Xizha is the essence of Wuzhen, sharing its status as the main scenic area with Dongzha, yet it is devoid of the bustling marketplaces found there. Everything has been meticulously renovated and designed, with cafes and bars lining the streets and alleys, exuding an artistic atmosphere. A highly recommended experience is to take a night cruise through Xizha on a traditional boat, where the lantern-lit reflections and the sound of oars in the water create an enchanting Jiangnan water town ambiance. The Xishi River runs through Xizha from east to west, with a network of small canals dividing it into numerous islets, connected by dozens of unique ancient stone bridges. The old buildings are constructed alongside the water, showcasing the quintessential Jiangnan scenery of small bridges and flowing water. In addition to the attractions that can be visited, the scenic area also features many exquisite shops, cafes, and bars, making it an ideal place to stroll and relax. Exploring Xizha can be done on foot, or by using the scenic area’s transportation vehicles or boats. During the day, one can walk along the North Bank of the river, where the Zhaoming Academy, once a study place for Crown Prince Zhaoming Xiaotong, now serves as a library where visitors can read or leave a note on the message wall at the entrance. The Three-Inch Golden Lotus Museum displays hundreds of bound-foot shoes. On the east side of the south bank, the Xi Chang Soy Sauce Garden can be identified by the aroma of soy sauce, with large outdoor vats used for making soy sauce visible in the courtyard, and visitors can purchase soy sauce as a souvenir. Near the Qian Shan Bridge, the Nu Gong Street offers many specialty shops selling embroidery, scarves, and other handicrafts, making it a great place for women to find small trinkets. After shopping, one can visit the old post office across the river to send a postcard with the Wuzhen old post office stamp to friends and family, adding a touch of artistry and romance. The night view of Xizha is a major draw for many visitors, with the town’s bridges and buildings illuminated, creating a delightful experience as one rows through the reflections, and the photos taken here have a unique charm. Additionally, there are several experiences to participate in, such as watching black-and-white old movies like ‘San Mao’s Wandering Life’ and ‘Tunnel Warfare’ at the Grand Theater Square on a fine evening, projected on old-fashioned film reels, providing a distinctive movie-watching experience. For those interested in traditional arts, one can attend the Hua Gu Opera at the water market or listen to Pingtan at the Grand Theater Book Hall. The opening hours are from 09:00 to 22:00 all year round. The business hours for various exhibition halls within the Xizha scenic area are from 08:00 to 17:30 during summer and 08:00 to 17:00 during winter. The Xizha night scenery lighting is turned off at 22:30 from Sunday to Thursday and at 23:00 on Friday and Saturday during summer; and at 22:00 from Sunday to Thursday and at 22:30 on Friday and Saturday during winter. Preferential policies include free entry for children under 1.2 meters (inclusive) or under 6 years old (inclusive) with valid identification, discounted tickets for children between 1.2 meters (exclusive) and 1.5 meters (inclusive) or between 6 years old (exclusive) and 18 years old (inclusive) with ID cards, discounted tickets for seniors aged 60 to 70 with ID cards, free entry for seniors aged 70 and above with valid identification, discounted tickets for full-time university students and below with student IDs, free entry for retired cadres with retirement certificates issued by the state and Central Military Commission, free entry for tour guides and travel agency managers with a travel agency manager qualification certificate issued by the National Tourism Administration (with business card) and a national tour guide certificate (IC card) or team leader certificate; free entry for one driver with A or A1 certificate per group, free entry for journalists with a press card issued by the Central News Agency, and free entry for military personnel and preferential targets such as active-duty soldiers, disabled soldiers, martyrs’ survivors, soldiers who died in the line of duty, and their survivors, with identification issued by the military, such as the ‘Officer Certificate (Police Officer Certificate)’, ‘Civil Affairs Cadre Certificate’, ‘Non-Commissioned Officer Certificate’, ‘Conscript Certificate’, ‘Student Certificate’, and identification issued by the veterans affairs department, such as the ‘Disabled Soldier Certificate’, ‘Martyr’s Survivors’ Preferential Certificate’, ‘Soldiers Who Died in the Line of Duty Survivors’ Preferential Certificate’, and ‘Soldiers Who Died of Illness Survivors’ Preferential Certificate’.
Active duty, disabled firefighters and rescue personnel, and students from colleges and institutions, enjoy the same benefits as active military personnel with valid identification. Foreigners with a disability card (issued by the government), ‘Certificate of Disabled People’s Police’, ‘Certificate of Disabled Reserve Personnel, Militia, and Civilian Workers’, ‘Certificate of Disabled National Staff’, ‘Certificate of Disabled Personnel Due to Public Service’, and ‘Certificate of Disabled Civil Servants’, enjoy free access. Free services for disabled individuals: Those who hold a disability card issued by the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, enjoy free access. Parking facilities are available at Parking Lots 1/2/3 with a reference price of ¥20 per entry; location at the scenic area entrance; capacity of 2000 spots. Parking Lot 1 and 2: for vehicles with 7 seats or less, ¥10 for up to 6 hours (inclusive), and an additional ¥5 for every 3 hours (inclusive) thereafter, with a maximum charge of ¥20 within 24 hours. For vehicles with more than 7 seats, ¥20 for up to 12 hours (inclusive), and ¥30 for more than 12 hours. Parking Lot 3, East Zhai, and Wucun Parking Lot: for vehicles with 7 seats or less, ¥10; overnight vehicles ¥20; for vehicles with more than 7 seats, ¥20 for up to 12 hours (inclusive), and ¥30 for more than 12 hours. Social vehicles enjoy free parking for 30 minutes, and operational vehicles for 15 minutes. Any time exceeding the free parking period will be included in the parking fee calculation. WIFI: Account: i-zhejiang-awifi; Password: login with mobile account; Coverage: public WiFi, full coverage of the scenic area. Luggage storage: reference price: free; location: visitor center; please carry valuables with you. Scenic area interpretation: tour guide fee is ¥200 for one way/one time, and ¥300 for one way/one time for English and other special language guides. Scenic area transportation: reference price: one way: charter boat (up to 8 people) ¥480 per boat; shared boat ¥60 per person (the boat departs when 8 people are full); location: visitor center dock, Andu Square dock, Ruyi Bridge dock, etc., with specific open docks subject to on-site conditions. Audio guide rental: reference price: Xizha ¥30 per unit/day, deposit for 1-5 units ¥200, refundable upon return; location: visitor service center. Stroller rental: reference price: free rental, deposit standard for stroller ¥400 per unit, refundable upon return; location: visitor service center. Rain gear rental: reference price: free rental, requires a deposit of ¥30, refundable upon return; location: visitor service center. Wheelchair rental: reference price: free rental, deposit standard for wheelchair ¥800 per unit, refundable upon return; location: visitor center. Restrooms: there are multiple restrooms in the ticket hall and throughout the scenic area, all with clear signs. Nursing room: location: visitor center. ATM: there is an Agricultural Bank of China ATM within the scenic area. Dining: there are clear signs within the scenic area, and Alipay and WeChat are accepted. Souvenir shops: visitor service center.
