Zhouzhuang Stock Photography

Zhouzhuang embraces the beauties of all the water towns in China - old bridges, traditional buildings and small streets on the banks of waterways. Its Shuangqiao Bridges (Twin Bridges) became famous worldwide because of the painting Memory of Hometown by weU-known painter Chen Yifei (1946-2005)and its display in a New York gallery in 1984.Another bridge in the town, Fu'an Bridge (Wealth and Peace Bridge), is the only existing structure in southeastern China that perfectly combines a single-arch bridge with abddge tower. The town has many old buildings built in Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911 ). The best examples are Zhang Mansion, which could have sedan-chairs entering from the front door and boats passing through the mansion, and Shen Mansion, which consists of seven sections and five gateways. Other scenes of interest include the mystery of underwater tombs at Silver Creek, the bell in Complete Fortune Temple, and fishermen returning home under the light of Clear Empty Taoist Temple. It would also be a wonderful experience to taste the delicious food of family banquet of Shen Mansion, listen to Kunqu Opera singing at the Old Theater, sip a cup of Grandma Tea in a riverside pavilion,visit folk-arts shops on the Market Street, or take a river cruise to view the beautiful night scenes of the town and the river.