What city is located on the water? The floating city is the beginning of ocean exploration. Most Serene “Queen of the Adriatic”

Many tourists dream of visiting city on the water– Venice, knowing only about this geographical feature, about gondola rides and the carnival of masks. But besides this, Venice has something to show.

The city is on the coast Adriatic Sea and is located on more than a hundred islands, which are separated by many channels and channels. About four hundred bridges connect the islands with each other. Gradually, the water level becomes higher - the land part is slowly sinking under water and scientists assume that because of this, in 20 years the city will be uninhabitable.

The favorite means and one of the most famous attractions are traditional rowing boats. This historical symbol of Venice has been used for centuries. The oblong maneuvers well through narrow channels, but this is due not only to its design, but also to the skill of the gondolier. Usually the art of driving a gondola is passed down from father to son. The gondolier uses only one oar, which also serves as a rudder. At the bow of the boat there is an iron tip that serves as a counterweight to the rower standing at the opposite end of the gondola. A standard boat can carry up to six passengers at a time; the fee for such a trip, as a rule, does not depend on their number. Walking along the embankments you can often see lovers sailing along the Venetian channels. How many gondolas have seen declarations of love and marriage proposals!

Once a year, both on water and on land, you can see people dressed in bright costumes and masks. This means it's time to get colorful. Venice carnival. It combines several national Italian holidays and has a centuries-old history rooted in paganism. For some time the carnival lost popularity, but for the last 30 years it has been held annually. Tourists flock to Venice from all over the world to enjoy costumed performances, plunge into the enchanting atmosphere of the celebration and bring home a real carnival mask as a souvenir of Venice. The masks are made from papier-mâché and leather, painted with gold, and decorated with bird feathers and precious stones. For 10 days, local residents and guests of the city wear these unusual accessories.

More than a hundred years, another event cultural life gathers guests in Venice. This is the Venice Biennale - an art exhibition that has an international scale and represents the latest and most interesting in this field. Artists, photographers and other people of art consider it a high honor to receive the Biennale's Golden Lion award.

Venice has also preserved many examples of ancient art. In the city center is St. Mark's Square, former center political events during the Venetian Republic. Its perimeter is bordered by the Old and New Procurations, Clock tower, Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Cathedral and Bell Tower.

Doge's Palace was the residence of the head of the Venetian state. Above huge complex The best architects and artists of the 15th and 16th centuries worked. The rich decoration of the palace, designed to awe foreign delegations, still amazes every visitor today.

Another attraction - Canal Grande– the central water artery of Venice. Its waters reflect the beautiful palaces and buildings that line both sides of Canalazzo. On the Canal Grande stands the Golden House, so named for the precious decoration of the façade that once existed. This palace is considered the most successful example of Venetian architecture. Sculpture and painting of the Middle Ages are on wide display here. Many palaces in Venice that are open to the public have similar exhibitions.

Along with palaces, bridges attract attention, the most famous of which are the Rialto and the Bridge of Sighs. The Bridge of Sighs connects the Doge's Palace and the house where there used to be a prison. Prisoners walked across the bridge to execution, which is where the name of the bridge comes from. The marble Rialto was rebuilt many times, until the 16th century it was made of wood and often burned. There are always a lot of visitors on the bridge - tourists go into souvenir shops and all sorts of shops located here, and take pictures against the backdrop of the bridge itself, which has a very beautiful shape.

Many churches, towers, bell towers and all kinds of knowledge date back centuries. Venice, which has preserved numerous traces of medieval culture, attracts tourists with its alluring past and the romance of the city standing on the water.

Venice - one of the most beautiful cities in the world - stands on the water. There are no pavements, even sidewalks are quite rare, and there are no wheeled vehicles. Water splashes right next to the houses, and residents move around on gondolas and motor boats.

Its historical center is located on an archipelago consisting of 118 small islands, 4 km from the mainland with which it is connected long bridge. In the 5th century, refugees from Padua and other Italian cities lived here, fleeing the Huns and other barbarians.

The streets in Venice are 150 canals. Grand Canal, whose length is 3.8 km and width 30-70 m, divides the entire city into two parts: the historical center and the industrial and commercial part, and smaller canals flow into it, like rivers. The total number of bridges thrown across them is about 400.

On both sides of the Grand Canal there are amazing palaces, the main of which is the Doge's Palace - the creation of architects of the 9th-16th centuries. This magnificent monument overlooks St. Mark's Square- the pearl of the city.

View of Piazza San Marco (1723)

The entire Venetian lagoon and a beautiful city along with her, it steadily sinks under the water. Why is this happening? There are several reasons. Lowlands, especially on the shores of the seas, are usually located on the site of tectonic troughs of the earth's crust and therefore gradually sink and are flooded by the sea.

The second reason is more complicated. The mass of river sediment (sand, silt) carried by the Po River is deposited in its lower reaches and mouth. It would seem that the terrain should rise. But in this case, the mass of sediment is so large that it creates additional stress on the earth’s crust. Due to this, loose, moisture-saturated rocks at depth are compacted, compressed, squeezing out moisture, and quickly settle.

But there is another reason for immersion. It was created by the residents themselves. The fact is that for a long time the city used fresh water directly from its depths, and natural gas was pumped out in huge quantities at the mouth of the Po River. Due to this, the area quickly subsided at a rate of 3 mm per year. After the flood of 1966, we had to stop pumping water. The subsidence slowed down immediately, but the problem remains.

We present to your attention ten picturesque cities surrounded by water. These places are famous not only for being on the water, but they are also rich in history, attractions and full of romance!

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is a multinational, vibrant and very civilized city. If you spend a weekend or vacation here, you will get everything you want: boat trips along the many canals, private parties on yachts, visiting museums with unique works of art, wild nightlife, friendly people, restaurants and bars for all tastes.

Hamburg, Germany

The second largest city in Germany and the seventh largest in the European Union. There are more than 2 million inhabitants, and the port of Hamburg is the 20th largest in the world. It is also called the city of bridges. This perfect place for a holiday where you can admire elegant German architecture. In addition, it is one of the cities with the most high level life in Europe.

Suzhou, China

Suzhou is called the Venice of China. This old City is located in Jiangsu province, near Shanghai. The old districts are crossed by numerous canals and buildings, although everything here is located completely differently than in Venice. However, the local canals and architecture are just as old and beautiful. The Suzhou Grand Canal is the widest “street” that crosses the city’s most important landmarks.

Udaipur, India

Most newlyweds in India go to romantic trip to Udaipur. This one is amazing beautiful city is located between four lakes and is rich in ancient temples and attractions associated with eastern myths. Locals call the city the Venice of the East, and the most popular area among tourists is the Palace on the Lake.

Giethoorn, Netherlands

The Netherlands is crisscrossed by a network of waterways, but some of the most beautiful are in the east of the country, in the city of Giethoorn. Here tourists can stroll along fabulous places With wooden bridges and houses in traditional style. But the best thing is that there are absolutely no cars in the city; people here only ride bicycles or boats.

Alleppey, India

Alleppey is a famous Indian city with canals in southern state Kerala. Tourists here can rent wooden boats transformed into houses and discover all the beauty of this amazing place. The length of all the canals of Kerala in the southwestern part of India is more than 1,400 km.

Bangkok, Thailand

In the capital of Thailand, water canals are called longguri and are used instead of roads every day. With these “floating taxis” you can get to almost anywhere in the city, enjoying the sights along the way and at the same time avoiding traffic jams.

Saint-Petersburg, Russia

St. Petersburg “spread its wings” on the Neva River at its confluence with The Gulf of Finland Baltic Sea. This large city, home to more than 5 million inhabitants, is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city was built at the cost of the lives of tens of thousands of Russian peasants. Winters here are cold and dank, but it is in winter that the city is especially beautiful. Hermitage, parks, boats on the Neva, Kunstkamera, concert halls, streets described by Dostoevsky in books, a unique metro and many other attractions await you in this incredibly beautiful and diverse city.

Bruges, Belgium

Bruges is one of the most popular cities in Belgium among tourists. This small town rivals Venice in terms of the preservation of its historical structures, and clear waterways crisscross the backdrop of medieval buildings, making you feel like you've stepped back centuries.

Stockholm, Sweden

More than a million people live in the capital of Sweden. It is located on 14 islands and is the 10th most visited city in Europe. Stockholm is known for its beauty, rich architecture, clear waters that add color to the city, and beautiful parks. In December and January, temperatures drop to -5 and 0, but the beauty and grandeur of this city will make you forget about the cold.

Russia's second major city, St. Petersburg, has its own system of more than 100 canals built along the Neva River. St. Petersburg occupies one of the leading places in the number of bridges, of which there are as many as 800 pieces. The famous European writer Goethe Johann Wolfgant said more than once: “St. Petersburg is the Venice of the North”

#2 Amsterdam, one of the largest cities in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam may not be Venice, but the entire city is simply riddled with canals, which make up a quarter of the entire city area. According to conservative estimates by boat companies, the numerous transport boats, which are one of the main means of transportation around the city, carry an average of up to 3 million passengers per year.

#3 Stockholm, the capital and largest city of Sweden.

The capital of Sweden is not just a city, it is a whole network of islands, interconnected not only by numerous water canals of natural and man-made origin, the oldest which date back to the beginning of the 19th century, along which water routes, but also by numerous bridges laid across these canals.

#4 Ko Panyi, a village in Phang Nga province, Thailand.

A small fishing village that is entirely built on stilts. The village consists of 360 families and has more than 1,700 inhabitants. (Coordinates 8.335556, 98.503056)

#5 Xochimilco, one of the regions of Mexico City, the capital of Mexico.

The region of Xochimilco, which is one of the 16 regions of Mexico City, located 18 kilometers from the city center and in 1987 which was declared a "Object World Heritage UNESCO", consists of many channels flowing between artificially created islands, called "Chinampas".

#6 Uros, a village on Lake Titacaka, Republic of Peru.

In this floating village, residents live on small islands from reeds. Leaves and stems of reeds are woven together, giving the primary basis for the future part of the island, then with the help of other leaves and stems of reeds collected from other places, the resulting part of the island is strengthened, and such a difficult, painstaking and long process is repeated several times to obtain at least a meter of new parts of the lake.
In addition to everything else, from the stems of reeds they not only build a floating island, but also make boats, houses, dishes and various decorations and souvenirs for tourists visiting this island.

#7 Kerala, a state located on the Malabar Coast in southwest India.

This state has many rice fields and man-made canals, which were created specifically for more convenient and faster transportation of coconut husks, known as "Coir" *

*coir - obtained from the intercarp (between the peel and the nut) of a young coconut. White and soft fibers are soaked in running water for 10 months, then combed. Long fibers are used in the production of waterproof ropes and ropes. Short fibers are used to produce non-sinking mats. And the tangled fibers are used as padding material. This is not the entire list of materials made from these raw materials.

#8 Santa Cruz del Islote, an island in northern Colombia.

On this small coral island, which served as the basis for the construction of a pile foundation to expand the island's area, 90 houses were built, housing 1,200 people. This island is the most densely populated island in the world.

#9 Wuzhen Township is a city in southeast China.

Wuzhen City is one of the oldest cities in China and one of the six ancient water cities south of the Yantzi River, which was founded in Zhejiang Province more than 1,300 years ago. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, bridges and canals were built in this city.

#10 Venice Neighborhood in Los Angeles, California.

Venice is famous not only for its beaches, but also for its canals, which in some areas of Venice have replaced the bypass road between houses.

A wonderful city that combines both ancient culture and modern technology. All this easily coexists in one place and complements each other, creating its own unique atmosphere. The further away from the city, the more ancient villages and settlements you can find. Traveling through such places, you inevitably move several centuries back in time. Particularly beautiful are the ancient cities that stand on the water. The places described in this article are truly unique and unique. If you are lucky enough to get into one of these, you will feel it yourself.

City on the water	Distance	Peculiarities	Commerce
Nansun	Shanghai 2h Suzhou 1½h Hangzhou 1½h	Traditional Chinese and Oriental architecture, indigenous people, many cultural attractions. Previously it was the richest city.	Least commercial. Quiet.
	Shanghai 1½h Xangzhou ½h	A small water town with traditional architecture and bridges, indigenous people, easily accessible from Suzhou.	Least commercial. Quiet.
	Shanghai 1½h Suzhou 1h	A large number of bridges, many paths for boat trips.	Least commercial. Quiet.
	Shanghai 2h Suzhou 1h	A restored ancient city with modern hotels.	Commercial. Large flow of people.
Zhujiajiao	Shanghai 1½h Hangzhou 1h	Near Shanghai. Suitable for a half-day excursion.	Highly commercial. A huge flow of people.
	Shanghai ½h	Very small, many old houses with beautiful architecture.	A huge flow of people.
	Shanghai 1½h Suzhou ½h	A small amount of entertainment and shops, a singing woman on a boat.	Least commercial. Quiet.
Zhouzhuang	Shanghai 2h Suzhou 1h	Very popular city, dirty water in summer.	Highly commercial. A huge flow of people.

Nanxun Ancient Town 南浔区

Nansun Ancient City is not as popular as other famous places of its kind, but that is what makes it so unusual. This ancient city has a calm atmosphere as there are no huge hordes of tourists here. Combined with beautiful nature and amazing architecture, this place deserves to be at the top of this list.

Once here, you will be completely imbued with this ancient city and feel its spirit. Historical buildings and beautiful nature- this is what awaits you here. Besides beautiful architecture here you can see the traditional procedure for creating brushes for writing and a delightful wedding performance on the water. If you don't know where to go in Shanghai or its area, then visit this place and you will be delighted.

· Location: 1½ hours from Hangzhou 2 hours from Shanghai

· Activity: viewing old buildings, boating, walking, photography

· Suitable for: : those who want to see a classic Chinese water city

· Peculiarities: quiet country town, rich cultural heritage

Tongli Water Town 同里

This is a classic ancient water city located on the Yangtze River Delta. This is a real Chinese Venice. Almost all buildings are on the water. This is very popular place, because the mixture of architecture and beautiful water canals makes this place very picturesque.

Fifteen pedestrian canals divide the city into 7 small islands, and they in turn are connected by 40 bridges. The area of this miracle is 33 hectares, it is divided into 5 lakes. This is truly a water city in the truest sense of the word. If you are still wondering how to spend time in Shanghai or its surroundings, then quickly get ready and go to look around this beautiful place.

· Location: close to Suzhou, 1½ hours from Shanghai

· Activity: walks, viewing old buildings along the length of the canal, photographs

· Suitable for: those who want to see the classical gardens and parks of Suzhou

· Peculiarities: few tourists

Ancient City Xitan(Xitang Ancient Town)

This place is also quite popular. Here you can see unique architecture, which you will not find anywhere else. This ancient town differs from others with its numerous bridges and unusual alleys.

You can take amazing pictures here, because the place is quite quiet and there are not many shops and shops. Looking into Xitang you can see such attractions as the “Xue Family House” - a screw museum, art gallery, root carving museum. You can also go fishing with local residents and have dinner on the boat.

· Location: 1½ from Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou

· Suitable for: those who want to swim in the tunnels and take beautiful pictures

· Peculiarities: a large number of bridges and covered water corridors

Wuzhen Water Town 乌镇

Wuzhen is one of the most famous water towns in China. Its history began more than one thousand years ago. Ancient residential buildings, shops, shops and workshops are located on the banks of the canals. The main attractions of this place are various folk performances and shows.

Almost the entire western area was restored in the “old style”, but it is also easy to find really old houses here. Many people complain about the area being too commercial. But even despite the numerous shops, restaurants and entertainment, the atmosphere of this place is amazing. In any case, you need to see it with your own eyes. By the way, if you don't know where to eat in Shanghai, then you can go here. Here you can taste delicious snacks and enjoy beautiful views ancient streets

· Location: 1 hour from Suzhou, 2 hours from Shanghai

· Suitable for: those who want to see the ancient night city

· Peculiarities: restored ancient town, very picturesque at night

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town (朱家角)

This is a beautiful old city, just an hour's drive from the center of Shanghai. It is well equipped with waterways, making boating here a very enjoyable experience. Here you can find both small Chinese houses and majestic Chinese residences.

The complex has 36 beautiful bridges, which connect everything to each other. Not far from this place there is a large natural lake called Dianshan. Lovers flock there have a relaxing holiday. Here you can take a boat ride while admiring the amazing nature. This is an excellent place for tourism, because it has almost everything you need for an unforgettable trip.

· Location: 1 hour from Shanghai city center

· Activity: boating, walking, photography

· Suitable for: those with limited time

· Peculiarities: very busy with tourists, especially on weekends.

Qibao Ancient City (QibaoAncientTown (七宝镇)

Perhaps this is the smallest ancient city on our entire list, but it deserves attention no less than the others. There are only two pedestrian streets, but there are a large number of interesting souvenir shops and traditional Chinese eateries. If you're a lover of Chinese snacks, you'll love it here.

Here you can try and see how the popular distilled liqueur is made at the Qibao winery. You can also visit quite unusual museum miniature engravings of the Zhou family.

· Location: 1 an hour from downtown Shanghai by metro

· Activity: viewing ancient architecture and buying street snacks

· Suitable for: those who have limited time

· Peculiarities: very small, similar in size to a bazaar, crowded with people on weekends

Luzhi Ancient Town 甪直镇 )

This elegant water city is surrounded by five lakes. great amount various bridges that were built by different dynasties. The number of bridges is 41, with a total of four dynasties involved. That’s why this place is also called the “Museum of Chinese Bridges.”

There are many ancient residences that were built by the Ming and Qing dynasties. Almost all of them have not been reconstructed, as in most other complexes. So, here you can enjoy the authentic ancient architecture to the fullest. Total size ancient city comparable to a hundred city blocks.

· Location:

· Suitable for: those who don't like crowds of people

· Peculiarities: beautiful water city, a singing woman on a boat floats along the canals, few paid activities

Water City Zhouzhuang. (Zhouzhuang Water Town)

Zhouzhuang is the most popular and famous ancient water city in this area. There is a huge flow of tourists here on weekends, so if you are planning a quiet, deserted holiday, then come on weekdays.

This place is famous for its well-preserved ancient residences. Here you can get to know ancient folk arts and crafts better. Although the entire complex has long since become commercial and attracts huge flows of tourists, the views here are still amazing. Photographers especially love these places. Morning photos come out especially well here.

· Location: close to Suzhou, 1½ hours from Shanghai

· Activity: architecture viewing, ferry rides, street walks, photography

· Suitable for: those who want to see the classical gardens of Suzhou and take a ferry ride

· Peculiarities: the most popular water city in China, a lot of tourists, a lot of paid entertainment

Walking through such places, you begin to understand how difficult it is to get comfortable in such a distant and unusual country like China. To better understand the Chinese mentality and easily explain to people what you want, you cannot do without a translator. Our company can provide you with a professional who will help you not only reach an understanding with your interlocutor, but will make you feel as comfortable as possible in this country.

We also organize events in which you can get to know the business side of Shanghai. If you need to travel to Shanghai for work matters, we will be happy to give you tours of the best factories, factories and exhibitions in Shanghai. Contact us and you will soon become another satisfied customer.

It might be useful to read: