Purple Culture : RSS Product Feed :: Ancient Towns Around Shanghai: WU ZHEN http://www.purpleculture.net/ en Copyright (c) 2026 Purple Culture purple@purpleculture.net (Purple Culture) purple@purpleculture.net (Purple Culture) Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:59:51 +0800 Purple Culture News RSS Feed 1440 Ancient Towns Around Shanghai: WU ZHEN http://www.purpleculture.net/ancient-towns-around-shanghai-wu-zhen-p-4818 http://www.purpleculture.net/ancient-towns-around-shanghai-wu-zhen-pr-4818 Wuzhen is famous for its residences dating from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and the town keeps its ancient ambience, as if time has stood still. Wuzhen is also famous for its traditional craft of “bed-making,” exquisite examples of which can be seen in the Museum of Antique Beds. Other attractions include the elaborate painting of 24 filial sons of old times in the Zhu Family House, and depictions of traditional ceremonies, such as those for babies when they were one month old, weddings and the birthdays of the elderly -- all illustrative of the culture of southeast China. The Xizha district of the town has old houses and pavilions stretching over 1,000 m along river banks. Piled up in the courtyard of the Gaogongsheng Distillery are numerous jars filled with rice wine, scenting the air with a heady aroma. At the Hongyuantai Dye Works, immensely long pieces of indigo-blue printed cotton are hung high in the air to dry. Wuzhen is also home to the Xiuzhen Taoist Temple, one of the three most renowned ones in southeast China. Huge in side, the temple holds great appeal to worshippers far and wide. In front of the temple is an ancient opera stage, where performances are given all the year round. In addition, Prince Zhaoming’s Study and the Former Residence of Mao Dun (pen name of Shen Yanbing, a famous contemporary writer in China and late vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress –ed.) attract many people interested in Chinese language and literature.