Water Stage

　　Located on the north side of West Scenic Area Old Street, what makes this stage unique is that it is built over water, hence it is also called the “Water Stage.” Its scale and exquisite craftsmanship are also rare in China.

　　Introduction

　　The performance area of the water stage is open on both sides, making it convenient for actors to make entrances and exits. The audience seating is divided into upper and lower levels, with a spacious general seating area in the middle for regular theatergoers. On both sides are private booths, equivalent to today’s box seats, mostly reserved by wealthy patrons.

　　The central performance stage is magnificent, especially the caisson ceiling above the stage, which is lavishly decorated in gold. The roof around the stage is carved with both openwork and relief depictions of the Eight Immortals, all exquisitely lifelike. The central beam features carvings of Emperor Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty enjoying a theatrical performance, along with images of the Eighteen Arhats.

　　From the stage, one can also see carvings on the decorative beams of the opposite Qimen (Qi Gate) building, showing the reign title “Kaiyuan” from the early years of Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji) of the Tang Dynasty.

　　From the Qing Dynasty to the early years of the Republic of China, Peking opera performances were very popular. Temporary wooden stages set up in open spaces were called “thatched stages,” while some temples had fixed stages as annexes, known as “temple stages,” none of which charged admission—audiences would stand and watch in the open areas. On the square of Xiuzhen Temple on East Avenue in Wuzhen, there was a “temple stage,” an annex of the temple itself, hence named Xiuzhen Temple Ancient Stage. The Water Stage in West Scenic Area complements the Xiuzhen Temple Ancient Stage, both having been important cultural and entertainment venues for residents of Wuzhen and nearby towns and villages in the old days.