One-day tour of the ancient water towns in Jiangnan: Wuzhen East Gate and West Gate

We had a wonderful day visiting Wuzhen thanks to our local guide, Ms Sun. From the moment we arrived, she shared fascinating stories about the town’s rich history, culture, and traditions, making every corner come alive. Her warm personality, patience, and attention to detail ensured that our trip was smooth, enjoyable, and memorable. She was always happy to answer questions and recommended excellent spots for photos and local delicacies. Wuzhen is beautiful on its own, but her knowledge and enthusiasm made the experience truly special. Thank you for your professionalism and hospitality—we highly recommend her to anyone visiting Wuzhen.

We booked the Chinese-guided tour, so most of the explanations were in Chinese—but huge credit to our guide for really trying her best to communicate with us. She was very helpful and made sure we still enjoyed the experience, so definitely 5 stars for her effort. Lunch: We had lunch with the group, but honestly, I wouldn’t recommend it. The place didn’t seem very hygienic, so it’s better to bring your own food or eat somewhere else. Tour: The town itself is absolutely beautiful. It really preserves that ancient charm even in modern times—it felt magical walking around. Definitely still worth visiting and taking the tour.

Our tour guide (徐导游) contacted us via wechat a day before the tour. The bus pickup was quite punctual & our guide gave an extensive intro about Wuzhen on the way there! There are optional top ups (eg. Boat Ride, Lunch & Audio Guide), which isn’t included in the tour package. Opted in for lunch only, which we shared a table with the other tourists within the same tour bus! The duration allocated to explore the place is sufficient as well!

This day trip to Wuzhen, although short, allowed me to experience the unique atmosphere of Jiangnan's water towns from morning till night as I walked through Dongzha and Xizha. During the day, it's a misty, rainy town, and at night, it's a world of lights. The same river and the same rooftops present completely different scenery at different times. I started with Dongzha in the morning. Dongzha retains a more original sense of life. In the old streets and narrow alleys, you'll find residents' homes with clothes drying and couplets hanging. Underneath your feet are stone slabs polished by time. Strolling along the river, you see houses with white walls and dark tiles on one side, and the slowly flowing river on the other. Lanterns occasionally hanging under the eaves bring the scene to life like old photos. Entering various small museums, such as the Blue Calico Fabric Museum and the Distillery Workshop, you can see the tools and processes of traditional handicrafts, and you can better understand that "ancient towns" are not just backdrops for taking pictures, but a way of life that actually existed. In the afternoon, I moved on to Xizha, where the atmosphere was noticeably different. The streets of Xizha are wider, and the planning is more complete. B&Bs, coffee shops, and cultural and creative shops line the streets one after another. Compared to the sense of life in Dongzha, Xizha has more of a resort town feel. I took a special trip on a gondola, slowly moving towards the end of Xizha along the waterway. Sitting on the boat and looking at both sides, you can see the riverside inns, wooden windows, and stone bridges slowly passing by, as if you have become part of this ink painting. Compared to walking, taking a boat allows you to truly feel the meaning of the words "water town." On the way back along the water, you can see many riverside inns with wooden windows that open to river views. I made a special effort to wait in line to buy the locally famous shredded radish cake. A long queue formed in front of the small shop, and the aroma of fried dough and radish filled the air. When it was my turn, I took the freshly baked radish cake, still warm to the touch, and took a bite. The outer skin was crispy, and the inside was savory, fragrant, and juicy. Standing on the stone slab road of the ancient town, enjoying the evening breeze while eating the hot snack, that moment was more satisfying than any formal meal, and it became one of my most "human" memories of Wuzhen. After dusk, the night view of Xizha was the highlight of the trip. The sky slowly darkened, and the lanterns by the river and the outline lights of the buildings lit up one by one, reflecting on the water and illuminating the entire river. There were more tourists, but in some of the quieter corners, you could still find an alley with only yourself and the sound of water. This day trip to Dongzha and Xizha, although the itinerary was a bit tight and I could only get a superficial view of many places, was still rewarding. Dongzha allowed me to see more "authentic" traces of life, allowing me to imagine the daily life of residents washing, drying, and chatting here in the past. Xizha, on the other hand, is like a stage prepared for modern travelers, making the ancient town more comfortable, more photogenic, and more suitable for a slow stay. The combination of the two styles gave me a more three-dimensional impression of "ancient water towns." On the way back, as I recalled the stone slab road during the day and the lights reflected on the river at night, I felt that the value of travel may not lie in "how many attractions you visited," but in whether you really slowed down for a moment and focused on looking at the scenery around you. Wuzhen gave me such an opportunity to temporarily pause the fast-forward button of life.

I had such a wonderful experience on my Wuzhen tour! My guide was Chinese and didn’t speak English, but she went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable and understood everything. She was so kind, sweet, and attentive – always checking up on me and guiding me where I needed to go, even though I don’t understand Chinese. Thanks to her, I felt well taken care of the entire time. Wuzhen itself is absolutely beautiful, full of charm and history, and the tour was well organized and enjoyable. Even with the language difference, I truly had a great time and would definitely recommend this tour to others.

Thank you Ms Chai and Mr Shu for their very good service. Both of them are very friendly, efficient and professional in their job. Double thumbs up for them! :-)

I will highly recommend this day tour package. Both the tour guides (刘导 & 苏导) explaining everything in detail and the arrangement is really good and smooth. I chose West gate only because travelling with kid and we have more time to walk around. Taking the boat ride is highly recommended too. The view in wuzhen is really stunning no matter day or night. Thanks to the tour guides and bus driver with full of patience and great attitude.

The guide was very knowledgeable and his sharing were very insightful. The trip was interesting, we had a good time.