The quiet, mysterious beauty of the thousand-year-old ancient town of Wuzhen is what Minh Nha, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, remembers most after her trip to China.
140 km from Shanghai, Wuzhen, along with Zhouzhuang, Xitang, and Luzhi, are four famous ancient towns on the Yangtze River (Truong Giang).
The ancient town was built in 872, located in Tongxiang-Jiaxing city, Zhejiang province, in the triangle formed by Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai. With an area of over 71 square kilometers, Wuzhen has a total population of 60,000 people.
Minh Nha, 32 years old, and her friends took an 8-day trip to Shanghai - Wuzhen - Hangzhou in March. They were impressed with the ancient town's name, address, water system, architecture, and people's way of life, which have remained intact over a thousand years of history.
Currently, Wuzhen has a 40-hectare ancient house area built in the late 19th century, more than 100 ancient stone bridges. The canal system running through the town divides the town into four main scenic areas: Dong Sach, Nam Sach, Tay Sach, and Bac Sach.
More than 80% of the old houses and shops along the river here have not changed over time, reflecting on the calm water surface. All of them make up an Asian Venice, with green canals and winding stone bridges.
Wuzhen showcases its history through ancient stone bridges, stone walkways and exquisite wood carvings. Minh Nha said that when arriving in the town, visitors are guided through the history of the formation and development of an ancient city through the work "Lin's Shop" by famous modern Chinese revolutionary writer Mao Dun. If convenient or have time, visitors can visit the Mu Xin Art Museum in the city dedicated to his work. The museum is open from 9am to 5:30pm, Tuesday to Sunday. The ticket price is nearly 600,000 VND.
Over thousands of years, local people still preserve traditional customs and occupations such as wine making, weaving, fabric dyeing and making handicrafts to serve tourists.
Wuzhen is divided into six traditional areas, including a conference area, a local-style housing area, a cultural area, a food and beverage area, a shopping area, and a water town lifestyle area. The six areas form an east-west-east circuit, making it convenient for visitors to visit and learn about traditional customs and culture.
Hong Nguyen Dyeing Workshop, specializing in a famous blue floral print fabric, is a must-visit in the shop area. The special thing about the workshop is that the colors are made from natural ingredients, without any chemical coloring. The fabrics and dyes are made from traditional materials, along with drawings and patterns that are bold in the Jiangnan style.
"In O Tran, you will feel the breath of time through every street corner, every small brick," Minh Nha said.
Before the advent of railways in China, boats were the only way to travel between regions and towns along the Yangtze River. Many travelers who visited here gave Wuzhen the memorable name "water town".
Walking around the village, Minh Nha seemed to step into a colorful culinary world. The bustling night market with all kinds of typical Chinese street food will make you feel like you are participating in a joyful festival. The riverside stalls with delicious fish flavor and romantic space are where you can relax and enjoy a memorable dinner. Explore the farmers market and roadside stalls to find unique street flavors and shop for interesting souvenirs. Life is strangely peaceful in her mind.
Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Wuzhen because the flowers are blooming and the weather is pleasant, not too hot or cold. If you come to Wuzhen at the right time, you can watch the Silkworm Flower Boat performance, shadow puppetry or the Flower Drum Opera.
From Ho Chi Minh City, visitors fly to Shanghai and then take a bus, taxi or high-speed train to Wuzhen. The journey takes from one to two hours depending on the means of transport.
Boating along the canals is a must-try activity. There are two types of boats for visitors to choose from, one for groups of 6 people and one for groups of 10 or more. Letting yourself drift along the clear blue water, you will feel like you are lost in an ancient world with houses, bridges, and stone pillars hundreds of years old.
"Although O Tran is not luxurious, it is enough to make tourists fascinated and want to look at it forever," Minh Nha said.
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