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Zhouzhuang, known as the "most beautiful water country in China", is an ancient town on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake; China's answer to Venice, if you will. It sits in between Shanghai and Suzhou. Zhouzhuang comes under the jurisdiction of Kunshan, one of the five counties administered by Suzhou municipality in Jiangsu Province.
An ancient Chinese poem describes Zhouzhuang as a little town of "small bridges, murmuring streams and country homes". The four streams that crisscross one another through the town are just one of the reasons why China's "Venice" attracts millions of domestic and foreign tourists every year.
Another attractive feature of this quaint little town is its well-preserved architecture. Over 60 percent of the residential homes were built during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. In June 2000, it was put on the Global 100 Best Practices List in improving the living environment under the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT).
(China.org.cn February 2006)
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