The Bewitching Tower

The Bewitching Tower

The Bewitching Tower is a cultural heritage site protected by Suzhou Municipality.

The Bewitching Tower is located by Zhenfeng Bridge. Founders of the Southern Society such as Liu Yazi and Chen Qubing once drank heartily, sang passionately, and composed poems here with great fervor. Over a hundred of these poems were later compiled into the anthology "Poems from the Bewitching Tower," which has been passed down through generations. One room in the tower has been turned into a wax museum, where lifelike figures of Liu Yazi and others are shown seated around a table, chatting and toasting animatedly. The small building sits by the water and next to the bridge, with enchanting scenery outside. The Bewitching Tower was built during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty and was originally named Deji Tavern. Its owner, Li Defu, was originally from Zhenjiang. In the late Guangxu period, he moved to Zhouzhuang with his family. Skilled in cooking exquisite dishes, he opened the tavern as the head chef. The couple had their only daughter, A-Jin, when they were over forty. As she grew older, like a lotus rising gracefully from the water, A-Jin outshone all others in the water town of Zhouzhuang. Doted on by her parents, she refused to have her feet bound, earning the nickname “Big-Footed Guanyin,” which quickly became well-known. Many suitors came calling, but Li Defu couldn’t bear to part with his beloved daughter. He kept her in this tower to stay by her parents’ side. She helped tend the bar and served customers, contributing to the tavern’s booming business. At that time, Zhouzhuang was an important commercial hub, and Zhenfeng Bridge was a vital land and water junction in town. Nearby shops were lined up one after another, attracting numerous merchants. Deji Tavern was situated right in the midst of a poetic and picturesque market filled with small bridges and flowing water. Guests enjoyed wine with the breeze, gazing out at the shimmering waves, swaying bridge shadows, and the constant coming and going of boats. Swallows chirped playfully near the windows, while egrets darted after fish—creating a scene both lively and delightful. It was truly a place where “the wine doesn’t intoxicate you, you intoxicate yourself; the scenery is so enchanting it captivates you,” and thus the Deji Tavern happily earned the elegant nickname “The Bewitching Tower.”

Address: Zhenfeng Lane, Zhouzhuang Town, Kunshan City, Suzhou (within Zhouzhuang Ancient Town Scenic Area, near Zhenfeng Bridge)

Type: Historical Architecture

Recommended Visiting Time: About 30 minutes

Phone: Zhouzhuang Ancient Town: 4008282900; 0512-57211699

Opening Hours:

8:00-16:30

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Zhouzhuang Ancient Town admission ticket.

Zhouzhuang Town: Zhouzhuang Town is located in the northeastern part of Kunshan, bordering Taicang City and Changshu City. It was formed by the merger of the former Zhouzhuang, Xinzhen, and Luyang towns and is designated as the central area of the northern part of Kunshan by the municipal Party committee and government. The town covers an area of 81.56 square kilometers, with a local resident population of 43,000 and a migrant population of 60,000. It governs two subdistrict offices (Xinzhen and Luyang), 12 community committees, and 15 administrative villages, comprising a total of 112 neighborhood groups and 382 village groups. The town has been awarded titles such as “Nationally Recognized Beautiful Environment Township,” “Jiangsu Provincial Civilized Town,” and “Kunshan Municipal Pioneer in Investment Promotion…” More detailed information about Zhouzhuang Town++