Zhouzhuang Dedicated to Protection of Cultural Relics

Zhouzhuang dedicated to Protection of Cultural Relics

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Zhouzhuang, known as "No.1 watery country in China", has vowed to promote cultural relic protection and economic development of the town.

The 900-year-old town, located in Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, has expressed its determination to abide by relevant UNESCO and Chinese laws and work out local regulations and make them healthy for cultural relic protection. It has also made plans for promoting pollution-free tourism and hi-tech industries to create a new town combining tradition culture with modern civilization.

More than 60 percent of the residential houses in the town were built during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, that formed nearly 100 courtyards of classic style and 60 carved brick archways. Recent years have witnessed a tourist growth rate of over 30 percent with the last year's tourist number registered 1500,000 arrivals to bring an income of 420m yuan.

In 1999 Zhouzhuang was awarded the title of "example town for protection of small towns across China" and in 2000 granted by the UN an honor for improving living environment.



By PD Online Staff Li Heng