Zhouzhuang

For other uses, see Zhouzhuang (disambiguation).
Zhouzhuang
周庄
Town
Town of Zhouzhuang
Town of Zhouzhuang
Map
Coordinates: 31°6′53″N 120°50′44″E / 31.11472°N 120.84556°E / 31.11472; 120.84556
CountryChina
ProvinceJiangsu
PrefectureSuzhou
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Zhouzhuang
Welcome sign promoting Zhouzhuang as "China's No. 1 Water Town"
Chinese周庄
PostalChowchwang
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhōuzhuāng
Wade–GilesChou1-chuang1
Wu
SuzhouneseTseu-zaon

Zhouzhuang (Chinese: 周庄; pinyin: Zhōuzhuāng; Wu: Tseu-zaon) is a water town known for its canals in Jiangsu province, China. It is located within the administrative area of Kunshan, 30 km southeast of the city centre of Suzhou.[1]

Zhouzhuang is a popular tourist destination, classified as a AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration.[2] It is noted for its profound cultural background, well preserved ancient residential houses and elegant watery views.[3] A 2017 article in the Smithsonian Magazine described Zhouzhuang as "the most famous and most commercialized ancient water town in China," in addition to noting that its architecture "dates back more than 900 years, with about 60 original brick archways and 100 original courtyards."[4] It has also been called "Venice of the East".[5][6]

CNN ranked Zhouzhuang the third most beautiful water town in China in 2017[7] and included it in its 2019 collection of Asia's 13 most picturesque towns.[8]

Double Bridges (Shuang Qiao)
Double Bridges
Boat in Zhouzhuang passing through canals
A canal in Zhouzhuang
  1. ^ "The beautiful water town of Zhouzhuang". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  2. ^ "AAAAA Scenic Areas". China National Tourism Administration. 16 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  3. ^ "The Ancient Waterfront Towns in the South of Yangtze River". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  4. ^ Billock, Jennifer. "Explore China's Ancient Water Towns". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  5. ^ "10 cổ trấn đẹp như mơ của Trung Quốc". XaLuan.com (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  6. ^ "Zhouzhuang – Venice of the Orient". VirtualTourist.com. 17 June 2003. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  7. ^ Foxgrover, Cameron (2017-07-12). "China's 5 most beautiful water towns". CNN. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  8. ^ Springer, Kate (2019-08-28). "13 of Asia's most picturesque towns". CNN. Retrieved 2023-10-04.