Nanhu Lake, originally named Zhangshuiyu (Zhang Shiyu Lake), is commonly known as Nanbaidang. Regardless of how crowded the core scenic spot of Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, the Double Bridge, may be, walking to the side of Nanhu Lake always brings a sudden sense of openness. You can walk across the Quanfu Long Bridge and visit the Nanhu Qiuyue Garden, or opt for a paid boat tour. Nanhu Lake is said to have a connection with the idiom ‘Chun Lu Zhi Si’.
Nanhu Qiuyue Garden is the main attraction by the side of Nanhu Lake, divided into four scenic areas: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each of these areas is filled with garden scenery. The Silu Hall and Jiying Studio are built in memory of Zhang Han, the person who proposed the ‘Chun Lu Zhi Si’ idiom. Liu Binke’s Residence and Mengde Pavilion are built in memory of Liu Yuxi.
The Winter scenic area is centered around the Quanfu Lecture Temple, a typical garden temple where temple buildings and pavilions are mostly floating on water, earning it the title of ‘Buddha State in Water’, with a very beautiful scenery. The east-west oriented Quanfu Long Bridge spans across Nanhu Lake. This modern stone arch bridge has a slender and elegant shape and is lit up at night, offering a night view. Near the bridgehead of Quanfu Long Bridge is the Huan Zhen Water Tour Wharf, where the boat tour goes around the outer part of Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, and the other terminal is near the Taiwan Old Street in Adu Romantic Town.
Opening Hours: Open all year round, 24/7.
Must-see tips: Be cautious at Quanfu Lecture Temple as there may be people asking for ‘charitable donations’ under the pretext of fortune-telling, burning incense, offering flowers, etc., ranging from hundreds to thousands of yuan.
