Compared to Wuzhen, I prefer the everyday life here

Hey babes👋, if Wuzhen is a delicate ink painting of Jiangnan, then Shaoxing is a secret manual of the Jianghu full of everyday life vibes📖. Today, let me take you into this underrated Jiangnan water town and show you what charm makes me "fall for it instead"😜. ✨Itinerary✨ 🎈Day 1: Tracing Ancient Charm - Morning: Yandang Tea Lake🌅 You must visit Yandang Tea Lake early in the morning. It’s basically the "Blue Bay" of this area! The ancient silk road from the Ming Dynasty floats on the water like a ribbon. In the morning mist, the black-awning boats glide gently by—what a scene! It’s like stepping into a moving ink painting. Here’s a secret: the aerial view of the dawn redwood forest’s reflection is so beautiful it’ll make you cry😭. (Address: free admission) - Noon: Cangqiao Straight Street🍜 After Yandang Tea Lake, head to Cangqiao Straight Street for lunch. This place is like Shaoxing’s version of the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" painting. The fennel beans at Xianheng Hotel are incredibly fragrant and pair perfectly with yellow wine. Also, you must try the pan-fried buns and Yangchun noodles at Tongxin Building—only about 20 yuan per person for a super satisfying meal, full of Shaoxing’s local flavor. Oh, and don’t miss the old street’s stinky tofu here—crispy outside, tender inside, drizzled with garlic chili sauce, wow, it’s so good you’ll want to stomp your feet! - Afternoon: Bazi Bridge🌈 Bazi Bridge is an 800-year-old "water interchange"! Standing on the bridge and looking down, the waterways, residences, and stone bridge form a super sophisticated geometric aesthetic. Plus, locals wash clothes under the bridge arches, full of everyday life vibes. (Free attraction, go for it!) - Evening: East Lake🌃 Head to East Lake at dusk, entrance fee 50 yuan. Ride a black-awning boat through Taogong Cave, listening to the creaking of the boatman’s oar—feels like the whole world has quieted down. The light and shadow interplay at the Fairy Peach Cave by the cliff is stunning. It’s said that scenes from "Journey to the West" were filmed here. Stay overnight at Dayu Kaiyuan Guantang, a Ming and Qing architectural complex with white walls and black tiles built by the water. Lying in bed, you can hear the babbling water—so cozy. 🎈Day 2: Poetic Stroll - Morning: Lanting🖌️ Lanting is a holy place for calligraphy, entrance fee 70 yuan. As soon as you enter, you’ll see white geese by the Goose Pond singing loudly, as if welcoming you. At the winding water cup stream, wear Hanfu and paint calligraphy—any photo you take will capture the poetic mood of "a toast and a chant." By the way, the "Goose Goose Goose" cultural shop’s brushes and folding fans are very special, great as souvenirs. - Noon: Lu Xun’s Former Residence📚 In the afternoon, visit Lu Xun’s Former Residence from your textbooks. It’s free but requires advance reservation. Walking into Baicao Garden, you’ll see the still lush soapberry tree and the desks at Sanwei Study Room, where the character "early" seems carved on them. Order a pot of yellow wine milk tea at Sanwei Teahouse, paired with fennel beans—this feeling is even more Lu Xun than the one in textbooks😜. 🍜Food Recommendations🍜 - Yellow Wine Derivatives: You must try the yellow wine popsicle, the red label is richer. Also, yellow wine milk tea, a limited edition at Xianheng Hotel, tastes amazing. Don’t miss the drunken crab—salty, fresh, and sweet, so addictive. - Carb Delights: The three-flavor noodles with bullfrog at Ciwu Damians are incredibly fresh. Braised pork with preserved vegetables is fatty but not greasy. The creamy puff pastry with flowing filling is super satisfying with one bite. - Hidden Menu: The old street stinky tofu on Cangqiao Straight Street drizzled with garlic chili sauce, and the plum soda on the East Lake boat tour, are both absolutely delicious. 🚗Transportation Tips🚗 Lu Xun’s Former Residence, the Sage of Calligraphy’s Former Residence, and Cangqiao Straight Street are all within walking distance. If you take a taxi, Gaode is faster than Didi for getting rides. 💡Photo Tips💡 Be sure to wear light-colored qipao or Hanfu. Photos at Bazi Bridge and the Sage of Calligraphy’s Former Residence will be stunning. If it rains, even better—open an oil-paper umbrella and you’ll be the heroine of a Jiangnan misty rain painting. Shaoxing is such a place—without Wuzhen’s hustle and bustle, but with its own unique everyday life charm. Here, you can slow down, feel the sediment of a thousand years of culture, and experience the life of water town families. Babes, hurry to check in at Shaoxing—I believe you’ll fall in love with it just like I did😍.