On April 25, the opening ceremony of the 7th China Suzhou·Luzhi Water Town Costume and Cultural Tourism Festival, along with the groundbreaking for related tourism projects, was held with great solemnity in the picturesque water town of Luzhi. This ancient town, hailed by Fei Xiaotong as “the No. 1 Water Town of China,” is now radiating a fresh and boundless charm in the eyes of the throngs of visitors.

Combing their hair into a bun, tying headscarves, donning patchwork shirts and split‑crotch trousers, cinching up their skirts, and wearing embroidered shoes—once, this was the everyday attire of rural women in Luzhi as they went about their work. Today, these distinctive traditional garments have become an important symbol of Luzhi’s water‑town character and its unique water‑town culture; strolling through the ancient town in such attire has itself become a charming, ever‑moving scene.

When distinctive local attire becomes a tourist commodity, the working women of the water towns have themselves become a special kind of “model” here. Reportedly, in the past, rural women from Luzhi who ventured into the city stood out conspicuously and were even dubbed by urban residents as “Suzhou’s ethnic minorities.” Today, in the western part of the town, most women over the age of 40 still maintain this traditional style of dress, and with the boom in tourism, water-town attire has once again grown popular throughout the entire town.

Stepping into Luzhi is like uncovering an endless treasure. The ancient town of Luzhi is most distinguished by its historic streets, time‑worn architecture, and traditional local customs. Today, the town boasts nine main thoroughfares, all paved with pebbles and granite; houses line the banks of the waterways, with shops fronting the streets and homes set back from the river—people stroll across the bridges while boats glide beneath. Whether facing the street or the water, the dwellings feature dark‑gray tiled roofs, whitewashed walls, wooden doors and windows, and elegantly curved brick eaves; most are venerable structures dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, their walls still adorned with intricate decorative patterns. Within the old town, 58 narrow lanes wind through the heart of the district, the longest stretching nearly 150 meters. The alleyways often lead to courtyards arranged in three, five, or even six successive sections, with some extending as deep as seven layers.

Abundant water and numerous bridges are another hallmark of Luzhi Town. Historically renowned as the “City of Bridges” in the Jiangnan region, this ancient town—covering just one square kilometer—once boasted 72½ stone arch bridges dating from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties; today, 41 remain, each with a distinct style and an old‑world charm. There are multi‑arched stone bridges, single‑span stone footbridges, wide arched spans, and narrow flat‑topped crossings; not to mention ornate double bridges, pairs of sister bridges standing side by side, and convenient level bridges. Among them, five sets of double bridges join at right angles, earning the town the well‑known nickname “three steps, two bridges.” The density of Luzhi’s bridges far surpasses that of Venice, the “City of Water” in Italy. Many visitors who have explored Luzhi remark that arriving there is much like stepping into a living museum of ancient bridges.
In recent years, in order to preserve the historic character of the ancient town and its rich cultural and historical heritage, the Luzhi Town Government has invested substantial manpower and financial resources to carry out comprehensive restoration work, faithfully returning the town to its original appearance. Centered on the ancient town itself—its historic bridges, narrow lanes, and waterways—the project has revived street-side river sheds as well as numerous traditional residences and historical landmarks, including the Shen Residence, the Wansheng Rice Mill, and the Xiao Residence. The old streets, bridges, and quays have been meticulously renovated, while the restored historic houses now house attractions such as the Wang Tao Memorial Hall, the Xiao Fangfang Film and Art Museum, and the Wu Dong Water‑Town Women’s Costume Museum, giving the town’s unique charm and architectural style a fresh new expression. Meanwhile, the “Eight Scenic Spots of Fuli”—including Xihui Dawn Market, Changhong Reflecting the Moon, Wusong Snow Waves, and Haicang Bell Sounds—which were already renowned during the Ming and Qing dynasties—are currently undergoing restoration.

The historical sites of Luzhi are among the best-preserved in the Jiangnan water towns. The Luohan statues at Baosheng Temple were designated as one of the first batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units in 1961; they are the lifelong masterpieces of Yang Huizhi, the “Sculpture Sage” of the Tang Dynasty, and are regarded as national treasures. In 2001, the ancient town was inscribed on UNESCO’s Tentative List for World Heritage, and that same year it was rated a 4A‑level tourist attraction. In 2003, it was jointly named one of China’s “Top Ten Historic and Cultural Towns” by the Ministry of Construction and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. In 2004, it was recognized as a National Model Township for its Beautiful Environment, and in 2006, the traditional women’s costumes of the Luzhi water towns were included in the first batch of China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
In recent years, under the sound leadership of higher-level Party committees and governments, Luzhi Town has focused on the goal of enriching the people and strengthening the town, meticulously implementing a strategy to “expand industry, bolster the tertiary sector, enhance the urban landscape, improve the environment, and advance new‑rural development.” This has enabled vigorous progress in attracting major projects, restructuring the economic structure, innovating institutional mechanisms, undertaking large‑scale town and village construction, significantly improving the environment, achieving breakthroughs in the tertiary sector, driving robust economic growth, and fostering greater social harmony. In 2007, the town’s regional GDP reached RMB 5 billion, up 27% year on year; fiscal revenue totaled RMB 800 million, an increase of 35%; and general local budget revenue stood at RMB 310 million, up 36%. The ancient town of Luzhi welcomed 1.23 million visitors from both home and abroad, including 83,000 international tourists, with total tourism revenue reaching RMB 150 million.

On the opening day of the tourism festival, groundbreaking ceremonies will be held for a range of tourism‑related projects, including the Suzhou Kefei Grand Hotel, the Luzhi Jiangnan Water Town Folk Museum, and the Jiangnan Water Town Cultural Park.

Introduction to Suzhou Kefei Hotel Co., Ltd.

Suzhou Kefei Hotel Co., Ltd. is a wholly foreign‑owned enterprise established with investment from Urban Property Group, a renowned Taiwanese corporate conglomerate—founded by Dr. Lin Hank, a member of the Hongguo Group family and investor in Taipei 101, the world’s tallest building. Approved in 2006, the company boasts a total investment of US$30 million and a registered capital of US$11 million. Located on Fucheng North Road in Luzhi Town, the hotel occupies 35 mu of land and features a planned gross floor area of 31,415 square meters. Designed to five‑star garden‑style standards, it offers more than 160 standard rooms and luxury suites, six multi‑purpose conference halls, and 30 Chinese and Western‑style restaurants, capable of accommodating up to 600 guests for meetings, lodging, and dining. The hotel primarily provides services in guest rooms, food and beverage, conventions and events, entertainment, business support, health and beauty, and fitness and wellness. Construction commenced in April 2008 and was completed and officially opened in October 2009, ready to welcome domestic and international guests in accordance with five‑star standards.

Introduction to the Luzhi Jiangnan Water Town Cultural Park

The Luzhi Jiangnan Water Town Cultural Park is a tourism‑related development project for the ancient town of Luzhi, approved by the Wuzhong District Development and Reform Bureau. Designed by the Suzhou Institute of Landscape Architecture, the project integrates cultural, ecological, regional‑style, and leisure elements, drawing on Luzhi’s unique tourism resources and the town’s distinctive character. Covering an area of 120 mu, it includes 12,000 square meters of traditional‑style buildings, 42,500 square meters of landscaped gardens, 16 imitation‑ancient bridges, as well as complementary infrastructure such as pathways and plazas. Within the park, natural waterways connect the town’s two major water systems—one running north–south and the other east–west. The park is organized into six primary functional zones: public green space, cultural and performing‑arts area, local‑product exhibition zone, cultural‑heritage display area, landscaped garden zone, and a covered‑gallery‑and‑water‑street district, all highlighting the quintessential charm of a water‑town—small bridges, flowing streams, and quaint homes. The total investment for the project amounts to RMB 180 million.

The Jiangnan Water Town Cultural Park was completed and opened to the public in May 2009. At that time, it will offer a new attraction for tourists visiting Luzhi Ancient Town, inject fresh vitality, and help drive and boost the development of Luzhi’s tertiary sector. At the same time, it will provide local residents with a premier destination for leisure and recreation, greatly enriching their cultural lives.

Introduction to the Luzhi Jiangnan Water Town Folk Museum

The Luzhi Jiangnan Water Town Folk Museum project is a tourism initiative invested in and developed by the Sino-Japanese joint venture, Chenye Investment Management Co., Ltd., in Luzhi. Located within the core scenic area of Luzhi Ancient Town, it sits adjacent to the millennium-old Baosheng Temple. The project covers 21.86 mu of land, with a planned total floor area of 10,373 square meters and a total investment of RMB 150 million. The museum’s design integrates realism, romanticism, and functionalism, set against the backdrop of a traditional Jiangnan water town, aiming to fully highlight the beauty of nature, folk customs, garden artistry, and social and cultural heritage. It comprises four complementary zones: a cultural and recreational plaza, the Fuli Workshop District, a riverside leisure and landscape area, and a garden‑viewing zone. Construction commenced this year, with completion and opening scheduled for next year. Upon its inauguration, the museum will offer visitors an expansive space for exploration, further enriching the town’s tourism offerings, enhancing its visitor‑oriented amenities, and boosting local economic development.