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Luzhi Water Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
One of famous water town near Suzhou and Shanghai
Luzhi Water Town is located in the Wuzhong District, 18 km east of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province. It is one of the best preserved old towns in China, along with its old canals and streets. With a history of more than 1400 years, it compares favorably to Zhouzhuang Town. Luzhi was famed to be the Venice of the East for its beautiful waterways and ancient bridges, some of the bridges dated back to the Song Dynasty. A walk in the ancient town Luzhi is said to be a walk into history frozen in time, tranquil and serene.
The Ming Dynasty poet Gao Qi poem 'Scene of Puli' is still an accurate description of the scenery in the ancient town Luzhi today. It reads, 'Long bridge short bridge with willows; Front stream rear stream with lotus; People watching banner over wine store risen; Seagulls escort boat to home of fishman.' It is quite worth a visit.
Puli was the ancient name of Luzhi Water Town. At that time, Puli consisted of two districts, Puli and Liuzhi. Liuzhi meant that there were six straight rivers in the town. This water town was named after a Tang Dynasty recluse poet called Lu Guimong who retired in this town, as Lu Guimong had a pseudonym- Mr. Puli. In the Suzhou dialect, 'liu' was pronounced as 'lu', and Liuzhi pronounced as Luzhi. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Puli was changed to Luzhi Township of Yuanhe County.
In 2004, Luzhi together with Tongli and Zhouzhuang were listed in the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Sites. With the rapid modernization of China, large number of historical towns disappeared under the bulldozers, with only a handful of well preserved historical townships remaining today. In 2004, Luzhi was also awarded a Township Preservation Award by UNESCO.
【Baoshen Temple】
Baoshen Temple boasts a history of thousand years. It was said to be built in the second year of Tianjiang of Liang Dynasty (503 AD). By Song dynasty it was called the Baoshen Zen Temple, with 5000 halls and one thousand monks. The Arhat statues in the Baoshen Temple are national treasures, which were the work of the Tang Dynasty sculptor, Yang Huizhi.
【The Former Resident of the Shen’s】
The Former Resident of the Shen’s is the former home of Shen Bohan, who is a famous educator and a rice man in town. The house was built in 1873.
【Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall】
Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall was built to commemorate the famous educator and writer, Ye Shengtao. It was built at former site of the 5th High School where Ye Shengtao taught from 1917 to 1922.
Many ancient buildings, street, bridge and its canals are also great places for taking beautiful photos.
Luzhi is often praised as a microcosm of the Jiangnan water town landscape, distinguished by its abundance of rivers, bridges, alleys, and historic residences. Surrounded by lakes such as Cheng Lake, Wanqian Lake, Jinji Lake, Dushu Lake, and Yangcheng Lake, and intersected by major waterways including the Wusong River and Qingshui River, Luzhi forms a picturesque grid of canals and streets. At its heart, the South Market River, East Market River, and West Market River converge, creating a dynamic network of waterways that shape the life of the town.
The town is particularly famous for its ancient bridges, earning the nickname “The Capital of Bridges.” At its peak, Luzhi had 72.5 bridges built during the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. Today, 41 bridges remain, each with unique designs, scales, and styles, making the town a living museum of Chinese ancient bridge construction. The renowned bridge expert Mao Yisheng once referred to Luzhi as a true “museum of ancient Chinese bridges.”
Together, the interwoven rivers, the charming stone bridges, and the narrow water alleys form the quintessential Jiangnan scenery. Whether strolling along the riverbanks, crossing arched stone bridges, or gliding through the waterways in a wooden boat, visitors can fully immerse themselves in the poetic charm and tranquil lifestyle of this ancient water town.
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