24 hours in Zhouzhuang

(chinadaily.com.cn)

It is possible to see the best of Zhouzhuang in just 24 hours.

5:00—7:00

An early morning view of Zhouzhuang. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Early risers can enjoy the morning sunrise over the iconic water town. Visitors can breathe clean, fresh air all year round.

7:00-9:00

A traditional Zhouzhuang breakfast served at a local restaurant. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

There's no better way to start the day than with a traditional Zhouzhuang breakfast. Local specialties include A Po Cha and characteristic snacks such as Choudoufu (fermented bean curd), luobosibing (turnip cake) and Haitanggao (Chinese flowering crabapple rice cake).

9:00-11:00

Yifei Zhi Jia, a gallery transformed from local houses near the Twins Bridges in Zhouzhuang. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Visitors could visit Yifei Zhi Jia, a gallery transformed from local houses near the Twins Bridges in memorial of a notable Chinese painter and observe the books, paint brushes and manuscripts belonging to the great painter.

It was in 1982 that Chen first visited Zhouzhuang. What he saw then reminded him of his hometown. Marveled at the town's views, Chen said that Zhouhuang is "beautiful when seen from different angles".

Two years later, the painter visited Zhouzhuang again and crafted a picture, which was later exhibited among some 38 canvases by him in a New York gallery.

Memory of Hometown, which depicted the Twin Bridges in Zhouzhuang, was one of the pieces on display and garnered world attention for Zhouzhuang since then.