An unexpected trip to Shaoxing made me rediscover the charm of Jiangnan water towns—exploring the low-key beauty

Since I set foot in the beautiful scenery of Suzhou and Hangzhou, I had already believed that all water towns in the world were like this. However, the moment I stepped into Shaoxing, all my preconceptions were completely overturned... Shaoxing, this low-key Jiangnan water town, initially did not occupy a place in my heart. But a sentence from Mr. Mu Xin, 'Jiangnan without bones is not only Suzhou, Jiangnan with bones should be seen in Shaoxing,' aroused my curiosity. So, I decided to embark on this unexpected journey. 📅【Two Days and One Night Travel Plan】 🔸First Day: * Morning: Depart from Shaoxing North Station and head to Yangcha Lake, a little-known secluded place. * Noon: Visit the hometown of the Sage of Calligraphy, feel the historical atmosphere of Wang Xizhi and Cai Yuanpei. * Afternoon: Tour Cangqiao Straight Street, experience the slow life of Shaoxing people, and visit Bazhi Bridge and Donghu. * Evening: Check-in at Shaoxing Dayu Kaiyuan Guantang, enjoy the tranquility and food of the ancient town. 🔸Second Day: * Morning: Visit Lanting, follow the footsteps of Wang Xizhi's 'Preface to the Orchid Pavilion,' and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Goose Pond. * Noon: Stroll to Lu Xun's hometown, reminisce about the stories in textbooks, and taste yellow wine and fennel beans. * Afternoon: End the journey and return with full memories. 🏞️【Attraction Details】 * Hometown of the Sage of Calligraphy: The historical traces of Wang Xizhi and Cai Yuanpei, with the Ink Pool, Pen Flying Lane, and Fan Inscription Bridge exuding a strong historical atmosphere. * Cangqiao Straight Street: Ancient residential buildings built along the river, showcasing the charm of water towns, an excellent place to experience the slow life of Shaoxing. * Lanting: The birthplace of Wang Xizhi's 'Preface to the Orchid Pavilion,' picturesque scenery, every step is a view. * Bazhi Bridge: An ancient water interchange bridge, with a long history, unchanged by eight hundred years of wind and frost. * Yangcha Lake: The beautiful Angsang Lake, with the ancient wind shelter stone embankment and ancient fiber road from the Ming Dynasty, making people linger. * Lu Xun's Hometown: From Baicao Garden to Sanwei Study, reminisce about the stories in textbooks, and taste local delicacies. * Donghu: Cliffs, caves, stone bridges, and the lake surface complement each other, one of the three famous lakes in Zhejiang. 🏠【Accommodation Recommendation】 It is recommended to stay at Shaoxing Dayu Kaiyuan Guantang, which is not only a hotel but also a microcosm of the ancient town. The houses here retain the original appearance of the ancient village, built along the water. Here, you can feel the romantic atmosphere of small bridges and flowing water, and hand-rowed black awnings. At the same time, it is also a good place to taste Shaoxing's special food, especially the delicious stinky tofu.