Suzhou has a lot of water towns including Zhouzhuang, Tongli, Mudu, Luzhi and others,  nine of which have been cojointly applying for UNESCO listed world cultural heritage sites. If it is successful, the water towns will be the third group of world cultural heritage sites of Suzhou besides Classical Gardens and the Grand Canal.

Suzhou has been the land of fish & rice since the city was built 2500 years ago. Many ancient towns and villages are so prosperous that local people are still living inside, which means these towns and villages have been alive for thousands of years.

The ancient towns are also called the water towns in Suzhou because the rich waterways were the main entrance & exit of the towns for local people in the old times. 

The water towns are worth visiting especially for the tourists who come to Suzhou at the first time. They have many must-seet attracitons including Retreat & Meditation Garden in Tongli, Double Bridges in Zhouzhuang, Baosheng Temple in Luzhi and Gardens in Mudu.

The most impression of the water towns is actually the authentic local people's lifestyles.

Local people prefer to live where they were born rather than leaving for big cities.

Many high-quality hotels can be chosen if you would like to stay the nights in the water towns. More and more small boutique hotels are popular in Zhouzhuang.

Blossom Inn(花间堂-丽则女学) used to be a female school with over one hundred years old in Tongli. (booking hotline: 4000-767-123)

Jiushu Resorts(玖树) is the dream home for Tourists when they are traveling in Mudu, which is based on the local culture and tranqil lifestyle. (booking hotline: +86-512-62909998) 

Here are some recommended special activities at night. Some typical musical bars are gathering around 1086 area of Zhouzhuang.

Four-season Zhouzhuang performance(四季周庄) is the first-choice entertainment at night in Zhouzhuang.

Tongli Show(水墨同里) is performed at 8:00 pm every night at local theater, which is about a real lovely legend story happened in old times in Tongli.

I recommend you to stay at least one night in the water towns whichever you would like to choose and try to enjoy the local tranquil lifestyles to relax youselves far away from the noisy crowded of the cities.