江南水乡 · Destination

Jiangnan Water Towns

Stone bridges, white walls and black-tiled roofs reflected in still canals — the China of ink paintings, an hour or two from Shanghai.

Plan a trip to the water towns Tours that visit

How long1 day, or 1 night in Wuzhen

Best timeApril–May, October–November

From ShanghaiZhujiajiao ≈ 1 h; Wuzhen ≈ 1.5–2 h by car

Nearest airportShanghai Hongqiao (SHA)

The canal towns of the Yangtze delta grew rich on silk and rice, and their old centres survive almost intact: humpback stone bridges, merchants’ houses opening onto the water and covered walkways that kept shoppers dry.

Each town has its own character. Zhujiajiao is the closest to Shanghai and easy to combine with a city day. Xitang is lived-in and atmospheric, famous for its long covered corridors. Wuzhen’s West Scenic Zone is the most beautiful and best preserved, and comes alive after dark.

Our advice: choose one town and stay the night. Once the day visitors leave, the lanterns come on, the canals go quiet and you see the water towns the way they were meant to be seen.

Schematic map — not to scale

Don’t miss

The best of the water towns

Wuzhen West after dark

Lantern-lit canals, a night boat and a guesthouse right on the water once the crowds have gone.

Zhujiajiao by boat

Shanghai’s own water town: the Fangsheng Bridge, a canal boat and riverside snacks, an hour from downtown.

Xitang’s covered corridors

More than a kilometre of covered walkways along the canal, best in the early morning mist.

Local tips

What we tell our own guests

Wuzhen has two zones: the East is older and smaller, the West is larger and prettier. If you only see one, choose the West and stay overnight.
Wear comfortable flat shoes — bridges mean steps and the old stone paving is uneven.
Avoid Chinese public holidays and weekends in spring and autumn if you can; weekday evenings are magical.

FAQ

the water towns: your questions

Which water town is best near Shanghai?

For beauty and atmosphere, Wuzhen West; for a short trip from Shanghai, Zhujiajiao; for a more lived-in town, Xitang. Wuzhen is the one worth a night.

Can I visit a water town and Hangzhou on the same trip?

Yes — Wuzhen sits between Shanghai and Hangzhou, so it is a natural overnight stop between the two. Our Classic Jiangnan tour does exactly that.

Tours