Wuzhen 2-Day Itinerary: Where Ancient Academies Meet Modern Water Towns

🌿 "From the Southern Dynasty academy to the modern water town, this route allowed me to experience both Wuzhen's thousand-year-old culture and contemporary aesthetics!" Having just completed this route through Wuzhen and Puyuan, I can attest that every stop feels like a key to different eras: the morning reading at Zhaoming Academy, the waves of rice at Longxingtian, the sunset at Dingsheng Bridge, the night view of White Lotus Pagoda, and the morning tea and dyeing workshops in Puyuan! 🏯 [Day 1: A Walking Guide to Ancient Wuzhen] 📚 Zhaoming Academy (Open 8:00-17:30) This is where Prince Zhaoming of the Southern Liang Dynasty studied. The academy retains a Ming Dynasty stone archway and a four-eyed pond. On the second floor reading room, you can read works that have won the Mao Dun Literature Prize for free. Tips: Arrive at 8am for the fewest crowds, and the sunlight through the wooden window frames makes for beautiful photos! 🌾 Longxingtian (Free, different scenery in each season) Rice paddies shaped like a reclining dragon. In spring and summer, green waves roll, and in autumn, golden rice ears intertwine with white chrysanthemums. Best photo spots: Take a panoramic view of the rice fields from the south side of Qinggeng Bridge, or squat on the edge of the field and use the rice ears as a foreground for portraits. 🌉 Dingsheng Bridge (Arrive 1 hour before sunset) A rare three-hole arched bridge with exquisite stone lion carvings on the bridge railings. Photography tip: Stand in the middle of the steps on the south side of the bridge, use a telephoto lens to compress the sense of space, and capture the moment when a tourist boat passes through the arch. 🏮 Lingshui Residence → White Lotus Pagoda (Must-see night view) Lingshui Residence is the only garden in Xizha. After the White Lotus Pagoda lights up at 18:30, its reflection on the river looks like a glazed palace lantern. Hidden route: Walk along the river for 10 minutes from the back door of Lingshui Residence to reach the pagoda, avoiding the crowds on the main street. 🍵 [Day 2: A Blend of Waterside Mornings and Modern Fashion] ☀️ Floating Market Morning Tea (7:00-9:00) Experience the mornings of Wuzhen locals: drink soy milk with shredded radish pancakes, and watch fishing boats trade seafood. Must-try: Dingsheng Cake from Jinji Pastry Shop, RMB 8.8 per person. 🎨 Caomubense Dyehouse + Muxin Art Museum (9:00-17:30) The drying field of the dyehouse is full of blue calico. Taking photos in a white dress here will make you feel like you've stepped onto the set of the TV series "Da Ran Fang"; the art museum is closed on Mondays, and the spiral staircase and light and shadow windows are great for photos. 🛶 Wucun Puyuan Fashionable Ancient Town (14:00-20:00) A niche water town that opened in 2023, with 3 times fewer people than Wuzhen! Things to do: Shufang Chan Garden: Song Dynasty garden with tea ceremony experience Puchou Workshop: Weave a piece of "the world's first silk" yourself Floating Night Market: After the lanterns light up in the evening, sit on a awning boat and eat braised duck noodles 💡 [Helpful Tips] Transportation: A taxi from Wuzhen Xizha to Puyuan takes 20 minutes and costs about RMB 40, or you can take the Tourist Route 8 bus. Combo ticket: A combo ticket for Xizha + Puyuan saves RMB 30, but must be used for 2 consecutive days. Things to note: There are many mosquitoes in Longxingtian, so bring mosquito repellent; the stone steps of Dingsheng Bridge are slippery, so wear non-slip shoes.