What they say

Tongxiang to me is like a full length cinematic masterpiece, sort of like a feature film, that just gets better as you get fully immersed in it. What struck me the most was how sincere, warm and welcoming the locals were. I will never forget the beautiful children in makeup and colorful costumes, who gave us their radiant smiles and played with my daughter, even though they could not understand each other. Wuzhen was a town unlike any I have seen, with its beautiful mix of old and new, contemporary art and preserved heritage designs. Each place, corner and site was one that was just beckoning you to come and explore further. I treasure the good memories and newfound friends I have from Tongxiang and I am sure Tongxiang will only get better and more beautiful each and every time I visit.

Mario C. Tani, commercial vice-consul of Philippine Consulate General Shanghai

I think that the festival and parade were very impressive to see. There were so many people to celebrate the silkworm festival, both young and old. I was surprised by how dedicated the women were to catch the flowers with worms that would give them a good harvest. Tongxiang is really nice and pretty. Wuzhen was very cute with all the water and bridges. Taoyuan really showed me an older China that I got to know when I first arrived in China - where people don't feel rushed and start their day when the sun comes up and end it when the sun goes down.

Yvonne Horst, travel vlogger from GoYvon

During the trip in Wuzhen and Tongxiang, everything was arranged perfectly. The local people we met in these cities were exceptional. I felt a real feeling of hospitality culture and civilization from them. The friendly and welcoming environment for foreigners impressed me a lot. For the first time, I enjoyed free 5G in Wuzhen, which enthralled me and I do strongly believe that in the near future, Wuzhen will be the hub for the internet of things. Tongxiang is a mixture of nature and culture. Phoenix Lake and Bohong library are the best examples of it. I also tried out silk weaving on a loom, which was a wonderful experience.

Zafar Hussain, correspondent from Geo News

This had been my first visit to Tongxiang and Wuzhen. I am very glad I went. It allowed me to see another part of China away from major urban centers. I really appreciated the experience both for discovering such new places and for the photographic opportunities. Tongxiang, I thought, was a very pleasant, relaxed city, and to me the people were friendly and helpful. There was a lot of color due to the spring blossom on the trees, making it so beautiful to walk through and experience. In Wuzhen, the old town beside the canals, I had a wonderful experience just walking along the historic paved streets and alleys - and I could easily have spent a lot longer. I would certainly go back to that area, not least to do more photography.

Bruce Connolly, photographer and writer for chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/17/2019 page7)