Wuzhen in August to September is really not recommended, I just want to tell the honest truth

💰Budget Truth｜Over 800 RMB per person, this money really can’t be saved! 🚫Key Pitfalls to Avoid: Prices rise during the peak season in August to September, but learning to save is the real way! 1️⃣ Tickets: • West Scenic Area ¥150 (night view is legendary! A must-visit) • East Scenic Area ¥110 (original local life vibe) • Combined ticket ¥190 not recommended! You can’t finish both areas in one day, walking till exhausted 🤯 👉 Students/60+ seniors half price, under 1.2m free 2️⃣ Accommodation: • Homestays inside West Scenic Area (highly recommended!): ◦ Tong’an Inn / Zhenshui Resort Hotel, ¥800+/night ◦ Includes tickets + free shuttle + early tea reservation, saves time and effort! ◦ Book 2 weeks in advance during peak season! River view from the window, enjoy the quiet morning alleys, worth the price • Homestays outside the scenic area: ¥200~400/night, but 15+ min walk, miss the early Wuzhen tranquility 3️⃣ Food & Drink: • Snacks ¥5~20: shredded radish pancake, Ding Sheng cake to fill you up • Meals per person ¥50~100: lamb noodles, braised duck must-try • ✨Tips: Bring your own water bottle! Coffee inside the scenic area ¥35+/cup, don’t pay the IQ tax 📌Total budget reference (2 days 1 night): Tickets ¥150 + Accommodation ¥800 + Food ¥200 + Boat ticket ¥60 ≈ ¥1210 ------ 🌿Attraction Highlights｜Don’t miss these places or it’s a wasted trip! ✅ West Scenic Area must-go: • Caomu Bense Dyeing Workshop: blue printed fabric floats so ethereal! Wear a white dress for forest-style photoshoot 📸 • Wuzhen Post Office: send postcards to the future, vintage stamps + wooden heart quotes are super artistic • Night boat ride with oarsman (¥60/person): board after 18:00! Lights reflect on water, passing under bridges feels like entering a dream • White Lotus Pagoda: climb to watch the sunset over the Grand Canal 🌅, night view is stunning! ✅ East Scenic Area highlights: • Rush to Mao Dun’s Former Residence at 7am: avoid crowds! See the literary master’s old home, the bluestone paths are beautiful without filters • Hongyuan Tai Dyeing Workshop: more original than West Scenic Area, try tie-dye DIY ❌ Warning: • South Scenic Area tricycle touts: trick you to “free old street” which is actually a shopping spot! • Combined ticket one-day tour: walk 30,000 steps, East Scenic Area closes at 17:30, miss West Scenic Area night view ------ 🚶‍♀️Route Pro Tips｜2 days 1 night lazy essentials version Day 1: Deep tour of West Scenic Area (stay inside the scenic area!) • 9:00 Arrive at West Scenic Area, store luggage at visitor center • 10:00 Photo shoot at Caomu Bense Dyeing Workshop → quiet time at Zhaoming Academy • 12:00 Scholar’s lamb noodles (lamb tender! rich soup and chewy noodles 🍜) • 14:00 Mu Xin Art Museum (great air conditioning! minimalist architecture perfect for photos) • 17:00 Watch sunset at White Lotus Pagoda → night boat ride with oarsman • 20:00 Ding Sheng cake + braised duck for late night snack, listen to folk songs at riverside bar 🎵 Day 2: East Scenic Area + South Scenic Area local life vibe • 7:00 Early visit to East Scenic Area! Watch residents washing clothes, tea house stove lit • 9:00 Mao Dun’s Former Residence → Shadow Puppet Theater (10:00 show) • 11:00 Buy blue printed fabric souvenirs at Hongyuan Tai • 13:00 Walk to South Scenic Area! Eat grandma’s freshly made baked cakes (¥3), shop for bamboo woven bags ------ 🍜Food Test｜Popular shops vs hidden gems 🔥 Top 3 snacks: 1. Zilala shredded radish pancake (West Scenic Area No.499): crispy and juicy! ¥3 each, worth the 20 min queue 2. Jinji Ding Sheng Cake (West Scenic Area No.318): red bean paste slightly sweet and not greasy, symbolizes “top of the list” 🍰 3. Sisters’ Cake: sesame salty aroma, old shop in South Scenic Area ¥5/bag, affordable souvenir 🍴 Classic restaurants: • Scholar’s Lamb Noodle Shop (West Scenic Area No.216): lamb melts in your mouth! rich broth • Momo’s Home (West Scenic Area): Huang Lei’s favorite! secret taro soft and chicken soup so fresh it makes you cry 😭 • Fengyuan Restaurant (East Scenic Area): riverside location! steamed white fish so tender chopsticks can’t hold it 🐟 ⚠️ Avoid: • Main street “popular stinky tofu” — salty sauce, overpriced • Wumei juice — not local specialty, suspected artificial coloring ------ 💡Ultimate Tips｜August to September summer escape guide • Clothing: rent thin gauze Hanfu! Outside scenic area shops ¥50/day (inside scenic area ¥150+) • Sun protection: oil-paper umbrella + mint spray! No shade on bridges, hide in tea houses at noon • Mosquitoes: many midges by the river! Carry mosquito repellent spray (¥30/bottle in scenic area, bring your own!) • Off-peak: West Scenic Area night view after 21:00 fewer people! Enjoy empty alleys for great photos 📸 One honest truth: Wuzhen’s soul is in “slowness” ✨ Stay one night to truly understand Jiangnan!