• Zhouzhuang Water Town
• Tongli Water Town
• Xitang Water Town
• Wuzhen Water Town
• Luzhi Water Town

The top water towns of China are Zhouzhuang Water Town,Luzhi Water Town and Tongli Water Town near Suzhou, and Xitang Water Town and Wuzhen Water town near Hangzhou. An ancient Chinese saying goes: In heaven there is paradise, and on earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou. These four water towns are indispensable parts of the enchanting scenery of Suzhou and Hangzhou. They are all easily accessible from the biggest metropolis of China, Shanghai. Hundreds of years of history, Chinese-ink-painting-like-scenery, traditional houses built on waterways and interesting folk customs are their comment features, while they have unique attributes distinguishing them from each other.

Zhouzhuang

Zhouzhuang, a "water town" (canal town) like the neighboring water town of Tongli, lies between Lake Tai and Shanghai, about 55 kilometers southeast of Suzhou on the southern shore of Lake Baixian, through which the Baixian River runs. On Lake Baixian's eastern shore lies Shanghai West Golf Club. There are lakes on all four sides of Zhouzhang, albeit, the town is only contiguous with Lake Baixian. The entire area immediately south and east of Suzhou is dotted with lakes, large and small, and crisscrossed by rivers. Some of the towns, such as Zhouzhang, are further crisscrossed by a network of canals that connect to the rivers and lakes, earning them the moniker "water town". » Read More

• Zhouzhuang Highlights
• Zhouzhuang Food
• Zhouzhuang Transportation
• Zhouzhuang Accommodation
• Zhouzhuang Itinerary
• Zhouzhuang Travel Tips

Tongli

Tongli is surrounded by five lakes: Jiuli, Nanxing, Pangshan, Yeze and, of course, Lake Tongli, and is crisscrossed by a network of canals that are fed by the confluence of three rivers. Fishermen of Tongli fish the lakes here using cormorants, an ancient and effective custom that has been the subject of a program on National Geographic Magazine's TV channel. Most of the buildings in Tongli are situated along the waterways, hence the city's nickname as the Little Venice of the East. » Read More

• Tongli Highlights
• Tongli Food
• Tongli Transportation
• Tongli Accommodation
• Tongli Recommeded Itinerary
• Tongli Travel Tips

Xitang

The scenery here is just like a painting, and the photos you take will all be like paintings no matter which way your camera points. It is even better if it rains. This is why Xitang was chosen as the set for Mission Impossible III. The ceilinged corridors are most famous, and family hotels are also special. Xitang people are even more beautiful than the scenery. You may meet a beauty who is just like the beauties in the paintings on a bridge or at the corner of a stone road. » Read More

• Xitang Highlights
• Xitang Food
• Xitang Transportation
• Xitang Accommodation
• Xitang Recommeded Itinerary
• Xitang Travel Tips

Wuzhen

As its name ("Black Town") suggests, most decorated archways in Wuzhen are black. There is an "East Village" and a "West Village" in Wuzhen. East Village is mainly for tourism. However, in order not to make it too commercialized, all the houses except for several spots beside the roads are closed. West Village is a district mainly for tourist accommodation. There are all kinds of inns and hotels here. West Village is best seen at night. It is said that the lighting here is wonderful. Among all the beautiful water towns south of the Yangtze River, Wuzhen has become especially noted for its history and culture. » Read More

• Wuzhen Highlights
• Wuzhen Food
• Wuzhen Transportation
• Wuzhen Accommodation
• Wuzhen Recommeded Itinerary
• Wuzhen Travel Tips

Luzhi

Luzhi Water Town, another Suzhou area water town, is located 18 kilometers east of downtown Suzhou, just beyond the S5 Changjia Expressway in Suzhou's Wuzhong District, and about 58 kilometers west of Shanghai. Luzhi was the location of an unknown (unnamed?) village before the village became a water town (though the waterways that crisscross the town are called rivers, they are in fact dug canals). » Read More

• Luzhi Highlights
• Luzhi Food
• Luzhi Transportation
• Luzhi Culture