Zhouzhuang Water Town

Restored Yuan-era water town 50 km southeast of Suzhou. The most-photographed of the classical Yangtze water towns.

Zhouzhuang dates from around 1086 and is the longest-running 'water town' tourism site in eastern China — heavily commercialised since the 1980s. The cobbled lanes and stone bridges over the canals are atmospheric early in the morning before the tour groups arrive; later in the day, walls of selfie-stick crowds. Boat rides through the canals are touristy but pretty in evening light.