A guide to Wuzhen

(Photo/wicwuzhen.cn)

For the 2015 World Internet Conference, the dishes will mainly be household fare, and, according to the organizers, there will be food checks at certain points in the hotel, and at food suppliers. The dishes on the menu will include: sauced chicken, using free-range chickens from local farmers, which are reddish brown and glossy with a tender, crisp feel, and good aftertaste; Dongjia cane shoots that are sweet and fresh from the Longxiang agriculture base in Tongxiang; the Dingsheng cake, which has a chewy texture and pleasantly delicate sweet taste. In addition, there will be black rice snacks and single-bite zongzi. Not on the menu are the braised lamb and Baishui fish because foreign guests might not be used to the natural lamb or like the fish bones.

Transportation

Bus

There is a free shuttle bus from the East Gate scenic area to the West Gate scenic area, 7:30 am to 5:20 pm, Monday to Thursday, every 20 min, and Friday to Sunday, every 10 min.

Taxi

There are taxis outside the Wuzhen tourist region, with a starting fare of around 10 yuan ($1.50), and 1.8 yuan per kilometer.

Boats

There are two types at the West Gate – one for public-transport, from Andufang, with six stops along the route, for 10 yuan/stop; the other for sightseeing, with a 6-passenger capacity for 360-yuan for the whole journey, both day and night. Or, you can cover the route on foot or hire a 3-wheel cycle.

Accommodation

Wuzhen has a large variety of hotels to suit all budgets and needs, from luxurious 5-star hotel to tidy 3-star, to a waterside guesthouse or youth hostel that are popular with DIY tour lovers. The town has 13 high-standard star hotels, with more than 1,600 rooms in all, which can accommodate 2,500 guests. So, the many Internet elites attending the World Internet Conference will surely be able to find the right spot to stay. The Waterside Resort, one of the main conference halls, will be holding many functions and will be responsible for various tasks. The hotel has experience and senior personnel to maintain standards. The staff who deal with foreign guests are expected to have passed the College English Test-4 at least, and some have Test for English Majors-8 qualifications. In addition, there are special training sessions for reception etiquette, room service, and luggage handling.