Zhouzhuang is 30 km in the southwest
of Kunshan City and 38 km to the southeast of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province. Lying
quietly by the side of Dianshan Lake near the Daguanyuan Park in Shanghai, it
has a history of more than 900 years. The town is surrounded and bisected by
streams. Inside the town, riverways intersect one another, and houses are all
built on riverside. More than 10 stone bridges span over the water lanes,
providing convenient passage for the local people. They were built between the
Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.
Zhouzhuang is not only famous for its
beautiful scenery, but also known for its culture heritages. It boasts about 100
old houses, such as the Shen's House, the Zhang's House, Milou Tower, Ye
Chucang's Former Residence, Chengxu Taoist Temple, Quanfu Temple, etc. All of
them have great historical and cultural value. Many ancient and modern scholars
lived in or visited the town. Zhouzhuang is reputed as the best region of rivers
and lakes in China.