周庄 Zhouzhuang

周庄，是中华人民共和国江苏省苏州市昆山市下辖的一个乡镇级行政单位， 周围湖荡环列，镇内河港纵横，是典型的江南水乡，被誉为“中国第一水乡”。目前已经成为著名风景旅游区。
周庄位于中华人民共和国江苏省昆山市西南隅，东经120°53′，北纬31°14′处。东南与上海市青浦县的商塌为邻，西南与吴江市的莘塔接壤，东北与锦溪镇相衔，西北与吴县的淞南相望。为昆山、吴江、上海三市交界处。

双桥

周庄地处府县边隅，四周群湖环抱，河港纵横。“咫尺往来，皆须舟楫”[来源请求]。镇区北依白蚬湖、急水港，为吴淞江漕粮北运要道；南衔张矢鱼湖（今南湖），古为文人志士隐逸之地。元代居户聚集于市河东岸，今北市街一带，镇西仍荒僻。明代中期，镇址向镇西后港及港西方面延伸，而后太平桥、世德桥、福洪桥相继建成，道路沟通，遂由城隍埭继向普庆桥（今中市街）一带发展。至清初，规模日盛，整个市镇以富安桥为中心，有南北市街和中市街两条丁字型大街，形成闹市。清至民初，因地处三县之中，商业繁盛。

据史书记载，北宋元佑年间（1086年），周迪功郎信奉佛教，将庄田 200亩（13公顷多）捐赠给全福寺作为庙产，百姓感其恩德，将这片田地命名为“周庄”。1127年，金二十相公跟随宋高宗南渡迁居于此，人烟逐渐稠密。

周庄在元代中期时属苏州府长洲县。明清中期属松江府华亭县，清初复归长洲县。清雍正三年(公元1725年)，周庄镇因元和县一分为二，约五分之四属元和县(今吴县市)，五分之一属吴江县(今吴江市)。乾隆二十六年(公元1761年)，江苏巡抚陈文恭将原驻吴县甪直镇的巡检司署移驻周庄，管辖澄湖、黄天荡、独墅湖、尹山湖和白蚬湖地区，几乎有半个县的范围。

清末至民国年间，战乱频仍。周庄以其独特的地理条件，成为南社发起人陈去病、柳亚子等人聚会酬唱之地。20年代，流品渐杂，成为方圆附近吴江、青浦乡里间的一大集镇。
1949年5月8日，周庄解放，归属吴江甪直区。1950年把镇西原属吴县部分划归吴江，结束了两县分治的状况。1952年以后，周庄镇归昆山县(现为昆山市)管辖。

建国后，商业渠道随政区而变化，趋向单一的农业经济。改革开放后，乡镇工业发展，对外交往增多。1986年昆（山）陈（墓）周（庄）公路建成通车，镇内以其保存完好的明清古建筑群，以及古朴的石拱桥、石河埠等吸引了大批游客。1988年周庄成立周庄旅游服务公司，旅游设施不断完善。来此考察和观光的各地游客、中外官员、学者、专家日益增多，并且成为写生作画、摄制影视片的热门场所。

Zhouzhuang (Chinese: 周庄) is a town famous for its canals in Jiangsu province, China. It is located within the administrative area of Kunshan, 30 km southeast of the city centre of Suzhou.
Zhouzhuang is a popular tourist destination, classified as a AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration. It is one of the most famous water townships in China, noted for its profound cultural background, the well preserved ancient residential houses and the elegant watery views. It has been called the "Venice of the East".

History
In the Spring and Autumn period (770 BC-476 BC), Zhouzhuang Suzhou 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.

Sights

Twin Bridges (双桥)
Zhouzhuang is surrounded and divided by lakes and rivers. Many stone bridges cross the rivers, showing distinctive views of the water-town. The Twin Bridges, which are Shide Bridge and Yongan Bridge, are the most famous and are considered the symbol of Zhouzhuang. Built in the Wanli era (1573–1619) of the Ming Dynasty, the Twin Bridges are located in the northeast of the town. Shide Bridge is east-west and has a round arch, while Yongan Bridge is north-south and has a square arch. Crossing the two crisscross rivers (Yinzi Creek and Nabeishi River) and connecting at the middle, the Twin Bridges look like an old-style Chinese key. In 1984, 38 canvases of the notable painter, Chen Yifei, were exhibited in a New York gallery of Armand Hammer, chairman of Occidental Petroleum Corporation. "Memory of Hometown", which depicted the Twin Bridges, was one of the items on display and has gained the world's attention for Zhouzhuang. The painting was chosen to be the first-day cover of the United Nations' postage stamp in 1985.

Shen House
Built in 1742 and located at the southeast side of Fuan Bridge, Shen House was the private property of the descendant of Shen Wansan, the first millionaire of Jiangnan (South of Yangtze River) in the early Ming Dynasty. The whole architectural complex is of the Qing's style and occupies an area of more than 2,000 square meters (half an acre). Over 100 rooms are divided into three sections and each one is connected by arcades and aisles. The first is the water gate and the wharf, where Shen's family moored boats and washed clothes. The middle part includes the gate tower, the tearoom and the main hall. Bricky gate tower carved with lively and ingenious figures which tell the historic stories or show the good wishes, make it a rare artwork. Tea room and main hall are places for serving guests, and the furnishings in here are all very elegant. The last section is the two-storied dwelling which consists of several buildings which are quite different from the main hall, more comfortable and refined in pattern and atmosphere. The painted sculpture of legendary Shen Wansan is in Datang Tower; cultural relics including ancient folk instruments are exhibited in Xiaotang Tower and Back Hall.

Zhang House
Built by Xu's family in the Zhengtong era (1436–1449) of the Ming Dynasty and bought by Zhang's family in the early Qing Dynasty. Located to the south of the Twin Bridges, Zhang House has more than 70 rooms and takes up about 1,800 square meters (less than half an acre). With Ruojing River flowing through, Zhang House is a dapper and graceful residential house; has a tranquil courtyard and pond. Deep halls all represent the life of the quondam owner.