The many Venices of the East

Wuzhen in Zhejiang province

Wuzhen

This old city in Zhejiang has the very contemporary distinction of not only having recently hosted the World Internet Conference but also, consequentially, being entirely linked to free WiFi.

In other words, you can surf the Web aboard a watercraft circumventing the 1,300-year-old settlement. That literally frees you up to post online about the experiences you'd actually enjoy if not too busy posting about them.

(Kidding. Kind of.)

Its boats also host martial arts performances. (Also worth posting.)

And it provides plenty of social media-worthy selfie backdrops with shadow puppets, Huagu Opera performances and bamboo-pole climbing.

Nanxun

Nanxun still nurtures ancient mulberry trees that feed silkworms that, in turn, feed the Zhejiang town's silk trade.

In keeping with the proclivity for European analogies, its Changhushen Channel is nicknamed the "Oriental Rhine".

Nanxun's Little Lotus Garden bobs with blooms that pop from the still waters.