Why is the Luzhi Ancient Town special?
Luzhi is a well preserved ancient water town. As the leading scenic and tourist spot of Taihu Lake Scenic Area, Luzhi is truly a peaceful and pristine land with beautiful water, elegant stone bridges, and precious culture relics.
Luzhi Ancient Town Highlights
The natural beauty of the town is indescribable. Old stone bridges, limpid water, venerable maidenhair trees and old-style dwellings, as well as the traditional women's costumes, create an ideal civilized, rich, pastoral and harmonious environment.
Zhengyang Bridge
Zhengyang Bridge the biggest stone arch bridge in Luzhi town, is famous for being the first to receive sunshine in the early morning and is a vantage point for viewing the whole fascinating landscape of the water town. Moreover, this old bridge is a vantage point for viewing the whole fascinating landscape of the water town.
Dongmei Bridge
Located on the eastern side of town, Dongmei Bridge is most famous for its unique structure and many Buddhist designs, which are listed in the history of Chinese bridges. It is a completely round bridge, half of which rests above the surface of the water and half of which lies below. The combination of Buddhist engravings and unique circular design makes this a very rare bridge that is definitely worth visiting.
Baosheng Temple
Built in 503, Baosheng Temple is a must-see historical site in Luzhi. Its nine famous clay arhats were sculptured in the Tang Dynasty and are still well preserved. Such arhats are not only rare in the region south of the Yangtze River but unique in the country.
In addition, the temple boasts treasures from different dynasties, including a Buddhist stone pillar from the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a stone flagpole from the North Song Dynasty (960-1279), a hall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and an iron bell from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Xiao House
Xiao House is the most integrated, well-preserved architecture dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It represents a typical southeast China house of a rich family of 19th century. The house is composed of dozens of rooms with a private lane named Xiao Lane. Visiting the house, you can relive the previous tenants' elegant lifestyle.
Traditional costume
Another feature of the town is the distinctive worn by the women. Both clothes and trousers are characteristically pieced together using different cotton materials in a variety of designs.
In addition to wearing these interesting clothes, local women are accustomed to wearing colorful kerchiefs and embroidered shoes. Undoubtedly, these lovely local women wearing traditional Luzhi-style costumes add freshness and loveliness to the water town, like a beautiful landscape picture.