Review Wuzhen (Dongxiang, Jiangnan Region, China)
Thanks to the group, I was able to find useful information for my self-guided trip to Wuzhen. So I will compile and share my experience after exploring it myself, okay everyone. Hope to spread a choice to anyone planning to travel to China.
Usually, the route to Shanghai, people often choose Hangzhou or Suzhou. (Hangzhou is still a bit too urban - my husband has been to many cities in China so he doesn't like this option, Suzhou he went before). Because my husband and I like a quieter space, a bit more ancient, so I chose to go to Wuzhen. And really, this place did not disappoint me. The space is very peaceful and gentle, not crowded at all (feels like low season now). My husband and I just walked leisurely. Wandered around here. And stayed 1 night in the town.
- 🚎Transportation:
- I chose to take the bus from Shanghai. You can buy bus tickets online in advance, but you still have to go to the bus station to print the paper ticket for the outbound trip. For the return trip, no need to print, electronic ticket is fine. Round trip ticket is 135 RMB/person.
- The bus picks up at Pudong South Bus Station. It costs 55 RMB from the hotel to the station. Inside the station, find the self-service ticket printing kiosks, scan the code and print the pre-purchased ticket. If you buy offline at the counter, just ask them, their English is a bit weak. There's one thing to note when finding the return bus. We booked the 15:00 trip, at around 14:30 we went out to ask for the bus, but they couldn't tell us which bus goes back to Shanghai. We ran around asking each bus one by one but still couldn't find it. The hotel receptionist didn't know either. The driver's phone number we called but couldn't reach. In this situation, because I had my friend's Chinese phone number as the contact for the trip, the bus company texted the license plate of the bus that would pick us up at the town. My friend checked the message and found the license plate, but it would arrive a bit late so we found the bus later to go back. This bus dropped us at People's Square, so no need to pay to go from Pudong South station back to the center.
- After getting the ticket, inside the station they also scan your luggage. Go straight to the waiting area (on the day I went it was bay 15). Note that they will tell you the license plate is which bus number. Surprisingly, the bus we took was very old, but quite clean. The only downside is it was very bumpy.
- Takes 2 hours, then the bus drops you right at the gate of the west town.
- 🏠Accommodation
- I booked 1 night at Wuzhen Homestay, so I went to check in at the reception hall. The receptionist speaks very good English, explained that with the room code I can take the electric cart at pickup points without walking. Then they take the ID to manage entry and exit for the next 24 hours. The rule is whoever checks in, that's the entry time limited to 24 hours, but check out is flexible. So after returning the room, we still played freely in the town until catching the bus then we left.
- After completing check-in, the electric cart took us to the room around 11:00, not yet check-in time but the host was very nice and let us go up to the room right away. They gave us options for what to eat for breakfast and what time, tick that.
- The homestay rooms are very clean and spacious, especially the bathroom renovated very beautifully, all details in the room have an ancient vibe.
- 🥗Food
- Quite hungry so we chose a rice restaurant at guesthouse No. 62. The rice here is very delicious with dishes like braised pork with traditional fish cooked with tomatoes, pork rib soup stewed with corn sweet goji berries, stir-fried vegetables. The vegetable portion is too much so husband and wife couldn't finish. But really the dishes are very appealing, total only 280 RMB and feels very worth it. For 3 people it's reasonable.
- In the evening, we ate around the floating market, ate some lamb, grilled beef quite tasty and cheap too. Sit right by the boat at the floating market, there's a row of tables by the riverbank. That day no cold wind so chilling outside here is very nice.
- 👣Sightseeing
- Really this town is small and the scenery in places is quite similar so we didn't refer to any itinerary beforehand, just wandered around. Walk through the arch bridge into the main street of the west town with lots of food stalls. Some highlight spots like: linen dyeing workshop, floating market area, night eating area... In the evening, if you're not afraid of water, you can take a boat to see the town very beautiful (our family is a bit weak so skipped this). In the evening there's a light show performing lights (about 10 minutes then plays once on the water surface) I thought it was interesting so stood to watch.
- After the evening, no special activities so we went out. See what to play. Conveniently passed by to book and choose hanfu for morning photo shoot.
- 💄Hanfu photoshoot
- I had breakfast at 8:30 and went out of the yard for makeup at 09:00. My shop rented all for 258 RMB including makeup clothes and photoshoot (shoot 35-40 photos, select 7 to Photoshop and the package pays for these 7 only). I paid extra 100 RMB to get all the Photoshopped photos. Actually the angles are normal even not as beautiful as my husband framing but they shoot people quite detailed, guide poses acting very detailed and only 1 shot per scene. I shot only about 30 minutes to get the final photos as you see. Overall quite okay.
- After check out, we went out for lunch to try. Outside is cheaper to eat than inside. Some dishes also suit Vietnamese taste.
Hi, thank everyone for reading to here. I have some silly videos uploaded in the comments below for liveliness. And because spent all 348 RMB on the photoshoot so please allow uploading all 46 of these hanfu photos and promise next time go no more shooting 😀
Cre: Chi Nguyen
