Best Water Towns Near Shanghai: Zhujiajiao, Wuzhen, Xitang, Zhouzhuang & Tongli Compared

Choosing a water town is one of the questions we get most often. Here is how our planners compare them.

White walls, black-tiled roofs, stone bridges and boats gliding under willows — the canal towns of Jiangnan are the picture many travellers have of China before they arrive. There are dozens within reach of Shanghai, and they are not all alike. Here is how the best-known ones compare, from a team that visits them every week.

Quick comparison

*Approximate driving time from downtown Shanghai without heavy traffic.

Zhujiajiao: the easiest from Shanghai

Zhujiajiao lies within Shanghai's Qingpu district and is reachable by Metro Line 17 or a one-hour drive. The town itself is free to enter — you pay only for boat rides and a few historic sites. Don't miss Fangsheng Bridge, a five-arch Ming-dynasty stone bridge over the main canal. It is the best choice for a half-day trip or a short stay in Shanghai: join our Zhujiajiao private day trip, or combine it with the city on our 3-day Shanghai tour.

Wuzhen: worth an overnight

Wuzhen is the most polished — and most famous — water town, divided into two ticketed zones. Dongzha (East Zone) is a living town of workshops and old residences, seen in a couple of hours. Xizha (West Zone) is larger and comes alive at night when the canals are lit; it has hotels and guesthouses inside the scenic area, so you can wander the lanes after the day visitors leave and again at sunrise.

Xitang: lanterns and covered walkways

Xitang is known for the long covered corridors (langpeng) that line its canals, and for appearing in the film Mission: Impossible III. It feels livelier and more lived-in than Wuzhen, and is at its most beautiful at dawn and after dark, when red lanterns reflect in the water.

Zhouzhuang: the classic postcard

Often called the "first water town of China", Zhouzhuang is famous for its Twin Bridges and grand Ming- and Qing-dynasty merchant houses such as the Shen Residence. It is compact and busy, so arrive early.

Tongli: gardens and a slower pace

Tongli belongs to Suzhou and is home to the Retreat & Reflection Garden (Tuisi Garden), part of the UNESCO-listed Classical Gardens of Suzhou. It is quieter than Zhouzhuang and an easy add-on to a Suzhou visit.

Nanxun: the insider's choice

Nanxun grew rich on the silk trade, and its merchants built mansions that blend Chinese courtyards with European architecture. It sees far fewer tour groups than Wuzhen or Zhouzhuang, which makes it a favourite with repeat visitors.

Day trip or overnight?

• Half a day: Zhujiajiao.
• A full day: Xitang or Zhouzhuang, or Tongli combined with Suzhou.
• One night: Wuzhen West Zone — the most rewarding water-town experience in Jiangnan.
• Several towns: our 5-day Jiangnan Water Towns journey links Wuzhen, Xitang and Suzhou at a slow pace, and our Hu Shang Jiangnan tour adds a night in Puyuan old town.

Tips for visiting

• Arrive before 9 am or stay into the evening; tour-bus crowds peak from about 10 am to 3 pm.
• Avoid Chinese public holidays, especially the first week of October.
• Wear comfortable shoes — lanes are paved with uneven stone.
• A boat ride is touristy but worth it once: the towns were built to be seen from the water.