Zhouzhuang water town beckons northerners

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Already one of the most well-known water towns in not only Jiangsu, but the whole of China, Zhouzhuang township is looking to raise its profile by appealing to more visitors from the north.

A publicity event was held in Shenyang, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning province on July 27, where tourism officials extolled the virtues of Zhouzhuang and spoke of the parallel differences between north and south.

A promotion video is played during the event. [Photo/Zhouzhuang.net]

Officials from Zhouzhuang said that the tranquil waterways which criss-cross highly arched stone bridges in the water town have come to symbolize the delicate and gentle nature of southern Chinese style, whereas Shenyang represents the bold, hardy, unconstrained spirit of the north.

The promotional event was well received by representatives from Shenyang who spoke highly of the southern tourism gem.

A lady wearing cheongsam performs Suzhou Pingtan (story-telling and ballad singing in Suzhou dialect). [Photo/Zhouzhuang.net]

It comes at a time when Zhouzhuang, dubbed the "Venice of the East", is experiencing somewhat of a boom in tourism, especially after the opening of a daily shuttle bus route to Shanghai Disneyland located a little more than an hour away. The water town is also just an hour from Shanghai, a magnet for tourists from China and across the globe.

Surrounded and divided by lakes and rivers, Zhouzhuang is considered by many to be the best water town in China, with particular highlights being the Twin Bridges (Shuang Qiao), Fu'an Bridge, Shen House and Zhang House.

The Qi village in Zhouzhuang was developed into a rural tourist resort in late 2015 and exudes resplendent natural scenery and an authentic countryside experience. [Photo/Zhouzhuang.net]

By far the biggest industry in Zhouzhuang is tourism, with the area branching out into other tourism sectors after developing the nearby Qihuang village into a pilot zone for rural tourism. Based on the principle of preserving the natural landscape of the village, tourists are invited to explore the beauty of nature and rural folk customs.

Located between Suzhou, Jiangsu province and Shanghai, Zhouzhuang can be reached via highway or waterway from Shanghai. Joining hands with Shanghai Tourist Center, Zhouzhuang's shuttle buses to Shanghai Disneyland are expected to piggyback the popularity of the amusement park and boost visitor numbers to the water town, giving them a taste of typical Chinese culture.

Visitors can book shuttle bus tickets on Ctrip.com and pick them up at the ticket office of Siji Zhouzhuang on Quangong Road.