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自然概况
周庄，中国最著名的水乡之一，位于苏州城东南30公里（18英里）出的山境内。它以其深厚的文化底蕴、保存完好的古宅建筑，明媚秀丽的水上景色以及浓郁的地方特色风情而闻名于世。春秋战国时期，周庄只是尧城封地的一部分，称作贞丰里。在北宋年问的1086年，一个非常虔诚的佛教徒周迪功舍田宅200余亩捐于当地全福寺，为纪念捐赠人因有周庄之称。
在周庄这片总计有0. 5平方公望( 124英亩)的土地土，百分之六十的建筑都是建十明清时期。周庄镇内小河湖溪纵横交错，窄直的河道上横卧着14座石桥，尽显水乡小镇特有的景色。
周庄的双桥即为张厅往北在河道交汇之处的圆拱桥（世德桥)和方孔桥(永安桥)的联袂桥梁，是周庄的象征。万双桥横跨两条交叉的河流并在中间地段相汇，看上去就像中国古代风格的钥匙，故俗称为钥匙桥。 1984年，著名美籍华人画家陈逸飞有38幅油画在纽约一家画廊展出，其中那幅名作《故乡的回忆》的创作素材即取之于此，于是水乡风光举世闻名，双桥也成为周庄的象征。这幅油画被选用于联合国1985年的邮票首日封。
除了那些历史古迹外，周庄水乡的当地民俗，故事传说，如龙舟赛，奶奶茶，万三家宴等都形成j远古时期的文明和历史，也是一次难忘观光中不可或缺的内容成分。
Zhouzhuang
Natural Features
Zhouzhuang，one of the most famous water townships in China，situated in Kunshan City which is only 30 kilometers(18 miles) southeast of Suzhou. It is noted for its profound cultural background，the well preserved ancient residential houses，the elegant watery views and the strong local colored traditions and customs. In the Spring and Autumn Period , Zhouzhuang was a part of the fief Yaocheng and called Zhenfengli. After being donated to Full Forkune ( Quanfu)Temple by Zhou Digong，a very devout Buddhist，in 1086 during the Northern Song Dynasty，Zhouzhuang got its present name as a memorial of the donor.
In an area of half a square kilometer(124acres)，60 percent of the Zhouzhuang's structares were built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties，which is from 1368 to 1911.
Zhouzhuang is surrounded and divided by lakes and rivers，14 stone bridges cross the rivers，showing distinctive views of the water-town. Twin Bridges which comprise Shide Bridge and Yongan Bridge are the most famous and is considered the symbol of Zhouzhuang. Built in Wanli era(1573一1619)of the Ming Dynasty，Twin Bridges is in the northeast of the town. Shide Bridge is east-west and has a round arch，while Yongan Bridge is north-south and the bridge arch is square. Crossing the two crisscross rivers and connecting at the middle，Twin Bridges look like a Chinese old style Chinese key. In 198，38 canvases of the notable painter，Chen Yifei，were exhibited in a New York gallery. Memory of Hometown' which depicts Twin Bridges was one of the items on display and has gained the world's attention for Zhouzhuang. The painting was chosen to be the first-day cover of the United Nations' postage stamp in 1985.
Besides these historic sights，the local folklore，traditions and legends of this water township，such as the dragon boat race，the granny tea or the Wansan home-style banquet which are formed from the immemorial civilization and history are also the indispensable elements for an unforgettable tour.
The first person thinking of showing visitors around the town in boats is old granny named Wang Xiaomei at the beginning of the 1990s. She is not a zhouzhuang native. She came from Shandong Province and used to be a fisherman. She was still rowing a boat at the age of 82 in 1997(but not now).She said she got the idea of starting tourism in Zhouzhuang out of her poor lifethen. However，Zhouzhuang's tourism at present has been quickly developed into more than 60 sight-seeing boats. Among them，old Wang Xiaomei's boat is very distinctive. It is the only boat on water that uses double oars. Quite a few N stations rented her boat to make films and invited her to be the tour guide. Nowadays，water tourism is flourishing in all water towns，therefore，Wang Xiaomei can be regarded as the initiator of the whole practice.
The quiet and peaceful night view in water townships is special and unique.Owing to the crisscross rivers and lakes all around， one can get into the town only by crossing those highly arched bridges. Therefore，there is no motorized vehicles to be seen in the whole town. Some residents have to push their motorcycles across the bridges to get home with great difficulty. That's why the water township is always extremely quiet at night.
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