The many Venices of the East

Zhouzhang town in Jiangsu province

Xitang

About 100 bridges dating to the two past dynasties span the waterways of Zhejiang's Xitang. Buildings between also hail from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Its tranquility belies the fact that action-thriller Mission Impossible III shot scenes here.

Roofed corridors protect people from the precipitation that frequently soaks the streets.

Paper lanterns folded into the shapes of flowers and stars reflect from ripples at night, dancing to boatmen's songs.

Zhujiajiao

Willows frame waterways in this 1,700-year-old, fan-shaped settlement outside Shanghai.

Roughly 10,000 Ming and Qing buildings line streets connected by 36 bridges.

The local saying goes: "If you haven't seen Zhujiajiao's bridges, you haven't seen Zhujiajiao."

Fair enough.

But the same can be said of many nearby water towns.

Perhaps you could say that if you haven't seen at least one of the various Venices of the East, you haven't seen the Yangtze River Delta.

Related: The Golden Triangle's time to shine