Photo by Xie Xin

For tourists to the lower reaches of the Yangtse River, one of the great annoyances is the frequent rain, especially in June and July, when this area enters the annual "plum rains" (mei yu) season.  Fortunately, the local "rain-wise" people built their towns and villages in such a way that the scenery isn't marred by all the showers, but in fact displays some special charms not visible on sunny days.

The town of Wuzhen in Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, has a history of more than 1,000 years. With ancient houses, workshops, and stores still standing on the river banks, it retains an almost unchanged atmosphere of antiquity. 

Shanghai at Night        Wuzhen, Back in Time        West Lake in the Rain
Nanxun Water Town        Suzhou: City of Gardens

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