Zhang's House, Zhouzhuang Tour

Zhang's House is one of the few Ming Dynasty constructions left in Zhouzhuang water town nowadays. It has been renovated in recent years to restore the original architectural style and layouts.

Zhang's was a wealthy family in Zhouzhuang town. The mansion has gone through 500 years but it is still maintaining the majestic air. After passing through the hall, you can see the parvis with good greenery. On the both sides, there are short wing-rooms with pretty window frames. The mien of the past is still seen despite the brick-built hall with stone-carved images, concrete columns and delicate patterns. The main hall is luminous and spacious. The bases of supporting columns are round stone plinths, which are rare to see and they are the typical architectural detail of the Ming Dynasty. Rosewood furniture, beautiful lanterns, Chinese couplets and figures of guests reflect the past glory of Zhang's House.

In the east of the main hall, there is a long, dim and narrow lane. In old days, the front gate of the mansion would not open unless some big events happened and sedans would come in during visit of important guests, weddings and funerals. In ordinary daily life, people would not get in through the main gate but this narrow lane. Nowadays, it becomes a unique and zestful path for tourists when traveling to Zhouzhuang Zhang's House. Walk in the dark, feel the deepness of it. The walls were blackened by old smoke. You may feel the wetness of the air and smell something terrible.

Surprisingly, now you see the light and a classical Chinese garden is in front of you. You are like walking from winter to spring. A small river is flowing along the garden wall.

The backyard of Zhang's House is a simple and tranquil garden, which is surrounded by white-walled residential houses. A big rockwork is made of stone from Taihu Lake, is the highlight here.