Puyuan Fashion Resort (Puyuan Ancient Town 濮院) – Jiangnan Water Town Meets Modern Fashion

Puyuan Fashion Resort (Puyuan Fashion Ancient Town) is a picturesque and charming Jiangnan water town with a unique allure. Founded in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) by imperial son-in-law Pu Feng and his family, it flourished as one of Jiangnan's five major towns during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1840), known as the “ Home of the World's Finest Silk”. Today's Puyuan was revamped by the same team behind Wuzhen Water Town. It retains classic water town charm—winding canals, stone roads, ancient bridges, riverside dwellings—but uniquely adds Tang and Song dynasties' majesty and solemnity beyond typical Jiangnan gentleness. Every corner offers stunning photos, making it a photographer's paradise.

Beyond its beauty, Puyuan blends tradition with modern creativity, almost like a living art piece. Rooted in its silk heritage, Puyuan is dotted with knitwear shops and charming clothing-themed decor. It hosts trendy exhibitions, markets, and major events like Puyuan Fashion Week, Chinese National Style Ceremony in 2024. Travelers can touch, wear, and live the blend. There are also a variety of activities such as sightseeing, night tours, boating, performances, food tasting..

Puyuan covers an area of about 2.24 square kilometers, three times the size of Wuzhen. At Puyuan, visitors are treated to a visual symphony, from the storied "Eight Scenes of Puchuan" to iconic old-style buildings. Below, we've listed the must-capture highlights for every traveler.

Beigeng Pavilion (北更楼): It's one of the best viewing spots to have a panoramic view of Puyuan. From here, you can overlook traditional streets, alleys, and rivers of Jiangnan while catching a distant glimpse of the modern town at Puyuan.

Shufang Zen Garden (漱芳禅园): It's an elegant garden landscape integrating a theater and a tea house. Its design features winding corridors, classical pavilions, and tranquil lotus ponds, creating a serene "zen" atmosphere. The garden immerses guests in a timeless fusion of culture, aesthetics, and peace, while offering countless picture-perfect corners.

Fushan Temple (福善寺): It's a rare architectural marvel for its grand scale and imposing presence. In front of it stand two ginkgo trees nearly 900 years old, which burst into golden beauty every autumn. The Fushan Tower here is Puyuan's highest building, offering visitors an elevator ride to the top for a breathtaking panoramic view.

Youhu Lake (幽湖): The waters of Youhu Lake are clear and deep, and thus Youhu Lake is called “Youhu Moonlit Lake”. It is said that poets and scholars in ancient times, like Fan Li (范蠡), delighted in boating on Youhu at night, inspiring many verses.

Jiangnan water town's elegant charm and meticulously aesthetic architectural layout seamlessly blend at Puyuan, making every corner a perfect frame for photos. Travelers can wear literary-vibe clothing for a fully immersive experience, or wear clothing with a literary vibe to fully experience its , or dress up in beautiful Hanfu attire, make poses in the streets, alleys, pavilions, and towers of Puyuan like an ancient person stepping out of an ink-wash painting a thousand years ago, and capture these dreamlike moments that transcend time, as if you were ancient individuals emerging from an ink-wash painting a thousand years ago.

Take a Sightseeing Boat

If you want a more relaxing trip, beyond strolling along the street, you can take a sculling boat ride. There are 4 piers, including Tourist Center Pier (服务中心码头), Baizhanglianlang Pier (百丈连廊码头) near Tourist Center, Pushilang Pier (濮侍郎码头), and Xiangyunguan Pier (翔云观码头), and the cruise routes either start or end at one of the first two piers (Tourist Center or Baizhanglianlang) and connect to one of the latter two piers (Pushilang or Xiangyunguan). The travel time is about 30 minutes, running daily from 8:00-21:30. As you glide leisurely along the water, you'll feast your eyes on views of traditional dwellings and gardens lined the banks, fully immersing yourself in the poetic charm of Jiangnan water town.

Enjoy Enchanting Night Views and Performances

The night of Puyuan is enchantingly dreamy and romantic. The warm yellow lights come on, outlining the ancient, tiled roofs and walls, their reflection dancing on the water. Travelers seeking a truly unforgettable experience can ascend the Fushan Tower for a breathtaking panoramic night view. Besides, the night market is a must-see, where travelers can watch local Santiao opera, shadow puppetry shows, night watchman performances, and night boat cruises.

Have Fun Shopping

Puyuan is one of China's largest woolen sweater distribution hubs. Here, travelers can find sweaters in all styles and price ranges, and beyond that, explore trendy spots like chic toy stores and wool craft studios for unique finds. For food lovers, there are local delicacies like steamed dumplings, fried dough fritters, spiced tofu, Song-style pastries, and ancient Song Dynasty feasts.

Most highlights at Puyuan Fashion Resort are not far away from one another, with shaded areas in many parts. Walking the entire route won't be too tiring, especially if you take breaks to stroll and sightsee at a relaxed pace, which is ideal for those with good strength and ample time. But if you're pressed for time or prefer a more leisure trip, you can choose to take a boat.

Full Route (4 hours): Tourist Center → Beigeng Pavilion → Xianzi Beach → Shufang Zen Garden → Pushang Guild Hall → Yueshi Sanjinshi Mansion → Meijing Theater → Guandi Temple → Fashion Themed Exhibition Hall → Xiangyun Taoist Temple → Fushan Temple → Fushan Tower → Tourist Center

Boat Route (3 hours, More Leisurely): take a boat at Tourist Center → Pushilang Pier → Shufang Zen Garden → Pushang Guild Hall → Yueshi Sanjinshi Mansion → Meijing Theater → Guandi Temple → Fashion Themed Exhibition Hall → Fushan Temple → Fushan Tower → Tourist Center

Performances & Night View Route (3 hours): Tourist Center → Fushan Tower → Fushan Temple → Pushilang Pier for shows → Shufang Zen Garden → Yueshi Sanjinshi Mansion → Pushang Guild Hall → Meijing Theater → Lazhu Street → Pushilang Pier → Tourist Center

Since public transportation requires multiple transfers and complex travel planning, which makes your trip less comfortable, it's highly suggested to travel by private vehicles. This allows you to go directly from your hotel in Hangzhou to your destination, with the entire journey taking about 1.5 hours, or in Shanghai for about 2.5 hours. At China Discovery, we offer convenient transfers between all scenic spots with safe, clean, comfortable, non-smoking, and air-conditioned private vehicles and experienced drivers as an important part of our tour packages. If you find it bothersome about public transfers, don't hesitate to contact us.

Travel Tips for Puyuan Fashion Resort

1. Ticket Price (for reference only): CNY 120/pp for Admission Fee; CNY 158/pp for Admission Fee + One-Way Boat Fee (10 persons/boat)

2. Best Time to Visit: March to November. Puyuan has a subtropical monsoon climate characterized by mild and moist conditions in all seasons. However, in winter (December to January), the water level in the water town tends to be lower, which may affect the visual appeal of the scenery and make some waterways unnavigable by boat.

3. Accommodation: There are a variety of lodging options, from luxury to budget-friendly, available both within the resort and in Tongxiang City. Additionally, hotels in the resort provide free tickets to Puyuan, along with convenient shuttle bus services from and to the Tourist Center.

4. Facilities: Free luggage deposit is available at the Tourist Center.

5. Dressing Tips: Wear comfortable shoes since there are a lot of stone paths.

Puyuan Fashion Resort is a great choice for those who love photography and desire less crowded destinations. It offers many picture-perfect spots, allowing you to capture stunning photos. Moreover, Puyuan has a rich silk culture. Travelers can explore long-standing traditions related to silk production. Wuzhen Water Town, with a history of over 1,300 years, is steeped in culture and history. The World Internet Conference and Wuzhen Theater Festival are hosted here, making it a beloved tourist destination by those into traditions and technology. For a more leisurely water town trip with lively ambiance, consider Xitang Water Town, where riverside bars and cafes offer folk music, drinks, crafting a dreamy and romantic vibe.

How to Plan Your Tour to Puyuan

Most tourists explore Puyuan with Hangzhou, the “Paradise City”. They are only 60 km away from each other. The trip typically takes about 3 days—2 days in Hangzhou, discovering its famous West Lake, ancient Lingyin Temple, scenic Meijia Dock Longjing Tea Plantation Village, etc., and 1 day in Puyuan, including the travel time. If you want to have more delights and love Chinese cinemas, you can extend your trip to Hengdian World Studios for 1 day and 1 night. With more time, consider a 1-day side trip to nearby Shenxianju Scenic Area to unveil this real-life fairyland straight out of ancient Chinese legends.

☛ 5 Days Hangzhou Wuzhen Essence Tour with Fun-Filled Hengdian

☛ 6 Days Enchanting Zhejiang Tour with Shenxianju & Hengdian Adventure

Also, some visitors spend 1-2 days in other attractive places like Buddhist Putuoshan, scenic Ningbo, Huzhou with refreshing Moganshan resort and Anji adventure, literary Shaoxing, Zhoushan with beautiful islets, Yiwu - Yiwu International Trading Market, etc.

☛ 6 Days Zhejiang Highlights Tour from Hangzhou

☛ 4 Days Hangzhou Shaoxing Essence Tour

As Zhejiang is very close to Shanghai, Suzhou and Huangshan, plenty of visitors prefer a richer extension trip to those destinations before or after Zhejiang discovery.

☛ 5 Days Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou Highlights Tour

☛ 9 Days East China & Mt. Huang Tour by High Speed Train

For a more hassle-free trip, it's highly suggested to travel with us China Discovery. As part of our comprehensive tour packages, we offer convenient pick-up & drop-off at airports and train stations, as well as seamless transportation between all scenic spots on your itinerary. Once you book our service, you'll bid farewell to travel-related worries, with a knowledgeable tour guide, satisfactory accommodation and dining and so on. Whether you wish to explore the nearby attractions or venture to other destinations in the Yangtze River Delta, like Suzhou, Huangshan, or Nanjing, we've got you covered. So, don't hesitate to contact us and let us take care of all your travel needs in China.