Luzhi, historically known as “Fuli,” is as old as Suzhou’s ancient city and was hailed by Fei Xiaotong as “the foremost water-town in China.”

With a history spanning more than 2,500 years, Luzhi boasts an abundance of historical relics and a rich cultural heritage. Not to mention the nine clay‑sculpted Arhats at Baosheng Temple, one of the first batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units, or the “Luzhi Water‑Town Women’s Costume,” a national intangible cultural heritage—just the town’s ancient ginkgo tree, over 1,500 years old, is enough to leave visitors in awe.

To the east of Luzhi lie Zhouzhuang, Qiandeng, and Jinxi; to the west are Tongli, Lili, and Xitang—each a time-honored town with considerable renown. In an era when homogenized competition is becoming increasingly pronounced, how can Luzhi, nestled in the middle, carve out its own distinctive identity?

Wang Zonglin, a member of the Party Committee, deputy mayor, and director of the Luzhi Ancient Town Management Committee, stated that by leveraging the eastern core area of the ancient town to accelerate the integration of culture and tourism, the central specialized‑industry zone to promote the convergence of commerce and travel, and the western Chenghu Agricultural Park to foster the blending of agriculture and tourism, Luzhi will adopt a three‑zone, three‑travel‑integration strategy. This approach will help shape a “slow‑living” tourism framework for the ancient town, create a destination highly favored by visitors, and facilitate a transition from sightseeing‑oriented travel to leisure‑and‑resort‑focused tourism.

Industrial development supports the preservation of ancient towns, allowing their authentic charm and character to be restored.

In early winter, Luzhi resembles a springtime landscape. The winding waterways shimmer with emerald waves, like jade ribbons encircling the tranquil ancient town. Along the exquisitely crafted stone quays, mooring stones of diverse shapes recount the splendor of days gone by. The cobblestone‑paved old streets link to long, narrow alleyways, faintly evoking the charm and rhythm of life from centuries past.

From ancient bridges and temples to historic gardens and old streets, and even the ancestral homes of renowned historical figures, the entire ancient town of Luzhi resembles a dazzling museum of historical artifacts. Together with its more than 10,000 long-time residents, it paints a vivid, authentic panorama of the quintessential Jiangnan water‑town landscape.

“After 2,500 years of history, Luzhi has remained much as it was, preserving its renowned historical sites and cultural relics dating from the Spring and Autumn period through the Ming and Qing dynasties.” What fills Dai Chunrong, deputy director of the Luzhi Ancient Town Management Committee, with particular pride is Baosheng Temple, founded in 503 AD—more than 1,500 years ago. Inside, nine clay statues of arhats sculpted by the celebrated Tang‑dynasty artist Yang Huizhi have endured millennia of vicissitudes yet remain remarkably well preserved. Meanwhile, artifacts unearthed from the bottom of Cheng Lake push Luzhi’s history back even further, to the Liangzhu culture more than 5,000 years ago.

The “ancestral masters” have left Zhongli with an abundance of treasures, which the wise people of Zhongli have certainly not let go to waste. In 1998, the project to protect and develop the ancient town of Zhongli was officially launched. Adhering to the principle of authenticity, the residents of Zhongli undertook a series of initiatives—such as “dressing and capping” the historic district and restoring the old streets to their original appearance—and established a community advisory panel composed of local scholars and elders. Working alongside a team of experts from Tongji University, they employed methods like memory‑based reconstruction and comparison with vintage photographs to preserve and pass down as much of the town’s historical heritage as possible.

Meanwhile, Luzhi has also established stringent “house rules” within the ancient town district: any project involving cultural heritage protection, cultural control, or historic buildings must undergo rigorous approval. Even the renovation of private residences requires joint review by the town’s construction, housing management, land resources, ancient-town preservation, and local community departments. As one official put it, “Internal facilities may be modernized, but the exterior appearance must remain consistent with the character of the ancient town.”

For more than a decade, the people of Luzhi have drawn on the wealth they’ve accumulated through developing their industrial economy to provide a steady stream of support for the preservation of this ancient town, carefully nurturing it as a cherished gem. Along the streets, numerous historic residences and landmarks—including the Hepeng House, the Shen Residence, the Wansheng Rice Mill, and the Xiao Residence—have been restored; the old streets, bridges, and riverbanks have been meticulously renovated. Moreover, the locals have repurposed these traditional homes to create attractions such as the Shen Residence, the Wansheng Rice Mill, the Wang Tao Memorial Hall, and the Xiao Fangfang Film and Art Museum, ensuring that the town’s unique charm and character are fully brought back to life.

Today, Luzhi Town has reached the “ten-billion-yuan” milestone in economic output, giving its efforts to preserve and develop the ancient town greater confidence. Yet the people of Luzhi remain committed to protecting while developing, and developing while preserving. As one of the first batch of China’s Famous Historical and Cultural Towns, Luzhi will not undertake large-scale development of its historic district. Only by honoring its history and serving its residents can it truly uphold the core principle of safeguarding Luzhi’s ancient town.

Leveraging the “celebrity effect” to revitalize the town through culture, and to inherit and promote the ancient town’s spiritual heritage and cultural lineage.

A long and storied history has given rise to Luzhi’s rich and vibrant culture. Today, the local “clothing, food, housing, and transportation” have all become quintessential symbols that embody the unique character and cultural essence of this water‑town.

The traditional women’s attire of Luzhi, a water‑town in Jiangsu, is hailed as a unique gem of Chinese costume culture: hair styled in an elegant chignon, headscarf tied, patchwork blouse, pleated trousers, a skirt with a cinched hem, and embroidered shoes. Once the everyday ensemble of rural women in Luzhi, it has now been inscribed on the nation’s first batch of Intangible Cultural Heritage lists, transforming into a distinctive, ever‑moving scene that graces this ancient town.

The Luzhi Lianxiang Dance, steeped in the charm of Jiangnan’s water towns, is a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage. Moreover, the people of Luzhi have ingeniously blended the art of “da lianxiang” with the traditional attire of women from Luzhi’s water villages, giving rise to the “Luzhi Water‑Town Lianxiang Dance,” which has become a distinctive local cultural brand.

Luzhi radishes enjoy a national reputation and are also recognized as a provincial intangible cultural heritage—the “Luzhi Radish‑Making Technique,” which has a history of more than 180 years. Today, thanks to continuous refinements in production methods, the quality of Luzhi radishes has steadily improved, attracting numerous visitors from across the country who come specifically to sample them.

“Luzhi has never lacked cultural distinctiveness, yet the continuation of its spirit sometimes resonates even more profoundly than tangible cultural symbols,” said Zhou Minsen, director of the Luzhi Town Cultural and Sports Center. The opening passage of Mr. Ye Shengtao’s celebrated short story, “Three or Five Dou More,” brought worldwide renown to Luzhi’s Wansheng Rice Mill; and his breakthrough novel, “Ni Huanzhi,” not only draws heavily on Luzhi for its characters and plot but also takes its inspiration from a towering ginkgo tree that stood beside the “Shengsheng Farm” of Luzhi’s Fifth Higher Primary School—its very “prototype,” as Mr. Ye himself remarked, “exhibits a noble presence, unwavering resolve, and grand magnificence.” All these legacies have left the people of Luzhi with an invaluable spiritual heritage.

“During his time in Luzhi, Mr. Ye Shengtao both taught and pursued literary creation. Although his ancestral home was not Luzhi, his four-and-a-half years of teaching there forged an indelible bond with the town,” said Zhou Minsen. Following his passing, in accordance with his will, he was laid to rest beside the four ginkgo trees at Baosheng Temple in Luzhi—the “second hometown” that had become dear to him. Meanwhile, the Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall has now been designated a provincial-level base for patriotic education.

Going forward, Luzhi will center its efforts on the widely revered Mr. Ye Shengtao, crafting a grand vision of “cultural revitalization” for the town. By leveraging the celebrity effect and using the Fuli Academy as a strategic entry point, it aims to inherit and promote Luzhi’s enduring cultural heritage.

“Three‑zone synergy” builds a grand tourism industry, while “four‑season travel” encourages visitors to slow down and stay longer.

Examining Suzhou’s regional map, Luzhi is situated 25 kilometers southeast of the city center, bordered to the north by the Wusong River, to the south by Cheng Lake, to the west by the Suzhou Industrial Park, and to the east by Kunshan. The town covers an area of 75 square kilometers. The Suzhou–Shanghai Expressway, the Suzhou–Kunshan–Taicang Expressway, the Suzhou Ring Expressway, and the Suzhou–Shanghai Airport Road all pass through the town, while Dongfang Avenue and the eastern extension of Jinji Lake Avenue—known as Luzhi Avenue—lead directly into the ancient town. Its uniquely advantageous location and extensive, well‑connected transportation network provide tremendous convenience for tourism in this historic town.

Adapting to local conditions, Luzhi has developed the Chenghu Modern Agricultural Park—spanning 25 square kilometers—on the western edge of the ancient town, establishing a “Water Eight Treasures” base covering more than 3,000 mu. In the space between the historic town and the agricultural park, it has also created a specialized industrial zone, attracting over 30 renowned automotive 4S dealerships. By pursuing a three‑pronged approach, Luzhi is simultaneously fostering an integrated tourism‑culture model that highlights cultural identity, a tourism‑agriculture synergy that underscores ecological values, and a tourism‑commerce convergence that showcases industrial strengths—thus shaping a comprehensive “three‑tourism integration” framework.

“Our goal is to integrate the town’s resources and key factors to develop more tourism products that seamlessly blend culture, leisure, and travel, thereby extending and refining the tourism value chain and encouraging visitors to slow down,” said Zhou Xuezong, general manager of Luzhi Town Tourism Company. As a national 4A‑level scenic area, Luzhi already welcomes over 2.8 million visitors annually—but “it’s bustling during the day yet remains eerily empty at night.”

In response to an increasingly segmented and personalized tourist demographic, Luzhi will introduce a range of new business formats—such as traditional guesthouses, boutique hotels, casual cafés, and art‑inspired tea houses—within the ancient town. These offerings will enrich visitors’ cultural experiences, allowing products to reflect individuality and leveraging that distinctiveness to capture market share, while fostering a stronger sense of belonging and encouraging longer stays.

Meanwhile, Luzhi has integrated the “three‑tourism convergence” to craft seasonal themed experiences: in spring, a scenic outing to admire vast fields of rapeseed flowers along the shores of Chenghu Lake; in summer, a cultural journey tracing the footsteps of Mr. Ye Shengtao through the ancient town; in autumn, a culinary tour featuring Fuli duck, Luzhi radishes, and the eight classic aquatic delicacies of Chenghu Lake—perfectly balanced with both meat and vegetarian options; and in winter, a folk‑culture excursion where visitors don traditional waterside attire and join local residents in dancing the Lianxiang dance.

Recently, on the eastern side of the second-phase conservation project for Luzhi Ancient Town, a hot spring well has successfully begun flowing. In the future, hot‑spring vacations are set to become a signature attraction of Luzhi, complementing its offerings of ancient‑town cultural tours, lakeside eco‑tours, and business‑oriented study trips, thereby helping Luzhi transition from sightseeing tourism to leisure‑and‑resort travel.