| China September 2015 part III: Zhouzhuang |
| The first week of our China trip had been a hectic one, so it was good that our stay in Zhouzhuang was more relaxed. There are several "water towns" in the Shanghai-Suzhou region, during our 2009 trip we had visited Tong Li. Zhouzhuang, 30 km south-east of Suzhou is the most famous and probably also the most popular one.
Public tramsport from Suzhou would be complicated, so we took two taxis. They dropped us at the entrance gate of the village, where we bought tickets. Well organised, tickets had a photo so we could go in and out unlimited times. And for me, a septuagenarian, access was free!!
Aric had booked a hotel inside the water village, only a short walk from the entrance. A very romantic hotel, we had our own private balcony, from where we had a nice view of the canal, almost directly below us. So nice that we were reluctant to go out for food, we bought cup-of-noodles in a supermarket just outside the entrance and had our lunch on our balcony..:-)
|
 With two taxis to Zhouzhuang
|
 Modern ticket office
|
 Entrance of the water village
|
 A room with a balcony
|
 Romantic bedroom!
|
 Balcony lunch :-)
|
 Aric on our balcony
|
|
After a good rest, we walked around the village. Canals, bridges, boats, I kept taking pictures..:-) And tourists too, almost all locals. Click on a picture to get a larger view.
|
In the evening it became more quiet, as most tourist were day-trippers. The boats who were busy all day, found a parking place for the night. And we found a place for dinner. Pig knuckle is a speciality of these water villages, many shops sell them for take-away, but you can also have them in a restaurant. Delicious but not good for your health.
After our meal we walked around and enjoyed the scenery. Lighting less colorful than in Suzhou, actually nicer. We passed a liquor shop and could not resist the temptation. As usual Roger would like to have his picture taken with the friendly sales girl ...:-)
 Many tourists
|
 Me in Zhouzhuang
|
 Aric in Zhouzhuang
|
 Many boats
|
 More boats
|
 The famous pig knuckles
|
 Our dinner
|
 Pig knuckle, delicious and unhealthy
|
 Zhouzhuang by night
|
 Romantic and quiet
|
 In the liquor shop
|
|
When we woke up next morning around 7 am, we were surprised that there were already a lot of tourists. Simple explanation: the ticket office opens only later, so the early birds can enter for free..:-)! But it was still not too crowded when we walked to our breakfast place. Dumplings again.
 Our hotel by night
|
 Quanfu pagoda
|
 Doinng the laundry in the canal!
|
 Still quiet
|
 Beautiful
|
 Dumpling breakfast
|
|
Our first destination was the Chengxu Temple. Zhouzhuang is a very old village, its history goes back to 1086 when it got its present name. The temple was built in the same period, of course later expanded and upgraded.
On our way to the temple I got the idea to take pictures of the bridges. But I gave up, there are too many, here is just a collection..:-)
The temple is a huge complex with many halls and pavilions, masterpieces of Taoist architecture. Of course there is a zigzag bridge..:-) Less common is a stone boat. THe temple is located at the edge of the village, near to the lake.
 A collection of bridges
|
 Quanfu temple main hall
|
|
 Pavillion with zigzag bridge
|
 A stone boat!
|
 Bridge to the lake
|
 Quanfu pagoda
|
 A big lake
|
 The modern Quanfu bridge
|
 Aerial view of the temple
|
|
After our temple visit, we walked back, of course taking more pictures.
Next on our list was the Shen mansion, the largest residential building of Zhouzhuang. It was built in 1742 (Qing dynasty) by a wealthy business tycoon.
The ground floor consists of connected courtyards, the living quarters are on the first floor. Apparently more than 100 rooms.
 I kept taking pictures
|
 Venice of the Orient.
|
 The Shen Residence
|
 One of the halls
|
 View from the first floor
|
 A simple bedroom
|
 More elaborate
|
 Nice roof structure
|
 Our guide..:-)
|
 The kitchen
|
|
Time for lunch. Looking for a suitable eatery, we passed a handicraft shop where people were working on a loom and a spinning wheel. It looked quite easy, but when Pat tried it, it was actually not...:-)
Nice friendly people, we bought beautiful handwoven shirts.
We were not very hungry, found a nice old-fashioned tea shop.
 Another bridge
|
 Another canal
|
 Looks easy
|
 But it is not..:-)
|
|
|
A visit of ZhouZhuang is not complete without a boat trip through the canals. Well organised, there is a jetty where boats and boatmen are waiting. Fixed price, like the taxi services at KLIA..:-). Our boat had actually a boat-lady. From a boat you have a different perspective, very relaxing. For some extra money the boatman/lady will sing a few songs.
 Our boat lady
|
 Different perspective
|
|
|
|
|
The next morning we had a last walk in this picturesque village. Our next destination, before going to Shanghai, was a very special one, a wish of Aric to visit the Yangcheng lake, the origin of the Hairy Crabs, an (expensive) Chinese delicacy. They are only available in autumn and prized for the female crab roe. Around the lake there are many restaurants that serve the crabs. In season, that is! Getting there by public transport is complicated, we were lucky that the owner of a smelly taufu shop (!) was willing to act as a taxi driver.
 A picture without water!
|
 Memory for later
|
 Photographer at work
|
 Map of Zhouzhuang
|
 All luggage fits in one car
|
|
|
Aric had booked a hotel near the lake. We were a bit shocked when we arrived, the hotel looked desolate and the reception had problems to understand us. But the rooms were ok and it became clear soon that everything was so quiet because the crab season was just starting!
Not far from the hotel was the Chongyuan Temple, dedicated to Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. Interesting history, the original construction goes back to 503 AD. But during the madness of the Chinese Cultural Revolution the temple was completely destroyed! Later it was entirely rebuilt and officially reopened in 2007.
It is a huge complex near to the lake, we walked around, visited a few halls. In one of them we had a vegetarian lunch. We were the only customers, during weekends it must be crowded.
 Zhixing hotel
|
 Entrance of the Chongyuan Temple
|
 Many halls
|
 Fierce temple guardians
|
 Everything is big
|
 Even the joss sticks..:-)
|
 Inside the main hall
|
 Buddhas
|
 More guardians
|
 Vegetarian lunch
|
|
Guan Yin has her own building on a small island, reachable by a bridge. The statue is 33 m high, not easy to take a picture of the goddess. Good that there were elevators...:-) From the top floor you have a wide view of the lake. As rain was coming, we could not stay too long. After our temple visit, Aric and I walked around a bit in the village, everything closed. But at least Aric had his picture taken with the Hairy Crab monument, proof that he had been there...:-)
 The Guan Yin temple
|
 So tall, impossible to take good pictures
|
 Notice the two humans
|
 View from the top floor
|
 Another view
|
 Yangcheng lake
|
 The huge temple complex
|
 Rain is coming.
|
 The hairy crab monument
|
 Crab fishing boats
|
|
Everything closed, so where to have our hairy crab dinner? The only option was our hotel. Luckily the staff was very friendly, there were crabs, so we had our hairy crab dinner in the huge dining room, where we were the only customers...:-). Surrounded by staff, who were watching how we managed to eat the (tiny) critters. As we were a bit too early, there was not yet much roe, so it was a little bit disappointing. But a funny experience for sure.
 What shall we order?
|
 Discussion with the manager
|
 A hairy crab, still alive
|
 Enjoying our crabs
|
 Enjoying?
|
 Enjoying!
|
|
| Aric had one serious concern. How to go from this remote location to Shanghai? Public transport difficult, taxi service not available. He was very relieved when the manager told him that he would do his best to find transport for us the following morning. And he kept his promise. So, the next morning, after a very rudimentary breakfast (but free of charge!), we left for our final destination, Shanghai.
 Our F.O.C breakfast
|
|
|
 |
You are welcome to comment, but you must register and/or
login first.
|
|
