Wuzhen Ancient Town

Located in the bordering area between Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, Wuzhen is under the jurisdiction of Tongxiang City of Zhejiang Province and is about 110km from Shanghai in the crow-line distance. Sitting at the hinterland of Hangjiahu Plain in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Wuzhen enjoys a dense network of river canals on its flat terrain with the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal flow by the side of the town. With numerous canal rivers inside the town, the inter-crossing canal rivers divide this town into four different parts from 4 directions, namely East Za, South Za, West Za, and North Za as local people call it.

As a typical water-bound town in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Wuzhen fully preserves the styles, features, and layout of the town during the late Qing Dynasty(1840-1912) and the Republic of China era(1912-1949), featuring river-faced streets, bridge-connected streets, river-side houses and unity of rivers and town.

From Song Dynasty(960-1279), Wuzhen Town has gradually developed into an important town for trade in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, being ranked as the 6 major ancient towns along with Zhouzhuang, Tongli, Luzhi, Xitang, and Nanxun. It is also famed as Land of Rice and Fish, and Land of Silk. The first World Internet Conference was held in Wuzhen Town from November 19 to 21 in 2014, and it has become the permanent conference site for the World Internet Conference.

▲ A corner in Wuzhen

▲ The interior of architecture in Wuzhen

▲ Night view of Wuzhen