Wuzhen Travel Guide: Lantern-lit Bridge Walks and Riverside Serenades

You must visit Wuzhen at least once—bask in the Jiangnan evening breeze, stroll along the ancient bluestone paths, and immerse yourself in the charm of "small bridges, flowing water, and homes." This ultra-detailed Wuzhen travel guide 📖 is a must-save!

Pre-Trip Essentials ⭐

📄 Bring your ID card (required for accommodation and ticket purchases)
👕 Pack long sleeves for spring/autumn, sun protection + sunglasses for summer, and warm coats for winter
🔋 Phone + power bank (free rentals available in the scenic area), umbrella (free rentals), Alipay for seamless payments

Transport Guide 🚗

✈️ Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport → Direct airport shuttle to Wuzhen (1.5h)
🚄 Tongxiang Station → Bus K282 → Wuzhen Bus Station → Bus K350 (8min) or taxi (50min, ¥100)
🚗 Drive to "Wuzhen West Scenic Zone Visitor Center" (parking ¥20/24h for vehicles under 7 seats)
🚌 Direct buses from Shanghai/Hangzhou/Suzhou; dedicated airport shuttle from Hangzhou Xiaoshan

Attractions 🎈

🎑 East Scenic Zone: Authentic water town—watch locals wash clothes, high-pole boat performances, Mao Dun's Former Residence, Jiangnan Hundred-Bed Museum, Hongyuan Tai Dyehouse (¥110)
🌃 West Scenic Zone: Stunning nightscapes—Vegetable Dye Workshop, Mu Xin Art Museum (¥20), Wuzhen Post Office, Water Market, White Lotus Pagoda (¥150)
🏮 South/North Zones: Free entry, brimming with local life—perfect for hidden gems

📆 Itinerary Suggestions

One-Day Trip

☀️ Morning: Blue-dyed fabric photos at Vegetable Dye Workshop → Mu Xin Art Museum's "The Slow Old Days" manuscripts → Riverside corridor walk
🌤️ Afternoon: Gondola ride at Water Market (shared boat ¥60/person) → Bridge Teahouse for gondolas passing under bridges
🌙 Night: White Lotus Pagoda's canal light views → Zhang Hengxing Lantern Shop night walks/storytelling/bar drinks

Two-Day Trip

Day 1: West Zone (as above)
Day 2: Morning—East Zone's 10:30 high-pole boat show → Mao Dun's Former Residence/Bed Museum; Afternoon—South Zone's "Wuzhen" wall art → hunt for qipaos and coffee

Food Recs 🍜

🍜 Scholar Lamb Noodles (near Zhaoming Academy, tender lamb with sugarcane broth)
🦆 Soy-Braised Duck (glossy, crispy-skinned)
🐟 Salted Bai Shui Fish (steamed Taihu wild fish, silky texture)
🥟 Wu Mom's Dumplings (fresh shrimp-crab filling)
🍘 Jinji Ding Sheng Cake (steamed red bean pastry)
🥠 Sister-in-Law Cake (sweet-salty sesame pastry, pairs with local liquor)

Stay Options 🛏️

🏮 In-Scene: Riverside resorts (¥1,000–3,000/night)—canal views, breakfast perks, unlimited entry
🏡 Out-Scene: Budget-friendly like "Wuzhen That Year Village Retreat" (¥200–800/night) with free shuttles

Photo Spots 📸

📸 Vegetable Dye Workshop (6am for empty blue-fabric "waterfalls")
📸 Bridge Teahouse (Hanfu shots by sunrise-lit windows)
📸 Water Market (morning bustle opposite teahouses)
📸 Dingsheng & Fu'an Bridges (gondola-backed portraits)