Zhouzhuang: From a scenic spot to a leisure location


(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2013-01-22

A resort needs to possess distinguishing features to remain invincible. Zhouzhuang has long been famous as the best water town in China. Zhouzhuang has been through exploration and transformation in order to stand out from many other similar resorts. It demonstrates its features by protecting the ancient town, promoting an innovative culture based on inheritance, and expanding tourism based on fusion and extension. Zhouzhuang is showing a new face to tourists.

Connecting scenic spots

Zhouzhuang is located between South Lake, White Clam Lake and Dianshan Lake. The unique geographic environment creates its beautiful scenery. Zhouzhuang established a travel route that connects scenic spots inside and outside the town together. Visitors can enter Zhouzhuang through this route by ship, enjoying beautiful scenes and experiencing traditional life at the same time.

Launched in Oct 2008, the travel route has been welcomed by residents and visitors. Zhouzhuang will continue to develop and perfect the route in the future. Zhouzhuang has launched a "Traveling Around the Town by Water" project and will improve the quality of tourism by building projects and developing products.

Four streets providing a leisure lifestyle Taiwan Street is the first nostalgic Taiwan street in the Chinese mainland. Buildings on the street were built in Taiwan architectural styles from the middle of the last century. Representative shops and street advertisements from that time were also imitated. Taiwan Street creates a nostalgic feeling for Taiwan and a leisure atmosphere at the same time.

Zhenfeng Cultural Street is the gathering place of southern traditional culture. Characteristic hotels such as the Cultural Inn, the Hotel of Flower and the Zhenfeng Hotel were built in recent years. Artistic workshops and recreational places will be established next.

Zhouzhuang got its name in the year 1086. Zhouzhuang built 1086 Street to manifest various cultural elements. The 200-meter-long street is a concentration area of lodging and catering. More recreational facilities like bars and coffee shops have been planned for construction in the near future.

Minsu Street concentrates dozens of family inns run by original residents. The decorations of the inns are quite authentic and lifelike. The inn-runners are considerate, honest and enthusiastic.

Multiple ways to create a leisurely Zhouzhuang

Zhouzhuang continues to make innovations in culture, tourism and recreation. More elements and creativity are needed to build a leisurely Zhouzhuang. On the one hand, Zhouzhuang has inherited a traditional culture upon which it can innovate an advanced folk culture. On the other hand, it brings in and absorbs foreign cultures and integrates them with Chinese cultural elements.

Roughly 10-15 artistic workshops and cultural inns will be introduced in the near future to strengthen the cultural and artistic atmosphere of Zhouzhuang and transform it into a leisure resort.

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