I haven’t gone out this weekend. I don’t feel well. I’ve been mostly staying in my room. I still have some homework to tackle for tomorrow.
We didn’t have classes on Friday. A trip to 周庄 (Zhou zhuang) had been organized for the international students. Such trips are organized only twice or thrice a year. All expenses (lunch,transport) were paid by the university but those who wanted to go on the trip had to give RMB 50 a few days beforehand. Then, in the bus, the teachers gave us back the money. They had to do it this way so that they can be sure that we’ll really go on the trip. Those who said that they’ll go but somehow decide at the last minute that they won’t go don’t get their money back.
At 7:30 am we all met near the main gate. I didn’t have time for breakfast so I just bought some 包子(steamed chinese buns) in the school canteen.

We reached Zhou zhuang after two hours and first went to have our photos taken individually.
queue up to have photo taken
After some 10 minutes or so, I was given my entrance ticket with my photo in its top left corner. :razz: A little souvenir I guess…

We had lunch there:
the restaurant where we had lunch

After lunch, we went outside and waited for the teachers to tell us what we were supposed to do. We saw those 三轮车 (san1 lun2 che1) outside the restaurant. I don’t know the exact English name for 三轮车. I just call them ’san lun che’ or bicycles with three wheels. :laugh: Those san lun che can carry two people.
san lun che

More photos…

We went on those little boats. 8 persons per boat. It was fun. :razz:
at Zhou zhuang
boats outside the restaurant
view from the boat

A little shop selling those traditional clothes:
clothing shop

A small gallery:
Small gallery
I love some of the paintings there.
Do you recognize some of these people? :razz:
paintings
singers

There are many more photos but I won’t upload all of them. :flowers: I really need to set up a photolog when I have time. :???:
at zhou zhuang

中国第一水乡周庄欢迎您 (zhong guo di yi shui xiang zhou zhuang huan ying nin)
zhou zhuang

Joanne, me and Rosemary. Joanne didn’t have time to get nearer to me before my friend pressed the shutter button. :???:
joanne,aline and rosemary at zhou zhuang