Writes of Passage

Zhejiang, China,

A little historic water town in Zhejiang province, conveniently locates within an hour reach from the triangle of Shanghai – Suzhou – Hangzhou. 70 miles/110 km southwest of Shanghai. It reminds me of another ancient water town Zhujiajiao 朱家角. As it happens, both excursions are on cloudy & rainy day. 

• Rehab & lunch
• Wuzhen West Zone
• Mu Xin Museum
• Arts

The drive is straightforward from Shanghai: Going up north 50 miles/80 km is Suzhou and south is Hangzhou. We stop at Yada rehab center and lunch in Jiaxin 嘉兴, and then off to the old town Wuzhen.

Wuzhen, Zhejiang, China.

Arts have presence, such as the Grand Theatre – 大剧院 finished in 2013, 木心美术馆 Mu Xin Art Museum, Mao Dun 矛盾纪念馆 The former residence of Mao Dun. And good heaven some one wears high heels.

Street performances

Wuzhen, Zhejiang, China.

This ancient town is also the site for World Internet Conference since 2014 – don’t think they offer free wifi tho.

There are 12k permanent residents in town. Visitors’ admission to the scenic zones is ￥150 for both East and West zones, ￥100 for East and ￥120 for West Zone where we went. Boat ride is ￥420 up to 8 people or ￥60 pp sharing. It’s a Tuesday in October but I feel it’s too crowded. Restaurants, eateries, hotels, barber shop, stores, supermarkets, a tennis court, etc. Arts have presence in Wuzhen: street performances, Mu Xin Art Museum. We’ve lunch at Shejian and a Japanese dinner back in Shanghai.

Shejian Yingxiang/Tip of Tongue Image 舌尖映像
Fanpu 梵璞主题文化酒店 Theme Cultural Hotel
288 Zhi Cai Lu
Tongxiang Shi, Jiaxing Shi, Zhejiang, China 314501
植材路288号 (近长途汽车站)
0573-88731777
Jiaxing, Jiangsu, China

It’s 1.4 miles / 2.4 km (Google map) to Wuzhen scenic zone. The hotel lobby is very attractive and the restaurant on the second floor is spacious, books on the shelves and paintings on the walls (although I don’t like this artist). There are private dining rooms. Order is placed at their market hub. The crabs are less than Chenglong Hang‘s, ￥38/48 each. The lobster-look alike xiao qing long 小青龙 from Australia are expensive ￥358 per 500 g/0.45 lb; river shrimps are 河虾 ￥138 500 g. Foods are delicious, service is good.

Their market hub. This fish puts up a fierce fight.

The last dish is lamb, we didn’t even touch it: too much food for four people!

Then off to Wuzhen.

A friend of mine explains about xiaoqinglong 小青龙 “是一种和波士顿龙虾差不多大小的600～800克的龙虾。颜色灰绿。一般产在印度洋（西澳）澳洲大龙虾是指产自㙮斯马尼亚或南澳以南深海大龙虾重量都在2千克到4千克，颜色深红（活的时候）。两种龙虾都没有像波士顿龙虾一样的大钳子”

Yada International Rehab Center
雅达国际康复医院
Wuzhen, Jiangsu, China

The multi level hall looks vacant without humans. This passed Chinese lunar new year the entire building had only one occupant: the couple we’re going to visit.