Heart of a water town

Nanzha, the southern area of Wuzhen in Zhejiang province, unlike other parts of the water town, still keeps its original look.

I followed a tortuous back road across a gravel-paved square and past a few bungalows that led to a long street.

Workers are doing renovations near the entrance to the old street, which was very quiet. Many doors were closed during my visit, and a few elderly people sat idle and relaxed.

Most of the buildings are inhabited by locals, says Jiang Yongfen, a 57-year-old who married to her husband there when she was 21.

Jiang has lived here ever since.

"It's comfortable here, with the lake and fresh air," she says.

There are more visitors thanks to Wuzhen's recent prosperity, she says, but the downside is that the price of food has gone up.

The retired woman runs her own grocery across from her house. That and her family chores make her days full.

Noise gradually picked up as we crossed a stone arch bridge and go deeper into the old street.

Small restaurants, snack stalls and shops selling liquor, souvenirs and costumes appear on both sides of the street. Peddlers mostly sit out front and hawk their products or services.

The business area sees smaller crowds than those in Xizha and Dongzha, but still enjoys good traffic. I saw many visitors leisurely strolling around Nanzha, mostly sightseeing and taking pictures.