Webcam Wuzhen. Longxintian
Wuzhen is one of China's small water-based cities; it is part of the city of Tongxiang (Zhejiang Province). People move here not through the streets, but along the waterways, replenished by the water of the Great Beijing-Hangzhou Canal. Old quarters, stone bridges and galleries, neat houses with elegant architecture - because of this Wuzhen called the Venice of China. Every year the town attracts more and more tourists, and now it is famous not only for its identity, but also well-developed infrastructure.
The history of the water settlement, which originally was only a small village, has more than 2 thousand years. Over time, it has grown to become one of the most crowded in China, which is why it is commonly referred to as a city.
Some buildings existed in these places even before the founding of the village. According to historical data, the first people began to live here 7 thousand years ago. Some of the ancient structures can still be seen today.
The main difference Wuzhen from other Chinese cities on water is that it is crossed not by numerous channels, but only one river, the length of 2 km. The wooden and stone dwellings facing each other were built along its banks.
It is surprising that the buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties have survived in excellent condition. For this reason, in 1991, the settlement was given the status of an ancient provincial city of history and culture. Today it is conventionally divided into several sectors, each of which is unusual in its own way.
The most interesting is the Dong Zha sector, a 400 m long waterway. Along the river there are not only many historical buildings, but also authentic restaurants and souvenir stores. There are also several museums, expositions of which tell about the history of the city.
Another notable neighborhood is Si Zha, notable for some architectural features. The houses, piers, terraces, balconies, bridges and columns are made of stone and wood with admirable elegance. Unlike Dong Ja, which is predominantly inhabited by locals, Si Zha is a sector of hotels, hostels, and other tourist establishments.