概况

江南水乡主要是指长江下游南面的苏南、浙北一带地区。这里土地肥沃、气候温和、物产丰富，自古就有先民在此聚居，千百年来，逐渐形成了许多村落和乡镇。这些乡镇依河而建，因水成街，因水成市，形成了精巧独特的建筑布局，镇上粉墙黛瓦，小桥流水，老街深巷，洋溢着浓郁的江南乡土气息，构成了一种独特的地域文化景观。因地理人文环境的差异，各镇又各有自己的特色。20世纪80年代以来，中国农村经济迅速发展，大多数历史古镇经历了现代建设的改造，基本失掉了原来的风貌。值得庆幸的是，浙江省的乌镇、南浔、西塘和江苏省的周庄、同里、甪直等古镇得到了及时的保护。近年来，这些古镇又在专家的指导下进行了合理的整治，较完整地保存了原汁原味的历史风貌，成为人类珍贵的文化遗产。

周庄，位于江苏省昆山市最南端，始建于宋，后江南富商沈万三迁居于此，人丁兴旺，逐步形成镇市，历史上以水产、粮食、竹木产品交易繁盛而著称。古镇四面环水，镇内由“井”字形的河道构成骨架，前街后河，河街相依，傍水建房，架桥津渡。十四座造型优美的石拱桥，丰富了河上的景色。富安桥四堍建有桥楼，夹街依桥而立，茶楼酒店，尽得地利人气。凭栏闲眺，水乡美景尽收眼底。

镇上有著名的“双桥”（明代世德桥和永安桥），旅美画家陈逸飞以此景作画，画名题作《故乡的回忆》，在美展出后为巨商哈默购得，访华时赠予邓小平，隐喻开拓中美友好。联合国曾以此画为首日封图案。

古镇留有民居古屋。张厅为明代修建，船自家中过，水在窗下流，呈现一派水乡风情。沈厅是沈万三后代所建，共有七进厅堂，百余间房，走马廊道通连每间房舍，大厅雅致美观，厨房大而实用，让人想见当年水乡富家生活。古镇还保留着许多名人雅士活动的遗迹，刘禹锡寄寓、陆龟蒙垂钓、柳亚子醉酒的迷楼，三毛忘情的茶楼……都为周庄留下了丰采。

主要景点：“双桥”、桥楼、水巷（梯云桥西湾街）桥景、迷楼、张厅、沈厅、叶楚伧故居、全福讲寺、贞固堂、澄虚道院、南湖园、穿竹石栏。

The Canal Towns in Jiangnan Area mainly refer to the old towns which lie at the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in the south of Jiangsu Province and north of Zhejiang Province, and endowed with fertile land, mild climate and rich produce, this area was inhabited by primitive people many thousand years ago. Natural villages and towns have formed along small rivers, comprising exquisitely unique architectural layout. The towns feature white walls and dark tiles, small bridges and streams, old streets and long lanes. Local color constitutes a unique regional cultural landscape. These towns vary in style due to different geographic and cultural environments. Since 1980s, most of the ancient towns have been modernized with the takeoff of China's rural economy, losing the original framework. Fortunately, Zhouzhuang, Luzhi and Tongli in Jiangsu Province and Nanxun, Wuzhen and Xitang in Zhejiang Province have been timely preserved. In recent years, these old towns have been renovated under the guidance of experts. With original historic features, they are becoming the common heritage of our human race.

Situated at the south tip of Kunshan, Jiangsu, Zhouzhuang was established in Song Dynasty. After Shen Wansan, a rich merchant, moved his home here, it became a prosperous and populous township, known far and wide for its transaction of aquatic products, grains and bamboo and wood products. The ancient town is surrounded by water on all sides, and the rivers through the town form a backbone framework in the form of Chinese character．Streets parallel rivers, and homes border on rivers.

Fourteen gracefully designed stone arch bridges diversify the river scenes. There are, on the sides of Fuan Bridge, four bridge towers. They sit between bridge and street, providing popular teahouses and pubs with good views of the picturesque water town.

The famous Twin Bridges （Shide Bridge and Yongan Bridge, both built during the Ming Dynasty） were the subject of Chen Yifei's, Reminiscence of My Hometown , which was bought by Armand Hammer and presented to Deng Xiaoping, symbolizing Sino-American friendship. The United Nations used this painting in the design of its first day cover.

Zhangting, an ancient home built in the Ming Dynasty, features a water passage within its walls and meandering under the windows. Shenting was constructed by Shen Wansan's progeny, with seven halls and more than 100 rooms connected by corridors. The elegant halls and big practical kitchens remind one of the rich life of a watertown merchant. Here we can also find the historical traces of distinguished personages, such as the Tang poets Liu Yuxi and Lu Guimeng. There are also Milou, where the modern poet Liu Yazi got drunk, and the teahouse, where Tai-wanese writer Sanmao hated to leave…… These are important cultural relics treasured by the local people.

Major places of interest: Twin Bridges, bridge towers, water lane scenes, Milou, Zhangting, Shenting, former home of Ye Chucang, Quanfu Temple, Zhengu Hall, Chengxu Taoist Temple, Nanhu Garden, bamboo railing through stone columns.