Zhouzhuang Ancient Town

Three people spent 10,000 yuan to turn Zhouzhuang into the "last slow time in Jiangnan"—a top-tier immersive water town journey! Staying in a century-old independent courtyard beside the Shen Hall + private aerial drone shots of the twin bridges in morning mist, at just 3,500 yuan per person—is this a crazy bargain or seriously undervalued? Who says ancient towns are just crowded with people? This time, the three of us—two recently resigned 90s-born ancient architecture photographers and a food director famous for filming "A Bite of China"—hit it off immediately: We avoided the popular routes of Wuzhen and Xitang, insisting on using a 10,000 yuan budget to stage a multi-dimensional time-travel experiment in this "China’s No.1 Water Town": "overnight stay in an old Ming Dynasty house beside Shen Hall listening to rain on banana leaves + rowing a boat through millennia-old waterways + a private custom Pingtan performance + a replica of Shen Wansan’s family feast + exclusive early morning drone shots of the twin bridges at 5 a.m." And the result? We stayed in a standalone courtyard converted from a 600-year-old official’s residence, invited a 78-year-old boatwoman to sing a lost rowing song, completed the most stunning time-lapse photography of our lives on the stone-paved road at 4:30 a.m., and drank a three-generation secret “dried tangerine peel and donkey-hide gelatin old soup noodle” behind a pharmacy in a deep alley! At 3,500 yuan per person, the cost performance is off the charts. On the high-speed train back, we were all silent: “This isn’t tourism; it’s a heartfelt touch of the ‘living Jiangnan.’” Don’t rush—this guide will tell you how to turn a “small bridge, flowing water, and people’s homes” that’s hard to even locate on navigation into a National Geographic-level poetic and lively experience. 🗓 Day 1｜Arrive at Kunshan South Station by high-speed train → Transfer to Zhouzhuang → Check in at a Ming-Qing independent courtyard beside Shen Hall Depart from Shanghai Hongqiao in the morning (Train G7228, second class ¥45/person ×3 = ¥135), leaving at 7:10 and arriving at Kunshan South Station at 7:52. Pre-booked a business seven-seater car for pickup (including driver ¥580/day ×2 days = ¥1,160), starting an ancient town exploration—along Tongzhou Road turning into Quangong Road, then deep into the core area of Zhouzhuang Ancient Town. Outside the window, white walls and gray tiles, willows brushing the water, as if entering a Jiangnan version of the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" painting. Arrived at the Zhouzhuang Ancient Town entrance at 2 p.m. (ticket combo ¥100/person ×3 = ¥300), then transferred to an electric cart to enter this millennium-old village divided by nine waterways. Checked in at Zhi Yu · Shen Garden, a cultural homestay converted from the old residence of the Ming Dynasty "Shen family branch," with only two guest rooms and one family suite open. Each room retains original carved window lattices and floor heating, facing the entire Shen Hall garden and overlooking the flying eaves of the twin bridges. Booked two consecutive nights, one night ¥1,480, total ¥2,960 (including double breakfast + welcome tea gift + private butler service). Upon check-in, the host served a bowl of steaming osmanthus white fungus soup: "This is our highest hospitality ritual; drinking it means you’ve truly entered Zhouzhuang." After unpacking, we took a light walk to Shen Hall to check in at the richest Jiangnan mansion: Saw the golden plaque of “Songmao Hall” Strolled through the nine-depth courtyard reading inscriptions Visited the “Treasure Well” known only to locals We had a simple authentic meal at a time-honored restaurant: Aozao noodles ¥38 ×3 = ¥114 Small portion of Wansan pork knuckle ¥68 Iced sour plum soup ¥8 Total spent ¥190. Before dusk, headed to the Twin Bridges to see lantern reflections (free). The drone captured “boat shadows breaking the mirror surface at night,” and the photographer exclaimed, “This is the most cinematic composition I’ve ever seen.” Back at the homestay in the evening, held an “opening ceremony” meditation on the terrace (extra ¥500, including incense burning, guqin performance, star chart explanation). The host told the legend of “how Shen Wansan became richer than a country” and taught us to identify the Big Dipper. After dinner, we gathered around the fire pit listening to the host play the pipa piece “Ambush from Ten Sides.” He said, “True luxury isn’t an LV bag, but someone willing to guard a house for a lifetime.” 🗓 Day 2｜Hand-rowed boat deep tour + Wansan family feast replica + private Pingtan session + night exploration of unopened alleys The main event! Set off at 5:30 a.m., dressed in Ming-style long gowns (rental ¥80/set ×3 = ¥240), followed an exclusive guide (pre-booked) into the core waterway area of Zhouzhuang for a “one-day water dweller” deep experience (professional instructor + boat fee ¥400/person ×3 = ¥1,200): Rowed through twelve ports on an original wooden oar boat Learned to sing a segment of the “Rowing Love Song” led by the boatwoman Visited the back door dock of an old house in a non-open area Received a limited edition “Zhouzhuang Water System Hand-drawn Map” At that moment, the whole waterway echoed only with our oars, like walking through a Ming Dynasty morning. Returned to the homestay at noon, where the chef prepared a seasonal “Wansan Eight-flavor Feast · Replica” (chef home service fee ¥1,080): Dish Highlights ------ -------- Cold dish: Marinated Malan with dried tofu Spring exclusive Main dishes: Braised Wansan pork knuckle + steamed white fish Authentic official cuisine Soup: Water shield and silverfish soup Refreshing and warming Dessert: “Moonlit Zhouzhuang” osmanthus jelly with lotus seed garnish Total cost ¥1,080. In the afternoon, drove to the Mysterious Tower for a “private Pingtan closed-door session” (venue + tea fee ¥880): Used a stage from the Republic of China era Host demonstrated the three major Suzhou Pingtan styles Completed a meditative listening amid swirling mist Photographer captured a time-lapse of petals falling on strings The evening’s grand finale: Held a “Night Banquet · Light and Shadow Art Exhibition” in the backyard of Zhang Hall in a deep alley (venue + light show fee ¥1,280): Sat around the courtyard at night enjoying Kunqu excerpts Tasted the exclusive “Six-flavor Night Snack Feast”: Grilled crucian carp, stewed fish head, pickled fresh pork stew, fennel beans, fermented rice balls, iced bayberry wine After dinner, back at the homestay, held a “Water Town Memory Oral History Interview” (hosted by a local scholar, ¥680): Listened to a centenarian recount “Zhouzhuang stories during the War of Resistance” Learned a couple of authentic Wu dialect secret phrases Completed a spiritual projection 🗓 Day 3｜Morning mist hike on Zhenfeng Street → Return to Kunshan South Station by high-speed train A more solemn last day: Checked out early morning, hiked to Zhenfeng Street and climbed to the top of Nanhu Pavilion for a panoramic city view (free): About 2.8 km of bluestone pavement Watched the morning mist slowly disperse, revealing “ink painting contours” Completed a meditative session at the highest point Then visited the Zhouzhuang Museum to learn about Shen Wansan’s legendary life (free), and rested at a teahouse at the alley entrance: Tiger honey tea ¥10 ×3 = ¥30 Sugar oil cake ¥6 Total ¥36. Took a taxi to Kunshan South Station (¥220), and at 15:40 took train G7229 back to Shanghai (second class ¥45/person ×3 = ¥135). 💰 Total expenses (for three people): Item Cost ------ ------ Round-trip train tickets 135 + 135 = 270 yuan Local transport (car rental + fuel + parking) 1,380 yuan Ming-Qing independent courtyard 2 nights 2,960 yuan Scenic area permits + activities 1,570 yuan Private guide + exclusive experiences 2,180 yuan Food + drinks 1,640 yuan Total 9,990 yuan (10 yuan left for souvenirs) ✅ Real experience summary (for those wanting to “return to authentic Jiangnan”): Zhouzhuang ≠ just a photo backdrop: it’s a multi-universe of “Jiangnan’s richest hometown + birthplace of Kunqu opera + water network miracle + living intangible cultural heritage repository”; Suitable for: history lovers, seekers of authentic connection and spiritual healing, urban awakeners; Best seasons: Mid-March to early April: spring is vibrant, climate pleasant September-October: crisp autumn, perfect light and shadow Winter: fewer tourists, ideal for quiet retreat Tips to avoid pitfalls: Never enter unopened cultural relic areas (illegal); Ancient town roads are narrow and slippery, wear cloth shoes; Respect residents’ lives, avoid loud noise. Hidden experiences**: Book a “night garden soundscape recording” at a homestay; Join local cultural protection groups to attend “River God Festival rehearsal days”; Learn a Zhouzhuang dialect secret phrase from elders to unlock more ancient town secrets. This trip cost less than 10,000 yuan, enough for three months’ rent or a new camera. But what did we gain? The sound of a thousand-year-old waterway by the river, The unchanging gaze of a thousand years by the fire pit, The realization that “true Jiangnan isn’t in photos, but in the steam rising from a bowl of hot noodles.” If the city pace has dulled your senses, Come to Zhouzhuang, Let a town awaken your memories, Let a ray of light teach you what “visible life” means.