.

Wine Workshop: Nowadays, this wine workshop is mainly for exhibition and visits. In the front hall, they sell things like Wansan Yellow Wine. Buying some as gifts for family and friends is a great choice—reasonable prices, and they carry a certain prestige.

Jiangnan Sculling Boats: Yes, these are the melancholy of the water town, a beautiful scene that homesick wanderers can’t bear to see yet can’t forget. The sculling boats row through the bittersweet of years, knitting the lingering passage of time.

Taking a sculling boat ride, whether by day or night, fills you with an indescribable water town sentiment. As the boat moves, the scenery changes, gliding under bridges and gazing at life along the banks, emptying your mind of all worries.

Food Journey: Wansan Braised Delicacies, Wansan Family Feast, Quangonglou Fashion Restaurant

In Zhouzhuang, my top food recommendation is Wansan Braised Delicacies—a new culinary highlight in town.

Wansan Braised Delicacies is located next to Shen's House Restaurant and close to Fu'an Bridge, the scenery here is arguably the best.

The restaurant is elegant and clean, with an open kitchen. It also carries the weighty charm of a Jiangnan town. Sitting by the window, you might see a boat glide by, picturesque as a painting.

With the fragrant Wansan Pork Trotter as the star, and options of noodles or rice, it’s an incredible deal.

Slow-braised over a gentle fire, every bite of Wansan Braised Delicacies leaves a lasting aroma. Average cost per person: 48 yuan.

Speaking of the Wansan Family Feast, it’s another must-try when visiting Zhouzhuang. Enjoying a table of Wansan Family Feast inside Shen's House Restaurant is pure happiness.

The most famous dish of the Wansan Family Feast is the Wansan Pork Trotter. The dish dates back to when Shen Wansan hosted Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. When the emperor asked Shen what the dish was called, Shen, not daring to mention the emperor's name (which shared a character with 'pig trotter'), cleverly said it was 'Wansan Trotter,' saving the situation with self-deprecating humor. Of course, the trotter needed to be cut, but Shen couldn't use a knife in front of the emperor, so he used the bone of the trotter to slice it.

Quangonglou Fashion Restaurant:

At night, Quangonglou looks crystalline and beautiful from the outside. Its cuisine is a wonder of Zhouzhuang, with an elegant and refreshing dining environment and exquisite, delicious dishes.

The 'Sycee' Wansan Trotter with marbled egg combines the fragrance of trotter with egg soaked in rich pork sauce—superb. The sweet-and-sour squirrel-shaped mandarin fish is a hit with girls. The cutest dessert is the 'Rabbit in Prosperity' white rabbit coconut jelly, so adorable you’ll hesitate to eat it. My favorite dish is 'Blooming Wealth,' where steamed pumpkin is arranged like a blooming flower.

Exotic Photo Spot: Italian Restaurant

Address: No. 13, Xianyuan Lane. Name: EMANUELE Italian Restaurant (the name plays on 'Italy' and 'meaning').

Taking photos here is absolutely gorgeous. A strong European flair hides in a deep alley of the ancient town—step inside and you’ll feel like you’ve time-traveled.

Each table has a different candle, yet all exude classical romance. Every blooming rose accents the cuisine—this meal is not just about food and culture, but atmosphere.

All ingredients are sourced from Italy, and it’s the most original taste that is most precious.

Black truffle risotto, tuna and onion pizza, sausage and bacon pizza, Margherita pizza, Italian cold cuts (Parma ham, Milano salami, Napoli salami, Italian smoked meats…), Caesar salad, mixed greens salad, spaghetti Bolognese, fries, onion rings, etc.

The whole restaurant is fantastic for photos. Upstairs or downstairs, British style abounds without losing cultural depth.

Average cost per person: 150 yuan.

Literary Atmosphere & Petty Bourgeoisie Chic: Mellen Academy

Zhouzhuang is poetic: white walls and dark tiles mirror the ink traces of time; pavilions and terraces reveal bits of history.

Mellen Academy is at No. 1 Hougang Street, Zhouzhuang. It was also the former residence of Mr. Shen Tilun, a lifelong patriot. Facing the street and the river, the setting is elegant.

Stepping into Mellen Academy is like stepping back in time. Winter light filters through the glass, warm and cozy. Bookshelves stand neatly, occasionally browsed. Here, you can sip tea, enjoy a freshly brewed coffee, and nibble on just-baked pastries. In this afternoon, time idles away yet feels elevated.

Photos here perfectly blend scholarly elegance with fashion. When the sun comes out and the afternoon warms, capture Zhouzhuang’s rich cultural essence. Average cost: from 50 yuan.

Tea Brewing in the Century-old Zhang Hall

Zhang Hall is one of the few remaining Ming Dynasty buildings in Zhouzhuang. After a hundred years of vicissitudes, it still stands with carved beams and painted rafters, magnificent and splendid.

In such an ancient building, they’ve added a new twist—brewing tea around a stove.

In the deep courtyard, the New Year spirit fills the air. Winter sunlight spreads warmth. With a few friends, chatting casually, brewing tea around the stove—what a cozy scene!

Zhang Hall is antique. Through the open door, light streams in. As doors open and close, days and nights cycle—all things pass by…

Savor tea, brew tea—new meanings for the new year!

Sleepless Zhouzhuang: Interactive Light Show

Yes, Zhouzhuang at night is even more enchanting. In the quiet night, it refuses to sleep, stretching its lights into brilliant splendor—the beauty of the night light show.

In the nighttime lights, it’s not just the overflowing poetry of the water town, nor just the cozy lamplight through windows where families sit together…

The night here is beautiful, with a projection mapping show. In just over a minute, it tells the legends of Zhouzhuang and of Shen Wansan.

In the slightly chilly winter, 'Flower Lane' scatters petals all over the street with a light show. Here, thousands of flowers bloom—it's the highlight of the night.

Fish Pond Bank: Water Alley of Light and Shadow

A touch of elegance among light blue, deep blue, and pale blue… Fish swim around, soft music plays. Strolling here, you might transform into a mermaid princess, immersing in the dreamlike beauty of Fish Pond Bank.

South Lake Bay Light Show

The South Lake Bay light show is magnificent—the brightest spot in Zhouzhuang’s evening. It ignites New Year wishes and showcases the joy of the spring festival, reflected on the water surface in a dazzling interplay of light and shadow.

Indeed, Zhouzhuang has a thousand ways to be enjoyed. This time, I only uncovered some different cuisines, different photo spots, and a different kind of beauty.

Zhouzhuang, tucked away in the bustling world yet still part of it, with nine centuries of history settling and extending. Step into the dreamy water town, open your eyes wide, discover new ways to play, and blend into the ancient town—what a pleasure it is…