Shaoxing

Shaoxing retains the classic look of a Jiangnan water town, with white walls, dark-tiled roofs, small bridges, flowing waterways and black-awning boats woven through the old city lanes. It is ideal for a leisurely weekend or short holiday.

• Shaoxing Lu Xun Native Place: Free entry; advance reservation required. Real-life versions of textbook scenes such as Baicao Garden and Sanwei Study are on display. Allow about 2 hours for a visit.

• Shaoxing Wang Xizhi Native Place: Free entry. This is the former residence of Wang Xizhi. Along the way you will see white walls, dark-tiled roofs, small bridges and flowing waterways. Tifan Bridge is a good spot for photos, and the lanes also contain several quiet cafés.

• Shaoxing East Lake Scenic Area: Admission is 50 yuan. The area features sheer cliffs formed by quarrying. Ride a black-awning boat through the waterways between the rock walls for a close-up view of the landscape.

• Shaoxing Anchang Ancient Town: Free to visit; some venues charge admission. The town preserves much of its traditional character, with the strongest sense of everyday life in the early morning and evening.

• Shaoxing Shen Garden: Admission is 40 yuan. The garden is themed around the love story of Lu You and Tang Wan. At night, you can watch the live performance of *The Phoenix Hairpin*.

• Shaoxing Lanting Scenic Area: Admission is 70 yuan. This is a cultural site associated with the calligraphic work *Preface to the Orchid Pavilion*. The grounds feature lush woods, tall bamboo and the winding-water drinking scene. The tranquil setting is well suited to enjoying calligraphy and traditional gardens.

Suggested Itinerary

• Day 1 Old City Culture Route: Visit Lu Xun Native Place in the morning. Arrive around 7:30 a.m. to avoid the crowds, then visit Baicao Garden and Sanwei Study in that order. After lunch, walk to Shen Garden to explore a Jiangnan-style garden. In the afternoon, head to Bazi Bridge to experience the local life around the Song-era bridge, then stroll through Wang Xizhi Native Place. In the evening, sample snacks and enjoy the night views along Cangqiao Straight Street.

• Day 2 Scenic Landscapes Route: Visit East Lake Scenic Area in the morning, taking a black-awning boat between cliffs and deep pools. In the afternoon, head to Lanting to learn about the calligraphy culture associated with winding-water drinking. Return to the city in the evening for a night cruise on the ring canal and views of the water town at night.
• Day 3 Traditional Ancient Town Route: Sleep in and then take a taxi to Anchang Ancient Town. Buy yellow-wine popsicles beneath the covered walkways, see locally made sauced duck and cured sausages, and experience daily life in a traditional Jiangnan town. Return in the afternoon.

Shaoxing Specialties

Shaoxing cuisine is known for distinctive flavors including drunken, fermented, moldy and stinky notes.

• Shaoxing Stinky Tofu: Tofu is soaked in amaranth-stem brine, fried until golden and crisp, then topped with chili oil and sauce. The outside is crunchy while the inside remains tender.

• Shaoxing Yellow Wine Popsicle: 5 yuan each. It has a pronounced yellow-wine flavor and is cool and refreshing, making it suitable for hot weather.

• Shaoxing Ciwu Pulled Noodles: The dough is repeatedly beaten with a bamboo pole, giving the noodles a springy texture. They are served with freshly stir-fried toppings and a rich broth.

• Braised Pork with Preserved Mustard Greens: Pork belly and preserved mustard greens are steamed together for two hours. The pork is soft and tender without being greasy, while the greens have a prominent savory aroma.

• Shaoxing Three Delicacies: Fish balls, pork skin, river shrimp and other ingredients are cooked in a soup. It is flavorful and commonly served at local banquets.

Besides street snacks, you can visit Xun Bao Ji Shaoxing Cuisine for Shaoxing Three Delicacies and yellow-wine drunken yellow croaker, or go to Xianheng Hotel for fennel beans and Taidiao rice wine.

Accommodation and Transport Guide

• Where to stay: Consider staying near Lu Xun Native Place or Cangqiao Straight Street. Shaoxing's main attractions are relatively close together, so many places can be reached on foot, and the night markets are also convenient to visit after dark.

• Getting there: Taking a high-speed train to Shaoxing North Railway Station is convenient, followed by Metro Line 1 to Lu Xun Native Place Station. From Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, you can take an intercity train or bus and transfer.
• Getting around: Attractions in the city are close together, so walking, riding a shared electric scooter or taking a taxi are all practical options. Buses also reach the main sights, with fares of 1 to 3 yuan.

Travel Tips

• Book in advance: Free attractions such as Lu Xun Native Place require reservations through the “Shaoxing Culture and Tourism Group” WeChat official account or mini program. Scan your ID card when entering. During holidays, book as early as possible.
• Avoid peak times for boat rides: Black-awning boats are a key Shaoxing experience. Queues at East Lake and Bazi Bridge can be long during holidays, so consider riding just after opening or in the evening, when the light and crowds are more suitable.
• Food preferences: Shaoxing dishes often have sour or salty-savory flavors, and some include moldy or stinky notes, such as steamed “three stinks.” Check the flavor before ordering.
• Snack choices: Yellow-wine milk tea has a strong alcohol flavor and may not suit non-drinkers. The cream xiaopan is fairly ordinary, so choose according to your interests.
• About Bazi Bridge: Bazi Bridge itself is simply a bridge, with little else to see nearby. It is best visited as a quick stop along your route.