‘Small bridges, flowing water, and people.’ Wuzhen has retained the charm of Jiangnan in the past. This is also due to the Grand Canal of Beijing and Hangzhou passing through the town and intersecting with the Xishi River, the ‘mother river’ of Wuzhen Xishan. There are many tributaries and branch rivers, which create the small water town scenery where every household faces the water and rests on the river. Different from the surging waves of the Grand Canal of Beijing and Hangzhou, the numerous small rivers in Wuzhen are delicate and lovely, like green silk ribbons. The Xishi River is the liveliest. The rowing boats chase the waves and pass through bridges and shores. The people on the boat speak in soft Wu dialect, chatting and laughing happily. Many streams converge in the southwest corner to form an open lake. The water is shimmering and as green as uncut jade, named Emerald Ripple. The weeping willows on the shore are continuously poetic. Boating among them is like being in a ‘cool world’. The rowing boat is the spirit of the water town. The narrowest part of the small rivers in Wuzhen is no more than 3 meters wide and the water depth is no more than 2 meters. The small rowing boat is heavy in structure and has a shallow draft. The scull is actually the rudder oar. It sways back and forth like a fish tail at the stern to move forward, and the boat sails steadily. The place where rowing boats are built and repaired is the shipyard. In the past, shipyards were hereditary, passed down from father to son. People learned the craftsmanship of building and repairing ships. With the changes of the times, shipyards declined. Wuzhen adheres to protection and inheritance. It invites old masters to teach apprentices and restores the shipyard. In the old days, during festivals, wealthy families would go on outings. Taking a flower lantern boat was an excellent choice. The boat was equipped with tea and various pastries. The whole family cuddled up, chatting and laughing, enjoying a harmonious atmosphere. There were also literati and poets, either alone or in groups. They took flower lantern boats to drink and compose poems, expressing their lofty sentiments between clouds and water. Visiting Jiangnan, playing in Wuzhen, taking a boat to enjoy the clouds and water. The world is broad and one can forget both oneself and external things. Only then can one know openness and freedom… Opening hours: Open all year round from 09:00 to 16:00.
Wuzhen Boat Trip
‘Small bridges, flowing water, and people.’ Wuzhen has retained the charm of Jiangnan in[...]
