Zhouzhuang is one of China's first 10 historical and cultural towns and has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site preparation list. With Chinese New Year around the corner, Zhouzhuang has been immersed in the Spring Festival spirit. Red paper-cut window decorations and red spring festival scrolls can be seen everywhere. Children are dressed in new clothes. Red lanterns are strewn around the town. Spring Festival celebrations are underway.

There are many ways to spend Chinese New Year in Zhouzhuang. Visitors can make rice cake or wine by themselves, listen to Kunqu opera, buy some local specialities as gifts for friends and families, or stay in a local guest house to experience a different lifestyle. Guests can also relax by enjoying heptachord music in the South Lake Heptachord Club or drink a beverage at a local bar.

Zhouzhuang's 2013 Spring Festival celebration has been under preparation for three months. Netizen suggestions were collected from the city's official website and micro blog to help enhance the celebration and attract guests. The celebration will feature a series of folk activities with local characteristics.

Spring Festival celebration activities:

1. A fete to the Stove King (Feb 4) (Also known as night before the lunar New Year's Eve 23rd or 24th of the 12th month of the lunar year): come to Zhouzhuang on this day to experience traditional folk customs.

2. Making rice cake (Feb 8): The meaning of rice cake in Chinese be can translated into "making steady progress in the New Year". Visitors can taste local rice cakes or even set to make them.

3. Staying up late on New Year's Eve (Feb 9): After reuniting with family members and having New Year’s Eve dinner, people stay up until midnight and pray for a better year.

4. Celebration on the first day of the lunar year (Feb 10): Traditional ceremonies are held to pray for a peaceful and fruitful year on this day.

5. Day of the god of wealth (Feb 14): Shen Wansan was honored as the god of wealth because he was the richest man in Zhouzhuang in ancient times. Every year on this day, large celebration activities will be held to commemorate him. People worship him, hoping to make a fortune in the New Year.

6. Lantern Festival (Feb 24): There are three things during Lantern Festival that visitors can't miss: the lanterns, the fireworks and the lantern riddle party. All these will give visitors an unforgettable experience.