The ultimate guide to Wuzhen water town: When to visit & what to do in Wuzhen

What is so beautiful about Wuzhen that makes so many tourists fall in love with it? Let’s find out and explore the beauty of the ancient town known as “the most beautiful in China” right away through this ultimate guide to Wuzhen water town: When to visit & what to do in Wuzhen below!

Wuzhen is one of the famous ancient towns in China. This place captivates visitors and captivates residents with its extremely beautiful and gentle beauty. Wuzhen is located on the riverbank, with canals, stone bridges and small alleys creating a poetic and peaceful picture.

Although it has gone through thousands of years of development and change, Wuzhen still retains its rustic and ancient beauty as before. This is a beautiful tourist destination in China for those who want to find a vacation and a sense of peace in their hearts. Let’s learn about Wuzhen with us as well as explore the breathtaking beauty of “the first beautiful landscape of Jiangnan” through this article!

Wuzhen China guide: Where is Wuzhen?

Wuzhen, also known as Wuzhen Water Town, is an ancient water town located in Zhejiang Province, China, south of the Yangtze River. Wuzhen has a history of more than 1,300 years and is located in the “golden triangle” formed by Suzhou, Shanghai and Hangzhou.

Despite its prime location, Wuzhen still has its own unique and nostalgic beauty with hundreds of years old houses and old, traditional architecture. This place gives visitors a feeling of living in the past.

The town is divided into two main parts: East Town and West Town, each with its own unique characteristics but both retaining their traditional beauty. East Town is notable for its ancient houses, traditional wine distilleries and handicraft shops. West Town has many ancient architectures, traditional shops and restaurants, along with unique cultural activities.

With its picturesque scenery and rich culture and history, Wuzhen has become a tourist destination that attracts many visitors to learn about China’s culture and nature.

How to Get to Wuzhen – Wuzhen Ancient Town – From Vietnam

Wuzhen is about 140km from Shanghai, so to get to Wuzhen you need to take a plane to Shanghai from Vietnam, then choose other means of transportation to get here.

Travel from Vietnam to Shanghai

From major cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, you can book a flight to Pudong International Airport in Shanghai. Flight time from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Shanghai is about 6 – 20 hours, depending on your choice of direct flight or stopover.

Traveling from Shanghai to Wuzhen

• High-speed train: This is the fastest and most convenient way to get to Wuzhen from Shanghai. There are two main high-speed train stations in Shanghai: Hongqiao Station and Pudong Station. From Hongqiao Station, you can take a high-speed train to Wuzhen East Station in just 30 minutes. From Pudong Station, you can take a high-speed train to Wuzhen West Station in just 40 minutes.
• Train: You can also take a train from Shanghai to Wuzhen. However, this option will take longer than the high-speed train (about 1-2 hours).
• Bus: You can also take a bus from Shanghai to Wuzhen. There are many bus companies operating bus routes from Shanghai to Wuzhen with quite cheap fares.

Means of transportation around Wuzhen

The main means of transportation for sightseeing in Wuzhen are boats and buses. There will be free bus or boat routes between the East and West areas of Wuzhen. However, you can choose to walk for only 10 minutes to be more proactive and freely admire the scenery.

Currently, within the inner area of ​​Dong Pu, there are buses and boats that take you to visit the entire area. The ticket prices of these means of transportation have been summarized by MIA.vn as follows:

• Boat in East area: from 30 Yuan/person on a boat of 8 people
• Boat in West area: from 60 Yuan/person on a boat of up to 8 people
• Bus in West area: from 10 Yuan/person on a bus of up to 10 people (including children)

When is the best time to travel to Wuzhen?

Wuzhen is a great destination all year round because the average annual temperature in Wuzhen is around 16 degrees. January is considered the coldest month and July is the hottest month. The best time to travel in Wuzhen is spring and autumn. However, no matter what season you come, Wuzhen still has its own unique beauty and characteristics of each season. Whether it is cold or hot, Wuzhen still knows how to please people when they come here.

Spring in Wuzhen: The Heart-Blowing Beauty of Flowers in Bloom

Spring is the season that attracts many tourists to come here because when the cold winter passes, Wuzhen will be covered with a fresh green carpet of trees and colorful flowers. During this season, Wuzhen welcomes cherry blossoms, plum blossoms and many other flowers in full bloom, all of which decorate the streets, canals and ancient houses in Wuzhen to create a romantic and poetic scene.

In the cool and fresh air of spring, visitors can stroll along the narrow streets, watching the petals fall gently into the slow-moving water. In spring, when the warm sunlight shines down on the whole town, everything becomes more brilliant and vibrant than ever. This season is also considered the festival season because visitors will have the opportunity to participate in unique local cultural activities and colorful flower markets.

Summer in Wuzhen: Radiant Sunlight on the Sparkling River

Summer in Wuzhen brings a much more brilliant and vibrant breath. Strolling along the ancient stone-paved streets, visitors can feel the breath of summer through each gentle breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers and grass. The canals flowing through Wuzhen reflect the sky and surrounding landscape, creating a beautiful natural picture.

In the summer, Wuzhen is also a place for many exciting outdoor activities and entertainment. You can join river cruises, watch the sunset, or enjoy summer specialties at riverside eateries. Wuzhen’s nightlife is also very vibrant with bars, restaurants and night markets that are brightly lit, giving visitors interesting and unforgettable experiences.

Autumn in Wuzhen: The Poetic Scenery of Falling Yellow Leaves

If you cannot come to Wuzhen in the spring, coming in the fall is also a great choice to admire the brilliant and impressive beauty of Wuzhen when it wears a romantic “yellow coat”. The autumn space in Wuzhen brings a sense of peace and tranquility, when walking on the stone-paved roads, visitors will feel the gentleness of autumn through each step as the yellow leaves rustle under their feet and the fragrance of grass and trees spreads in the air.

Autumn is also the ideal time to explore the famous attractions of Wuzhen. From ancient temples and pagodas to gracefully curved stone bridges, everything becomes more charming in the autumn colors. Don’t forget to experience sitting on wooden boats, gliding gently on the canal to admire the sunset painting the sky and water with a shimmering golden color.

Winter in Wuzhen: Ancient Beauty Under the White Snow

Winter is the season when few tourists visit, this is the right season for those who want to experience a deserted Wuzhen and its ancient beauty hidden in the white of snow. In the cold weather of winter, Wuzhen appears like a fairy tale village with ancient houses, mossy tiled roofs and the light from tall lanterns reflecting on the snow, creating a shimmering and magical scene.

Winter in Wuzhen is quite cold, in this weather there is nothing better than enjoying hot pots, delicious dumplings and admiring the ancient and peaceful beauty here. Winter in Wuzhen is also a great time to explore ancient architectural works and historical relics without having to jostle with crowds, especially you can comfortably take photos without worrying about being stuck with people.

What to do in Wuzhen? Best Things to do in Wuzhen You Shouldn’t Miss

Visit Wuzhen East Gate

Wuzhen East Gate is one of the most prominent and important tourist attractions when visiting Wuzhen. This is an area that preserves ancient culture and architecture, where visitors can deeply explore the historical and cultural beauty of this ancient town. The East Gate will leave unforgettable impressions in the hearts of visitors when visiting the architectural works, ancient temples, museums, and theaters that are hundreds of years old.

When coming to the East Gate, visit the Folk Museum – This place will bring visitors a complete picture of the customs and traditions of the ancients recreated in wax. In addition, do not forget to pray for peace for yourself and your family at Fuen Pagoda, the most prominent and sacred pagoda in the East Gate area.

The Eastern Wuzhen area is a place that synthesizes brilliant cultural beauty with many constructions suitable for young people who love to explore. On a total area of ​​about 0.9 km2, there are a total of 6 bridges over the river and wooden constructions that create a harmonious and worth-exploring overall beauty.

When coming to the Eastern Wuzhen area, you can visit the following impressive attractions:

• Antique Bed Museum: is the first museum in China dedicated to collecting and displaying antique beds. The oldest bed dates back to the Ming Dynasty.
• Folk Customs Museum: is a museum that displays the customs of the Wuzhen natives in birthdays, weddings or childbirth.
• Distillery: is a distillery that guarantees the wine-making culture of the Wuzhen people. This place is famous for Sanbai wine that has existed since the Ming Dynasty with a unique taste.
• Indigo Fabric Workshop: This place has existed since the 13th century and is responsible for the production and distribution of indigo fabric in the town.
• Shadow Puppet Theatre: This is a place where traditional shadow puppetry and Chinese classics are performed
• Hua Gu Theatre: This is a place where flower drum dramas depicting rural life through simple stories are performed.

Explore the West Gate of Wuzhen

Compared to the ancient beauty of the East Gate, the West Gate has a more modern and youthful beauty. This place concentrates many entertainment areas, restaurants, hotels, shops, creating a vibrant and bustling space. Coming to the West Gate, you can experience the ancient houses with tiled roofs, brick walls and winding stone-paved streets along the riverbank.

The West Gate is also an ideal place to shop for handicrafts, from ceramics, silk to sophisticated decorations. The small shops along the river sell many unique products, which are great souvenirs for you to keep memories of this place.

Besides its youthfulness, the West Gate still has extremely peaceful and relaxing spaces. You can stroll along the small streets, sit and enjoy tea at the riverside teahouses. In addition, you can visit White Lotus Temple to admire the poetic beauty and charming scenery of Wuzhen from above.

The western area of ​​Wuzhen is less crowded and has a quieter color. This is the place where you can explore the extremely attractive landscape beauty and impressive cultural characteristics of Wuzhen most clearly.

To fully visit the western area of ​​Wuzhen, you need at least half a day. Here are some places worth visiting in the western area that we have compiled:

• Wuzhen Grand Theatre: is where traditional musicals take place with great storytelling by the artists.
• Wuzhen Market on the water: merchant life on the water is always the cultural mark that attracts the most tourists when exploring this destination. You can visit the waterways inside the town and admire the bustling trading scene.
• Foot-binding cultural museum: this is one of the controversial customs of ancient Chinese people. The museum displays artifacts and images of the custom that is said to be the painful “three-inch lotus”, the standard beauty of feudal times.
• Yadi Silk Workshop: this is where you can learn about China’s long-standing silk culture as well as the entire process of silk production and weaving.

Renji Bridge

Renji Bridge is a symbol of Wuzhen and is considered a prominent cultural, symbolic and historical feature of this place. Although it has been restored many times, Thuy Mac Bridge still retains its original design and shows a harmonious combination of architecture and nature.

This is an ideal coordinate for taking photos as well as enjoying the beautiful scenery of O Tran from above, the best time to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Renji Bridge is early morning or late afternoon. Especially at sunset, the yellow color dyes the sky and the water surface, the Renji Bridge will bring an impressive and unforgettable beauty.

Hundred Beds Jiangnan Museum

The Hundred Beds Jiangnan Museum is also a must-see tourist destination when visiting Wuzhen. The Hundred Beds Jiangnan Museum is located at the East Gate, impressing visitors when they come here because it owns and displays artifacts related to the life and culture of the ancient town’s residents. The artifacts include unique ancient beds, pottery, household items, traditional costumes and paintings illustrating ancient life.

Check-In Wuzhen with Traditional Costumes

Every corner of Wuzhen is extremely beautiful and ancient, so it is not an exaggeration to say that just by raising your camera, you will capture the beautiful scenery here. To be able to immerse yourself in the space here, you can rent ancient costumes to keep impressive photos. You can take photos at prominent locations such as the East and West Gates, ancient streets, stone bridges and traditional houses to keep memorable memories.

Enjoy coffee and admire the ancient town scenery

An interesting and unmissable experience when coming to the ancient town is to “hang around” the cafes here. The coffee shops and tea shops in the ancient town all have a unique architectural style, highlighted by rows of colorful lanterns. You can stop by any shop, enjoy coffee while watching the streets. In addition, visitors should not forget to try some local-style dim sum cakes.

Experience walking around the ancient town by boat

Taking a boat along the canals is an activity you should try when coming to Wuzhen. There are 2 types of boats for visitors to choose from, one for groups of 6 guests and one for groups of 10 or more. Letting yourself go with the clear blue water, you will feel like you are lost in ancient China with hundreds of years old houses, bridges, and stone pillars. Although not luxurious or magnificent, it is enough to make visitors fascinated, wanting to admire forever.

Sightseeing & Shopping at the Unique Floating Market

Visiting the Wuzhen Floating Market is a great way to explore the culture and lifestyle of one of China’s famous ancient towns. Called the Wuzhen Floating Market, it is actually designed as a long bridge, with attractive eateries and traditional handicraft areas on both sides of the bridge, creating a bustling and vibrant scene.

Local life in Southern Wuzhen

The Southern Wuzhen area is not a scenic spot at all. However, this destination is quite attractive when it clearly recreates the imprint of the local people’s daily life. The ancient streets with the peaceful daily life of the local people evoke a rustic, pleasant and strangely peaceful picture. That is the primitive beauty of Wuzhen that you should admire when coming here.

Suggested 1-day itinerary for visiting Wuzhen

Coming to the most famous ancient town in China, visitors will have the opportunity to experience countless interesting things. If you don’t know where to start, you can refer to the itinerary below:

• Morning: Stroll around the canals and ancient architectural works, enjoy the fresh air, take photos and check-in.
• Noon: Enjoy local cuisine.
• Afternoon and evening: Cool off and relax at a tea shop or roadside cafe, admiring the romantic scenery of the town.

Hotels Near Wuzhen in China

To fully experience the beauty of Wuzhen, choosing the right hotel is extremely important. Join Klook to discover hotels near Wuzhen China, where you can rest comfortably and enjoy the ancient atmosphere of this town.

• Crowne Plaza Wuzhen Hotel, an IHG Hotel (Address: No.1 Qingzhen Road, Wuzhen Town. Reference price: $99.88/night) (agoda, booking)
• Wuzhen Fuchang Bridge Inn Hotel (Address: No.218 Ziye Road, Wuzhen Town. Reference price: $53.78/night)
• Wuzhen Youyou Inn Hotel (Address: No. 199-201 Huange Road, Wuzhen Town. Reference price: $15.37/night)

Check out more best hotels in Wuzhen on Agoda or Booking.

Wuzhen Food Guide

Not only famous for its beautiful scenery, this ancient town is also a paradise for food lovers. The specialties of the ancient town are fish dishes, the most delicious of which are: cod, steamed sea bass with soy sauce, fried salmon cakes with long beans, garlic fish fillet soup…

Wuzhen, an ancient town with poetic beauty by the peaceful river, not only captivates visitors with its mossy old streets, curved stone bridges but also with its unique cuisine, rich in traditional flavors. Let’s explore the food guide in Wuzhen with us, so you don’t miss any delicious dishes on your journey to discover this wonderful land!

Dongpo Braised Pork

This is a famous dish in Wuzhen and has been around since the Song Dynasty until now. For this dish, the pork belly is carefully selected to ensure there is enough fat and lean meat. The meat is cut into regular cubes and braised with a rich, delicious sauce, creating an unforgettable taste when enjoyed.

Dingsheng Cake

When coming to Wuzhen, don’t forget to enjoy the long-standing Dingsheng cake here. Dingsheng cake is not only a familiar snack but also often used in festivals and family gatherings. This dish is made from glutinous rice flour, red beans and sugar, has a sweet taste, and is soft and chewy when eaten. To this day, Dingsheng cakes have conquered not only locals but also tourists visiting Wuzhen, becoming an indispensable part of the rich culinary picture here.

Taihu Lake White Fish

Taihu Whitewater Fish is a dish originating from the Taihu region, located in eastern China, this dish is famous for its fresh and cool flavor. The main ingredient of the dish is whitewater fish, also known as “baiyu,” the fish has white meat, is very soft when eaten and has a natural sweetness.

The fish can be steamed, fried, or cooked in soup with light spices such as ginger, green onions and Shaoxing wine, helping to highlight the freshness and purity of the fish meat. With its unique flavor and sophisticated preparation, this dish has become a must-try dish for tourists visiting Wuzhen, bringing an unforgettable culinary experience.

Braised Lamb

Braised lamb is also a dish on the list of specialties of Wuzhen when you visit here. The dish has soft lamb, rich broth is often served with white rice or bread, the dish has created a harmony between the natural sweetness of the meat and the aroma of spices.

Besides, visitors should not forget to enjoy local dishes such as: braised lamb with soy sauce, sweet sticky rice cakes (qing tuan), gusao cakes…

Notes When Visiting Wuzhen – China

Chinese people now prefer electronic payments, so prepare your phone and international payment cards. Download WeChat Pay and Alipay in Vietnam in advance for easy use in Wuzhen. In addition, you should also exchange some cash in Chinese Yuan (CNY) in case of need.

• To be able to use applications such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube that are blocked in China. Then you need to download additional applications such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN, note that you should download them in advance in Vietnam.
• You should buy a Chinese phone sim or buy an ESIM if you do not want to use a physical sim. Purchase these services in advance in Vietnam so that when you land in China, you can easily use the internet to look up information immediately and always stay in touch with your loved ones.
• Wuzhen has a fairly large area, so a map will help you navigate and explore every corner of the town easily.
• People in Wuzhen do not use English commonly, so learning a few basic Chinese sentences will be very useful. In addition, you can use Google Translate and Google Lens to support communication and reading information.
• Wuzhen has a fairly large area, visitors should buy a map of the ancient town for convenience in visiting.
• Traveling by wooden boat often takes a long time and is quite expensive, to save money you can walk.
• The ancient town’s night view is extremely beautiful, visitors should arrange time to walk in the evening.

It can be said that traveling to Wuzhen is a great place for you to enjoy the beautiful scenery, quiet, poetic space and irresistible delicious food. So reading Wuzhen travel information in advance and “memorizing” the experiences here will help you have a more memorable and complete trip.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Wuzhen you can refer to

• East Gate of Wuzhen Zhejiang
• One-day tour of Dream Water Town Wuzhen (Dongzha)
• West Gate of Wuzhen Zhejiang
• [Roundtrip from Shanghai] 5-day tour of Shanghai + Suzhou + Hangzhou + Wuzhen…
• Private Day Tour of Wuzhen East and West from Hangzhou
• 1-Day Tour of Wuzhen from Shanghai (Wuzhen East Gate + Night Tour of West Gate + NPC Town)
• 3 Days Hangzhou & Wuzhen Water Village
• [Private customized tour] Wuzhen + Suzhou + Wuxi vacation from Shang
• Wuzhen and Xitang Ancient Town Private 1-Day Tour from Shanghai
• One-day tour from Hangzhou to Wuzhen: Wuzhen East Gate/Xitang Ancient Town + Xizha Night Tour
• One-day tour from Hangzhou to Wuzhen, Jiaxing…

Read more China guide here.