Things to do in Shaoxing

A rain shower brought a rare moment of clarity to the bustling scenic area; a guided tour brought life to the ordinary scenery; today we were very fortunate to have our guide, Ms. Xu, lead us on a tour of Lu Xun's former residence. Her explanations were clear and logical, and her voice was gentle and soothing. The entire journey, accompanied by intermittent rain, was truly a wonderful experience.

In Shaoxing, I visited Lu Xun's former residence, Sanwei Study, and then Chen Garden, all of which are very close by and within walking distance. The garden is small but exquisite, with swaying willows, clear ponds, and pavilions scattered throughout, exuding a distinctly Jiangnan (southern China) charm. The most memorable feature was the stele inscribed with the poem "Chai Tou Feng" on the wall; the characters were clear and conveyed the poignant regret of Lu You and Tang Wan. Compared to the throngs of tourists outside, strolling through this garden was far more enjoyable.

Shaoxing's representative Song Dynasty gardens are very close to Lu Xun's former residence, making it convenient to visit both on the way. Key attractions include the Hairpin Phoenix Stele, Gourd Pond, Broken Cloud Stone, and the Six Dynasties Well.

Anchang Ancient Town is an old market town, and you can still tell how prosperous it was in the past just by looking at it now. The shops are packed together, displaying a dazzling array of goods, and several stone bridges connect the two banks of the river, where crowds of people come and go. When you get tired of walking around, you can sit at a bamboo table by the river, brew a pot of tea, have some snacks, and enjoy a rare moment of tranquility.

I traveled alone from Tangshan, Hebei Province, to Shaoxing and then to Keyan. I fell deeply in love with this landscape. Having visited over a hundred scenic spots across the country, Keyan ranks among the top.

I spent 50 yuan to walk around East Lake. The exit is right next to the entrance. If you take the land route, you can only return the same way. If you take the water route, you can choose to go by land or up the mountain path and return by water. It was a bit disappointing.

I made a special trip from Shanghai to Shaoxing for the weekend. I took the high-speed train to Shaoxing North Station, then transferred twice to Metro Line 1 to City Square. From there, it was an 8-minute walk to the scenic area, followed by bus route 3. I arrived at the scenic area at 4 PM, and it would have taken at least two and a half hours to see all the attractions (including the Lanting Calligraphy Museum). The scenic area is open until 8 PM, and there weren't many tourists in the afternoon. There were also laser lights on the river at night, making for a beautiful scene and perfect for taking photos!

Buddha Heart Square → Release Pond → The Largest Buddha in Jiangnan → Thousand Buddha Temple → Shuanglin Grottoes Reclining Buddha → Prajna Valley – this itinerary minimizes backtracking. Located in the center of Xinchang County, it offers convenient parking for drivers and public transportation. The entire tour takes 3-4 hours at a leisurely pace. Ideal for family outings and weekend getaways. Perfect for those who enjoy traditional Chinese style photography and Hanfu (traditional Han clothing) photoshoots.

The scenery at Wuxie is beautiful. I recommend entering the park from the South Gate, taking a boat tour first. The boat ride isn't long, but you can enjoy the beautiful lake views. Then, hike the loop from the East Source Waterfall to the West Source Canyon. It's said that this loop takes 4-5 hours, but in reality, including the boat ride, it only took 2.5 hours, and you won't feel tired at all while sightseeing and taking photos along the way.

The Shaoxing Lu Xun Memorial Hall was first built in 1973. In early 2003, to restore the traditional appearance of Lu Xun's hometown, the exhibition hall, which was out of proportion with the surrounding environment, was demolished and replaced with the Zhou Family New Gate. The newly built memorial hall is located on the east side of Lu Xun's hometown. It is adjacent to Lu Xun's ancestral residence to the east, the Zhou Family New Gate to the west, the Zhu Family Gate to the north, and Dongchangfangkou to the south, facing the Shou Family Gate across the river.