The Wuzhen Xizha area is quite vast and expansive. If you have enough time or good physical stamina, you can consider walking around the entire area. Otherwise, like us, you can choose to take a boat ride to the far end and then walk back to the main entrance. Of course, walking allows you to see all the marked attractions more thoroughly, so it’s something you’ll need to consider based on your situation. Alternatively, you could go all the way to the end and walk back partway to check out some attractions. Whatever you choose, there’s no right or wrong—just enjoy yourself.
We deliberately entered Xizha just before sunset. This timing allowed us to experience both the daytime and nighttime scenery. Many people recommend viewing the Xizha night view, and we were lucky with the weather—it was clear and everything looked beautiful.
The boat ride has two options: you can either share the boat with other tourists or charter it. Each boat holds a maximum of 8 passengers. It costs 60 RMB per person for a one-way ride, or 480 RMB to charter the whole boat one way.
The boat is non-motorized and fully powered by the boatman’s rowing. This is environmentally friendly and helps avoid water pollution. All the boatmen are very skilled; watching them row makes it seem effortless. For safety, each passenger is given a life vest. If you're prone to motion sickness, consider taking medication beforehand, as the gentle rocking on the water can still cause seasickness. One of the other passengers on our boat actually got seasick.
Sitting by the water, enjoying tea, snacks, and a nice conversation is also quite a relaxing experience.
The boat ride isn't too long—about 30 to 40 minutes, though the duration can vary. It largely depends on the boatman's pace. If there are many passengers waiting, they might row faster to avoid waterway congestion. Some sections of the canal are just wide enough for one boat to pass through, while others can accommodate many. However, you won't see boats overtaking each other here!
Another benefit of the one-way ride is that it doesn’t become repetitive. If it were a round trip, you might get bored midway. Since the boatmen don’t provide any commentary, the journey typically starts with excitement and curiosity at the new sights. But after a while, it starts to feel a bit similar, and you may begin looking around aimlessly or checking your phone—then, suddenly, you're at the end!
We also noticed that many people were queuing at food stalls along the way. These are Wuzhen’s famous snacks—very popular and affordable, which is why so many people are willing to wait in line to try them.
0 留言