[2025 Kunshan Attraction] Travel Guide for Zhang Hall (Updated Feb)

#favouriteitinerary The Zhang Residence is a typical Ming Dynasty official's house with seven courtyards. The phrase "轿从门前进，船自家中过" means "sedans enter from the front door, and boats pass through the house." This describes the unique feature of Zhang Residence, where visitors can directly row their boats into the house. The back garden of Zhang Residence has a small river, "Zhuojing," that leads directly to South Lake, with a pond in the garden for boats to turn around. Personal Opinion: In my opinion, the Zhang Residence offers a fascinating glimpse into historical living. Its unique design, blending both land and water access, adds a distinctive charm that makes it a compelling destination for history enthusiasts.

When it comes to Zhouzhuang's wealthy families, the most famous is probably Shen Wansan. In addition to the well-known Shen's Residence, there is also Zhang's Residence. Let's talk about these two mansions that you can visit for free. 🏡 Zhang's Residence 📍 No. 38, Beishi Street, Zhouzhuang, Kunshan, Jiangsu Zhang's Residence was originally called Yishun Hall. It was built in the Ming dynasty and transferred to the Zhang family in the early Qing dynasty, when it was renamed Yuyan Hall. It is commonly known as Zhang's Residence. This is a typical Ming dynasty building. Its most distinctive feature is that the Ruojing River runs through the house, which is in line with the saying "the bridge enters through the front door, and the boat passes through the house." 🏡 Shen's Residence 📍 Nanshi Street, Zhouzhuang, Kunshan, Jiangsu Also known as Jinye Hall, it was built by the descendants of Shen Wansan. It is the largest preserved galloping horse building in the Jiangnan water town, with seven courtyards. It is a typical seven-courtyard, five-gate building, distributed at both ends of the central axis, and consists of three parts: the front part is the water wall gate and river wharf, for docking boats and washing; the middle part is the wall gate tower, tea hall, and main hall, for receiving guests, holding weddings and funerals, and discussing matters; the back part is the main hall, small hall, and back hall, for living. In addition to the famous pig's knuckle, Shen Wansan is also a symbol of the God of Wealth in Zhouzhuang, so the decorations in his house are naturally more luxurious.

In terms of size, Zhang Ting in Zhouzhuang Ancient Town is not as good as Chen Ting, but Zhang Ting is still the most attractive one. Calling private buildings in the ancient water town "ting" seems to be unique to the ancient town of Zhouzhuang. Zhang Ting, which was first built in the Ming Dynasty, was originally named Yishun Hall. It was transferred to an owner named Zhang in the Qing Dynasty and renamed Yuyan Hall, commonly known as Zhang Ting. According to historical records, the total building area of ​​Zhang Ting was more than 1,800 square meters, with seven courtyards in front and back and more than 70 rooms in total. What to see in Zhang Hall: ☆Zhangting is a rare Ming Dynasty building in Zhouzhuang Ancient Town and is also an official hall. Therefore, the second entrance behind the main entrance of Zhang Hall facing the main street of the ancient town is the sedan chair hall. The sedan chairs of dignitaries all entered from the front door, which is exactly "the sedan chair enters from the door". ☆On the main beam of the roof of Zhang Hall, you can clearly see a protruding oval carved panel, which looks very much like the wings on an official hat. This is a unique mark of an official residence. ☆On the east side of the hall, there is a long alley that runs through the entire building. Normally, the main gate of this mansion is rarely opened, and both the master and the servants enter and exit through this alley. ☆Zhangting is one of the few Jiangnan water town buildings in Zhouzhuang that has a back garden. There is a tall, white Taihu stone in the garden. The peak on the top of the stone looks like a flying swallow. This lake stone is called Yuyan Peak, which corresponds to the main hall of the building, Yuyan Hall. ☆There is a small river in the back garden that is connected to the South Lake that runs through the ancient town. This long and narrow river has an interesting name called "Zhujing", which means a small river shaped like chopsticks. Next to the water pavilion in the back garden, there is a water pier leading to the river. This is Zhang Tingli's private pier, which means "the boat passes by his home." In addition, Zhang Hall actually has a second floor building, but it has not been restored yet; the detachable stage set up in the side hall is a stage equipment for storytelling troupes unique to Jiangnan. In Suzhou, it is often used by Kunqu troupes when performing in wealthy families and is called a lantern.

Zhouzhuang Ancient Town is an ancient water town with a thousand-year history. As one of the six ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River, the entire ancient town is built along the river, connected by bridges and streets, like a natural landscape painting. Wait for a rainy day to walk along the bluestone road holding an oil-paper umbrella and look at the small bridges and flowing water. At this moment, while you are looking at the scenery, you are also immersed in the scenery. It seems that time has stopped at this moment. The commercialization of the town is not that serious, and there is only the smoke of fireworks in the alleys. If you don’t want to go to work one day, it’s better to visit this Jiangnan water town. 📍 Detailed explanation of attractions 🏠 Zhang Ting: Originally named Yishun Hall, it was built in the Ming Dynasty. It was sold to a family named Zhang in the early Qing Dynasty and renamed Yuyan Hall, commonly known as Zhang Ting. As a residence of a rich family in Yin Dynasty, Zhangting has gone through more than 500 years of vicissitudes, but its style remains the same. The front and rear buildings are connected by cross-street buildings and corridor pavilions, forming a circular walking tower. 🏠 Shen Hall: Built in the seventh year of Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty by Shen Benren, a descendant of Shen Wansan, it is a typical architectural layout of a front hall and a back hall. The front and rear buildings are connected by cross-street buildings and corridor pavilions, forming a circular walking tower. Shen Hall is one of the famous attractions in Zhouzhuang. When you come here, you must pay homage to Shen Wansan, the God of Wealth, and ask for a good fortune. 🔑 Double Bridge: Also known as the Key Bridge, it consists of a stone arch bridge and a stone beam bridge. Because the bridge deck is horizontal and vertical, and the bridge hole is square and round, it looks like an ancient key, so people call it the "Key Bridge". Shuangqiao is one of Zhouzhuang's iconic attractions and the prototype of Chen Yifei's painting "Memories of Hometown", which is famous both at home and abroad. 🌉 Fu'an Bridge: Located at the east end of Zhongshi Street in Zhouzhuang, it is the only remaining three-dimensional bridge and wall building in the Jiangnan water town. The bridge towers on the four sides of the bridge rise up against the waves, facing each other from a distance, with extraordinary momentum. 🏛️ Zhouzhuang Museum: The museum displays the history, culture and folk customs of Zhouzhuang, including many precious cultural relics and historical photos. 🏨Milou: This small building was originally the Deji Hotel. The owner, Li Defu, was originally from Zhenjiang. In the late Guangxu years of the Qing Dynasty, he moved his family to Zhouzhuang and opened a hotel on Zhongshi Street, named "Deji". Deji Hotel is located in a picturesque and bustling city with small bridges and flowing water, where guests gather and business is booming. Deji Hotel has more than ten small rooms, and each room has a sign with the word "Milou" written on it. ⛩️ Chengxu Taoist Temple: Located on Zhongshi Street, facing Puqing Bridge, commonly known as the "Shengtang", it was built during the Yuanyou period of the Song Dynasty and has a history of more than 900 years. It is one of the well-known Taoist temples in Wuzhong area. The Taoist temple covers an area of ​​more than 1,500 square meters, with three front and rear entrances, and the palace is magnificent. 🕌 Quanfu Temple: This temple was built in the first year of Yuanyou in the Northern Song Dynasty and is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the ancient town of Zhouzhuang. The architectural style of Quanfujiang Temple is unique, and many ancient Buddhist statues and cultural relics are preserved in the temple. 🌸 Nanhu Qiuyue Garden: It is a garden landscape with a lotus pond as the center. There are pavilions, rockery ponds, etc. in the garden, with beautiful scenery. 🗺️ Reference route Day1: Zhang Hall-Shen Hall-Shuangqiao-Fu'an Bridge-Zhouzhuang Museum Day2: Lost Tower-Chengxu Taoist Temple-Quanfu Temple-Nanhu Qiuyue Garden #tourism #suzhou #江苏 #zhouzhuang ancient town

Zhang Hall, also known as Yuyan Tang, is located at No. 38, North Street, Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province. It was built during the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty (1436-1449 AD) and is a well-preserved ancient residential building from the Ming Dynasty in Zhouzhuang Ancient Town. It is a national key cultural relics protection unit. The entire Zhang Hall covers an area of 1,884 square meters, with a total of six sections, including the sedan hall, front hall, main hall, hall building, rear river house, and waterway pavilion.