《Worth It! A Guide to 'Charming Small Town' Stays》

Here is a short Wuzhen travel guide:
📚📚Basic Information
Wuzhen is a national 5A-rated Jiangnan water town with a history of 1,300 years. It is divided into four sections: Dongzha, Nanzha, Xizha, and Beizha. Dongzha and Xizha are paid tourist attractions, while Nanzha and Beizha are not fully developed and are currently free.
⌚Best Time to Visit
April–May and October–December are the best times to visit. In April, you can enjoy the typical Jiangnan spring scenery and participate in the annual Incense Market event.
💰Ticket Prices
Dongzha: CNY 110/person, open 7:00–18:00. Recommended visit duration: 3 hours.
Xizha: CNY 150/person, open 9:00–22:00. Recommended visit duration: 5 hours.
Dongzha and Xizha combo ticket: CNY 190/person.
Some groups can enjoy discounted or free tickets. Consult the scenic area for specific requirements.
🚗Transportation Guide
External Transportation: Take the high-speed train to Tongxiang Station, then take the K828 bus or a taxi to Wuzhen. You can also take a bus from Hangzhou.
Internal Transportation: The main modes of transportation in the town are pedicabs and taxis. Within the scenic area, there are hand-rowed boats and sightseeing vehicles. Pedicabs cost CNY 5–8/km; taxis have a starting price of CNY 5, with CNY 2 per kilometer thereafter; Dongzha scenic area boat rides are CNY 80/one way, limited to 8 people per boat; Xizha scenic area chartered boats (8:00–17:00) are CNY 120/one way, (17:00–22:00) are CNY 180/one way, limited to 6 people per boat; Xizha scenic area sightseeing vehicles have a flat fare of CNY 5/person.
🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏻‍♂️Recommended One-Day Itinerary
Morning: In-depth tour of Xizha. Depart from Hangzhou/Shanghai at 7:00, arrive at the Water Market at 9:00 to watch the morning tea performance and taste Dingsheng Cake and mutton noodles; head to the Muxin Art Museum at 10:30; check in at Xuchang Sauce Garden at 12:00 and try handmade sauce.
Afternoon: Free exploration of Dongzha + Nanzha. Stroll around the periphery of Dongzha at 13:30 and see Mao Dun's former residence; go to Nanzha Old Street at 15:00 to find blue calico and taste Sanbai wine; go to Wuzhen Post Office at 16:30 to send postcards.
Evening: Xizha night view. Take a night cruise on a rowboat at 18:00; go to the open-air cinema + bar street at 19:30 to drink cocktails and listen to folk songs.
🍚🍚Food Recommendations
Jinji Cake Shop: Dingsheng Cake CNY 3/piece, Wumi Rice CNY 5, delicate and delicious.
Shusheng Mutton Noodles: CNY 42, large portion with lots of meat.
Radish Pancake: Affordable, the old lady's stall in Nanzha is authentic.
❤️❤️Tips to Avoid Pitfalls
For a one-day tour, it is recommended to only buy Xizha tickets, as the Dongzha and Xizha combo ticket is not cost-effective.
Avoid staying in the scenic area and choose a homestay outside the scenic area.
Don't be fooled by pedicabs offering tours of Nanzha; it is easy to explore on foot.