The Broom Closet: "The Venice of the East"

Zhouzhuang, one of the most famous water townships in China, situated in Kunshan City which is only 30 kilometers (18 miles) southeast of Suzhou. It is noted for its profound cultural background, the well preserved ancient residential houses, the elegant watery views and the strong local colored traditions and customs. In the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476 BC), Zhouzhuang was a part of the fief Yaocheng and called Zhenfengli. After being donated to Full Fortune (Quanfu) Temple by Zhou Digong, a very devout Buddhist, in 1086 during the Northern Song Dynasty (960 - 1127), Zhouzhuang got its present name as a memorial of the donor.

In an area of half a square kilometer (124 acres), 60 percent of the Zhouzhuang's structures were built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which is from 1368 to 1911. You can view this most ancient village (over 700 years old) best by taking the most convenient form of transport in Zhouzhuang, a gondola. And maybe your guide will even serenade you down the river.

Everything in Zhouzhuang is hand-crafted by the locals. So colorful and pretty. No one speaks even a little bit of English, so it was a little hard to buy things, but somehow you end up coming to a mutual understanding on price.

The Chinese are quite proud of their ancient heritage. They are hard working, and you can still see today a lot of that heritage in the way they live. It took us right at an hour and a half, by bus, to get out to this village. On the way you got a real glimpse of China (aside from city life). They were working in the rice fields, and harvesting something that looked a lot like wheat but I'm not sure exactly what it was.

We met some folks from the UK while eating lunch in Zhouzhuang. There were 3 of them and they all worked together and were on a 2-month holiday (vacation) touring all over China. They took a seat with us at lunch.

And I'm glad they did, because, again, nothing was in English. One of the guys is originally from China and took the liberty of ordering for all of us.

We had the typical Eastern Chinese cuisine, which goes something like this, you sit at a round table with a spinner in the middle, order a dozen entrees off the menu, and everyone shares.

Anyone for snails? How about shark fin soup? Jellyfish? Intestines?

Okay, Okay, how about a little rice then?

um-hum, everything you've heard about the Chinese and food is true. They will eat anything ~ But I have to say, I tried almost everything, but I do have my limits.