Zhouzhuang Attractions

Zhenfeng Bridge

Zhouzhuang Zhenfeng Bridge is sitting on the west mouth of Zhongshi River, and connects the Zhenfeng Lane and Xiwan Street. It was rebuilt in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and is well-preserved today.

Zhouzhuang has about 1000 households who are living in the old dwelling quarters. More than 60% of the houses built in the Ming and Qing dynasties and the early Republic of China as well are well preserved. Among which there are 100 houses with each having a courtyard and 60 of them have an arch gateway for each made by carved bricks. The houses of both Zhang and Shen families remain intact and are rated as the best heritages among all of them for their ancient style.

Shen's House

Shen's House is located to the southeast of Fu'an Bridge, on Nanshi Street. It was built in 1742 during the Qing Dynasty by Shen Benren, a descendant of Shen Wanshen who was a man of wealth in southern China in the late Yuan (1206-1368) to early Ming Dynasties.

It consists of seven courtyards, five archways, more than 100 rooms of different size along two sides of a 100-m-long axis road, covering an area of 2000 sq.m, offering a unique traditional Chinese architectural style.

It has three sections. The first includes the water gate and wharf for mooring boats and washing. The second one consists of the Tea Hall and Main Hall for receiving guests and holding wedding or funeral ceremonies. The rear part serves as living quarters.

The Main Hall covers 170 sq.m. The 6-m-high carved brick archway, facing the Main Hall, is the most magnificent among the five, with a horizontal inscribed board bearing the inscription, Jihouliuguang ( do more good for ever). Around the board are relief sculptures of figurines, animals, pavilions and opera characters.

Zhang's House

Zhang's House is located at the south of the Twin Bridge on Beishi Street. Built between 1436 and 1449 by the offspring of Xu Kui, the brother of Zhongshan King Xu Da, it was sold to Zhang's family in the early Qing Dynasty, after which it was called either Yuyan (Jade Swallow) Hall or Zhang's House.

It has 6 courtyards and more than 70 rooms, covering more than 1800 sq.m. The first courtyard has side buildings on the east and west, with long and short windows. Yuyan Hall is the main building, large and bright with grand column on big nanmu pier bases, a rare Ming style. A river flows under the hall, with a square pool built in the middle section to allow boats to turn round. Its rear hall has open windows and balconies facing the water with a backyard of various plants and flowers.

The place now is an important cultural relic under protection of the provincial government.

Ye Chucang Residence

Ye Chucang (1887-1946), born in Zhouzhuang, was a poet of the South Society and a statesman, and was graduated from Suzhou High School. When he came home during winter vocation, he saw many people involving in gambling and opium, so he organized a group of young people to publicize the harm of these activities.

His residence, Zuyin Hall, located on Xiwan Street facing north, was built in the Qing Dynasty, consisting of five courtyards. The Main Hall is a studio and the Rear Hall is a place where Ye received friends.