Wuzhen Guesthouse Greetings

I poked my head from the upstairs hallway window of Guesthouse #6 midway through the morning just in time for my uncle to snap a photo of me. The delightfully quirky result was one of my favorite photos we brought home from Wu Zhen.

Although I've come to love the Wu Zhen guest houses for their privacy and homey charm, they are also the least consistent housing option when it comes to staying in Xi Zha, the western scenic district. (Dong Zha, the eastern district, closes at sundown and doesn't allow overnight stays.)

That's because these guesthouses were once the homes of the common townsfolk and each family built its own house for its own needs. Some have a third floor room. Others have balconies. Some have bedrooms so small they barely have any room left after putting even a full size bed inside. They aren't even all in the same location; the houses are scattered all over the town.

I was particularly happy with #6's layout; it had a master bedroom, a guest bedroom, a bathroom, and stairs led down to a living room, dining room and downstairs half-bath. Its aging, bent walls added to its ancient charm, as well as its amazing views over the river.