The above two hotels are converted from the ancient southern China watern town style residence. In order to protect the ancient buildings and the layout of the ancient Wuzhen Town, the rooms for the Guest House and the Sub-Wing of Tongan Hotel (the sub-wing of Tongan Hotel is also 3-star standard) are somewhat narrow. The shower machine is the electricity heating machine, the air conditioning is the seperate air-conditioning machine, no central air-conditioning. You should get out of the buiding, even need to walk across the small street or little river to get to the restaurant or to enjoy some other services of the hotel. But the furnituries are in the elegant Chinese style, not very luxurious but clean and comfortable, and the views are very beautiful, make you feel you are staying in a normal Chinese farmer's home.
 
For the main building of the 5-star standard Tongan Hotel, all rooms are in the luxrious 5-star standard. Although the appearance of the hotel are in the ancient southern China watern town style residence and it is also converted from the ancient building, it is really with the luxirous Chinese style decoration. The restaurant is connected to the Lobby. But you still need to walk across the small street to enjoy some other services in the hotel. 

Itinerary B:  One Day Tour to the West Part of Wuzhen
Sightseeing to the West Part of Wuzhen. It is like a international standard holiday resort with old villages, temples, pagodas, rivers, bridges, gardens, mansions, and many bars in it.

Price: in Rmb for each person

1 Person	2-3 Persons	4-5 Persons	6-7 Persons	8-9 Persons	Supplement
1990	1160	650	460	380	/

Inclusive: Van, English-speaking guide service, Entance Fee

Exclusive: Meals, Insurance, Tips and other personal expense

C. One Day Tour to Zhou Zhuang Town from Shanghai

Tour Summary:

Zhou Zhuang which is well known for its dreamy landscape and simple architectures, well preserved for over 900 years. The majority of the town's residences were built in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and nearly 100 traditional courtyards and 60 carved-brick archways are still in use. Visit the old residence in the old town and take a boat ride there.

The 1000-year-old Tongli is one of the most beautiful water towns in the Yangtze River Delta.

Price: in Rmb for each person

1 Person	2-3 Persons	4-5 Persons	6-7 Persons	8-9 Persons	Supplement
1680	950	560	390	320	/

Inclusive: Van, English-speaking guide service, Entance Fee

Exclusive: Meals, Insurance, Tips and other personal expense
 

D. One Day Tour to Xitang Town from Shanghai

Tour Summary:

Xitang Town is located in Zhejiang Province, very near to the border of Shanghai. Inside the town, there are many well-preserved architectural groups constructed during the Ming and Qing dynasties,which boast a higher artistry and study value, thus being highlighted by the experts at home and abroad studying antique buildings. Through a bird's-eye view of the whole town, green waves ripple everywhere and every family resides near water. In the morning, water flows beneath bridges, thin mist is like silk, pinkish walls on both banks stand tall and erect and tiled houses are reflected inversely in the water. In the evening, the setting sun shines slantwise, songs come from fishing boats, lamps flicker and the fragrance of wine drifts. The whole old town is like a poem and a picture. In this town, people will feel that they are seemingly in an earthly paradise. It is hard to know that people exist in the picture or picture exists in the heart of people.

Price: in Rmb for each person

1 Person	2 - 3 Person	4 - 5 Person	6 - 7Person	8 - 9Person
1720	980	570	380	300

Inclusive: Van, English-speaking guide service, Entance Fee

Exclusive: Meals, Insurance, Tips and other personal expense

                                                Ancient China Town near Shanghai

In 2003,the project of the Yangtze River Water Towns (including Zhouzhuang, Tongli, Luzhi, Nanxun, Wuzhen and Xitang) was granted the Award of Distinction by the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation. It has helped to make the project a model for repairing and conserving other cultural relics. By car, you can easily take one day tour to these towns from Shanghai. 

These small towns,with their black tiled, oil-painted timber framework houses, that contrast sharply with its white walls and gray flagging, brings to mind a Chinese ink and wash painting. The river running through the town was once the main means of transportation for local people, but these days is little used, other than for festive celebrations, when bulk cargo is shipped in. The window sills of the houses on the banks of the river are further extended with boards, on which flowers, plants and bonsai bloom in the warm sunshine, adding a touch of life and color to this tranquil, oldstyle towns.  

There are many well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty buildings in these towns, formerly the homes of those rich enough to escape the social turbulence of centuries past. They chose these towns as the place to build their homes for its out-of-the-way location and convenient transportation, the same reasons these towns retains such an authentic feeling today.

Go to Water Towns around Shanghai, looking for peace in your heart...

1. Wuzheng Ancient Town:
In the south of the Yangtze River Delta, there are many ancient water towns like Wuzhen. They have in common ancient bridges, streets, lanes and delicately decorated residences, but Wuzhen seems to contain richer historical and cultural flavors, maybe because it boasts the most venerated history and least modern influences. Now it is commonly known that Wuzhen is the best preserved water town in China. When the Chinese opened the ancient riverine town of Wuzhen to visitors in early 2001, they were determined to avoid the tacky mix of tourist restaurants and souvenir shops that has swamped other nearby water towns. Wuzhen has been preserved rather than restored, lovingly kept rather than tarted up, and its ancient ways of life maintained. Most of all, Wuzhen is still a living town, where daily life goes on seemingly unimpeded by a growing trickle of visitors.
 
Wuzhen, a town with a history of 1200 years, is only around 2 hours drive from Shanghai. It is divided in two parts of touristic interest: Xizha (West Wuzhen) and Dongzha (East Wuzhen).  Xizha has a special charm, it is renovated with the investment of around 1 Billion Chinese dollar.  Now The ancient Xizha Street is one of the best-kept architectures of Ming and Qing dynasties in China. The night view in Xizha boasts one of the best night view sceneries in China – it is a wonderland you never dreamed. 

Lodge:
1. Wuzhen Guest house:  (Modern leisurely life in venerable title-roofed houses of brick and wood)The Wu Zhen Guesthouses are a gathering of decorated old houses suitably remodeled for tourist accommodations. As a guest of the landlord here you will feel at home in a place where a close family relationship and the good feelings of a neighborhood are intimate.  Guesthouses are distributed on both sides of the Xishi River in Xizha, Wuzhen. Either facing the water or the street with beautiful peaceful views, all 280 suites have diversified forms and fixtures in the unique style of households in the Yangtze River Delta.

* More info on the lodging in Wuzhen, please click here

You may know more about Wuzhen Ancient Town here.

2.  Xitang Ancient Town:
Xitang is an ancient town with peaceful and beautiful environment. It features flat terrain, crisscrossed rivers, numerous, bridges, lanes and ceilinged corridors.

Ceilinged corridors are the most special scene in Xitang construction. These corridors were originally built to make convenience for the residents trading on boats by the side of the rivers. Each shop has a ceiling over the stone-slate road in front of its own house, and the ceilings connect with one another to form corridors. The longest ceiling stretches 1,300 meters, like a silk belt winding along the river.

Another feature of Xitang is the ancient architecture which was well-preserved from the ming and qing dynasty. There are a total of 122 lanes, long and short, wide and narrow. Five of them are longer than 100 meters. Among all the lanes, Shipi lane is the most famous.

You may know more about Xitang Ancient Town here.

3. Zhouzhuang Ancient Town:

Zhouzhuang is About one hour west of Shanghai, lies Zhouzhuang, the "Venice of the Orient," close and small enough for a quick day trip from Shanghai. Although there are other towns in China such as Tongli, dissected by streams, rivers and canals, Zhouzhuang is the most famous such "water town" nowadays.

Zhouzhuang, meaning Zhou's village was named after Zhou Digong in the Song Dynasty (960-1127 AD) who donated more than 13-hectare of his land as the field for the Quanfu Temple. Famed as No.1 water village in China with a 900 year history, Zhouzhuang is an ancient town featuring great cultural traditions and unique architecture surrounded by water with many tributaries. You will visit stone bridges and old residences left from Ming and Qing Dynasties, where you can have a glimpse of particular charisma of Jiangnan(meaning south of Yangtze River).

You may know more about Zhouzhuang Ancient Town here.

4. Tongli Ancient Town:
Tongli is established in the Song Dynasty, has a history of over 1,000 years. It occupies an area of 51 square miles (133 square kilometers) with a population of 55,000. The town is separated by 15 rivers into seven islets, which are connected through 49 ancient bridges. It is very rich in cultural heritage. Traditional residences including gardens, houses and temples, built in the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, are the highlight of the town.

Jiayin Hall built in 1922 is known for its fine carvings on the structure. Congben Hall built in 1911 is also known for its carvings on the structure. There are more than one hundred of well-preserved woodcarvings of traditional figures from Chinese classics.

The most famous bridges among the 49 bridges in tongli are the three bridges called taiping (peace), jili (luck) and changqing (celebration) bridges, which has been important landmarks of the place and regarded as the sacred architecture by the locals. whenever there is an important occasion, such as wedding, people would like to walk through the three bridges, which is supposed to bring peace, fortune and happiness in their lives. 

The traditional gardens are well worth seeing. The Tuisi Garden makes a good example. The garden was constructed between 1885 and 1887 by an imperial official. In the garden, pavilions, terraces, halls, rockeries, ponds and other elements of the garden were harmoniously integrated together.

You may know more about Tongli Ancient Town here.

5. Luzhi Ancient Town:
Luzhi is an old but extremely beautiful water town. With a history of more than 1400 years, it compares favorably to Zhouzhuang Town. Covering just one square kilometer, it has been awarded the great name of 'the first water town in China'.

The natural beauty of the town is indescribable. Old stone bridges, limpid water, venerable maidenhair trees and old-style dwellings, as well as the traditional women's costumes, create an ideal 'civilized, rich, pastoral and harmonious' environment. Many travellers from all over the world enjoy the peace and tranquillity. In addition, Luzhi town is noted for several historical and cultural relics, such as Baosheng temple, the Wansheng Rice Company and the White Lotus Flower Temple of the North Song Dynasty.

Luzhi is truly a peaceful and pristine land. Beautiful water, elegant stone bridges, and lovely women will take you into a fascinating world - one which you may enjoy so much that you forget to go home.

You may know more about Luzhi Ancient Town here

Enjoy your ancient elegant life inside typical Southern China’s style garden mansions in and around Suzhou, Please click Here.

More tour items in and around Shanghai, please click here.

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