Last updated on February 11th, 2026
For accommodations in Wuzhen, consider staying at a hotel or a guesthouse in the Wuzhen Scenic Area if you are looking for where to stay in Wuzhen.
When visiting the Shanghai-Hangzhou area, be sure not to miss one of the ancient water towns. Wuzhen ranks among the six most famous water towns in the region and is often dubbed the “Venice of the East.” This charming and peaceful town offers a unique perspective on its timeless beauty. The watertown features ancient structures that line the meandering rivers, along with numerous workshops, shops, and exhibitions that contribute to its romantic and serene atmosphere.
You can choose to take a day trip to Wuzhen or stay overnight nearby or within the Wuzhen Ancient watertown.
However, if your budget and schedule allow, consider spending a night in the Xizha Scenic Area to fully experience its unique charm. We would like to share our wonderful one-night stay at the Wuzhen Homestay and offer tips on where to stay in Wuzhen.
Where To Stay in Wuzhen: Within or Outside Xizha Scenic Area?
When deciding where to stay in Wuzhen, there are a few options.
The Xizha Scenic Area is the main attraction for visitors, so it’s best to stay nearby or within this area. While accommodations inside the Wuzhen Scenic Area tend to be more expensive, they are highly recommended if possible.
Stay Within the Wuzhen Xizha Scenic Area:
Wuzhen Tong’an Inn: This tavern-style hotel boasts an incredibly convenient location, situated right next to the tourism center. The rooms are clean, comfortable, and quiet, making for a pleasant stay.
Wuzhen Homestay (Wuzhen Minsu): This local homestay is managed by the Wuzhen Tourism Center. Your room will be randomly assigned from among 70+ blocks of local residences within the Scenic Area. Although it may not offer a hotel-class experience, staying at the Wuzhen Homestay provides exceptional hospitality and a cozy, comfortable environment.
Stay Outside the Wuzhen Xizha Scenic Area:
Hampton by Hilton Wuzhen: Located about a 10-minute walk from Xizha, this hotel offers spacious and clean rooms with top-notch service from the staff. Check for room availability.
Staying in Wuzhen: Pros and Cons
When considering a stay in Wuzhen, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons to make an informed decision.
After conducting some research, we found that there are limited accommodation options if you choose to stay inside the XiZha Scenic Area. You can either stay at the Wuzhen Hotel or opt for a Wuzhen Homestay run by local residents.
While the Wuzhen Hotel is quite expensive, it offers excellent quality and service. In contrast, Wuzhen Homestay provides a unique opportunity to experience the ambiance of the ancient water town. Within the Wuzhen Xizha Scenic Area, there are over 70 blocks of local residences, all managed by the Wuzhen Tourism Center to ensure quality control. During check-in, the Tourism Center assigns your room.
After careful consideration, our group decided to stay at the Wuzhen Homestay.
My One Night Stay at Wuzhen Homestay
To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations for it. We chose to stay within the XiZha Scenic Area to fully enjoy the nightlife and local charm. Staying at the Wuzhen Guesthouse was more affordable compared to the Wuzhen Hotel. In the end, our one-night stay at the Wuzhen Homestay turned out to be one of the most memorable parts of our trip.
I would like to share my experience staying overnight at Wuzhen Homestay.
Wuzhen Homestay – Check-in Process
Wuzhen accommodation reception is located at the Wuzhen Visitor Center, in the Xizha Scenic Area. It was a smooth and efficient check-in process.
Upon arrival, we received our room assignment, and the receptionist kindly explained the major attractions in Wuzhen, the buggy services available (outer ring of scenic area), and the functionality of their Wuzhen mini app. Everything was organized.
You can also book a breakfast option to try the morning tea called “zao cha ke” (早茶客) at the morning market (水上集市) or choose to have breakfast at the guesthouse.
Additionally, we arranged for the luggage transport service straight to the Homestay, allowing us to explore the area before heading to our guesthouse.
Please note that the luggage transport service requires about 1.5 hours for processing during check-out. You will need to book it using the Wuzhen Mini App.
Our Wuzhen Homestay
Wuzhen is a picturesque water town established over 1,300 years ago. The streets are vibrant with souvenir shops, restaurants, exhibitions, and local residences that have been converted into guesthouses. Our Wuzhen Guesthouse is located at Block#60, which is near the end of the scenic area.
After entering Scenic Area, we took a leisurely stroll along the main road to find food and explore.
Upon reaching our guesthouse, our room was ready for check-in, and our luggage had already been delivered there.
The homestay is a two-storey wooden building with a limited number of four rooms. Please note that this is a heritage building without a lift, so guests staying on the second floor will need to carry their luggage upstairs.
The ground floor includes a restaurant with a limited number of tables.
The Room
Here’s our room!
The room was clean, cozy, and beautifully decorated with wooden details that complemented Wuzhen’s historic atmosphere. Despite its rustic appearance, the room was equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and bathroom facilities.
However, please be aware that the room is not very soundproof due to the wooden structure, so you can hear some noise from passing boats. The cleanliness was satisfactory.
Our room provided a beautiful view of the riverside, and we especially enjoyed the scenery from the window. Overall, the room provided a peaceful and enjoyable stay. We were all very satisfied.
Friendly Host
Our hosts were friendly and made our stay very pleasant. We were warmly welcomed with a local sweet dessert soup.
Although we had booked morning tea for breakfast and didn’t get the chance to try their food, we decided to make a reservation for dinner. We enjoyed a wonderful home-cooked meal prepared by the host. The portion was generous, delicious, and reasonably priced. I loved their local cuisine.
Location
When staying in Wuzhen Homestay, your room will be randomly assigned upon check-in. There are over 70 guesthouses in the Wuzhen scenic area, starting from the tourist visitor center. We stayed at Minshu#60, which was quite a walk from the entrance and located at one end of the Xizha scenic area. However, I assure you, it was worth the stroll. Although we could have taken a shuttle, we chose to walk along the main Xizha Street.
Location-wise, we found it very convenient to stay in this area because there are many famous snack houses, making it perfect for food enthusiasts. Staying in the XiZha scenic area allowed us to enjoy night walks and early morning strolls with fewer crowds.
Buggy Service
For those staying further in the scenic area, there is a complimentary buggy service to bring you closer to your guesthouse, which is very convenient!
Please double-check the location of the buggy service pickup point near your accommodation. It runs quite frequently, and you can also schedule the pickup time using the Wuzhen mini app.
Overall: Staying in Wuzhen Xizha Scenic Area
All in all, we highly recommend staying for one night in the Wuzhen XiZha Scenic Area if you’re considering where to stay in Wuzhen. You have the option of a comfortable hotel or a local guesthouse.
During our visit, we chose to stay at a Wuzhen homestay and it made my visit feel more authentic and enjoyable. It was a fantastic experience, and highly recommended. Although the one-night stay in Wuzhen can be costly, the experience is priceless. Additionally, your stay includes an unlimited entry pass to the scenic area and complimentary breakfast. The option to switch to morning tea by the waterside is worth CNY30 per person.
Final Wuzhen Accommodation Tip – we booked Wuzhen Homestay through Trip.com, where we found the best rates for hotel bookings in China. Check for room rates now!
In short, if you’re looking for a place that blends history, comfort, and local warmth, I highly recommend choosing a homestay in Wuzhen.
Related Wuzhen travel blog:
Lastly, this Wuzhen accommodation guide is part of our Shanghai Suzhou Hangzhou travel blog. Continue reading for more travel stories.
- Shanghai itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog
- Where To Stay in Shanghai: Best Areas and Hotels
- Shanghai Food Guide: What and Where To Eat
- Day Trip Suzhou itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog
- Hangzhou itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog
- Where To Stay in Hangzhou: Best Areas and Hotels
- Trip to West Lake: A Travel Guide Blog
