Live Your Best Lives
The ancients once wrote, "The mountains of Yue are evergreen, the waters are everwhite; the people of Yue live in a land of mountains and waters," praising the region's "evergreen mountains, everwhite waters," and its humid and pleasant climate. Wang Xizhi also remarked, "Walking up the Shanyin Road is like swimming in a mirror."
Photo @Fanta
This is Shaoxing, a city whose 2,500-year history has left countless stories. It's a water town, a bridge town, a wine country, a hometown of calligraphy, and a hometown of famous figures. These are more than just titles; they represent the true charm of Shaoxing. In the era of high-speed rail, the journey from Hangzhou takes only 18 minutes, yet it offers a completely different atmosphere from Hangzhou. Let's journey into Shaoxing's cityscape and experience its charm, a fusion of ancient and modern.
Photo @Fanta
"The stories of Yu the Great controlling floods and Gou Jian restoring the state have spread like wildfire, becoming household names. A land blessed with natural beauty and lush mountains and rivers, an extraordinary place attracts extraordinary people." Shaoxing's history dates back to ancient times. Located in the southern wing of the Yangtze River Delta, Shaoxing boasts distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, and a mild climate. Its dense network of rivers and lakes has earned it a reputation as a "water town" and a global reputation.
Photo @Fanta
Throughout Chinese history, Shaoxing has always been a place where agricultural civilization has developed due to its unique geographical and climatic environment, and has been relatively less affected by wars.
Photo @Fanta
In the Jiangnan region, Xitang is often the first thought of when people mention ancient towns. However, Shaoxing, situated in the heart of the Jiangnan water towns, also boasts four surviving ancient towns: Anchang, Doumen, Keqiao, and Dongpu. Anchang consistently ranks first among these, yet it remains relatively unknown. Originally built during the Northern Song Dynasty, Anchang Ancient Town burned down several times due to war and was rebuilt during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Its architectural style embodies the quintessential Jiangnan water town, encompassing a narrow strip of water and showcasing a simple and elegant aesthetic.
Anchang Old Street stretches 1.9 kilometers along the river, with residential houses on one side and the market on the other, connected by small bridges. The street is paved entirely with Shaoxing bluestone slabs. It's most famous for its New Year's goods, showcasing the rich, millennia-old Jiangnan folk customs. Dried fish, preserved sausages, braised pork, and braised duck are all exceptional Shaoxing specialties. The twelfth lunar month, a term now found only in Lu Xun's novels, has also been perfectly preserved in Anchang.
"Traditional Chinese stone bridges of various shapes and forms can be found here." Just how many bridges are there in Shaoxing? By 1993, there were over 10,000 bridges, of which over 700 were ancient bridges, far exceeding the number of bridges in the water towns of Suzhou and Hangzhou.
Photo @Fanta
Not only are there numerous bridges, but their forms are also diverse. Each bridge is built to a unique design, tailored to the surrounding environment and culture. The choice of materials, shape, and size are all carefully considered. This is why bridge expert Mao Yisheng once said, "Traditional stone bridges in ancient my country are of countless shapes and forms, and nearly all can be found in this village."
Photo @Fanta
Shaoxing, now a metropolis, has become a vibrant metropolis. However, between the bustling Zhongxing Middle Road and Didang, the new commercial district in downtown Shaoxing, a stretch of less than two kilometers still retains a quintessential Shaoxing atmosphere. Small bridges, flowing water, and houses line the river, and three bridges span the river from north to south: Guangning Bridge, Bazi Bridge, and Dongshuang Bridge.
Photo @Fanta
Baji Bridge is the earliest "overpass" in my country. It was built in the fourth year of Baoyou in the Southern Song Dynasty (1256) and has a history of nearly 800 years.
Photo @Fanta
The Guangning Bridge at the northern end was originally built before the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty. It was rebuilt into a heptagonal stone arch bridge in the second year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1574). It is the largest single-arch stone arch bridge in Shaoxing, and its stone carvings are exceptionally beautiful. The Dongshuang Bridge at the southern end was built during the Jiatai reign of the Southern Song Dynasty. The current bridge was constructed during the Republic of China period and remains a major transportation route.
Photo @Fanta
If you want to experience the authentic Jiangnan waterside charm of Shaoxing, this is the place to go. Turn onto Changqiaozhi Street from Zhongxing North Road and walk to the Guangning Bridge community. From there, you can stroll along the riverbank all the way to Dongshuang Bridge. Life here is slow, and the old bridges are covered with vines, yet the charm remains.
Photo @Fanta
In Shaoxing, you can also explore the ancient Qiandao (Qiandao) Trail. For example, this 75-kilometer-long Qiandao, located in the eastern Zhejiang River section of Shaoxing County, served as a pathway and bridge for boat trackers. Countless laborers, carrying tow ropes on their shoulders, labored along this towpath, contributing greatly to the development of Shaoxing's economy.
Photo @Fanta
During the Jin Dynasty, Wang Xizhi invited over 40 of his friends to a gathering at the Lanting Pavilion at the foot of Kuaiji Mountain. There, they enjoyed the elegant atmosphere of flowing wine cups and winding water, drinking wine, and composing poetry. Wang Xizhi compiled these poems into a collection, wrote a preface, and expressed his inner feelings. This is the "Lanting Preface," also known as the "Lanting Preface," which is considered the best running script in the world.
Today, the Lanting Scenic Area, located at the foot of Lanzhu Mountain about 10 kilometers southwest of Shaoxing City, stands alongside Yuling and East Lake as one of Shaoxing's three most famous scenic spots. In the past decade or so, its fame has grown due to the ongoing Lanting Calligraphy Festival. A must-see when visiting Lanting is the Lanting Stele Pavilion, a landmark landmark and one of China's four famous pavilions. Constructed during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, the two characters "Lanting" on the stele were inscribed by Emperor Kangxi himself.
There is also the tomb of Wang Yangming near Lanting. Wang Shouren, a master of the School of Mind in the mid-Ming Dynasty, once built a house in a cave in Kuaiji Mountain where Lanting is located and lived in seclusion to study the School of Mind. Today, Kuaiji Mountain has always been a place where followers of the "Yangming School of Mind" come to pay homage.
Shaoxing and Lu Xun are inseparable. He was born here, went to study in other places, and basically lived here when he returned to his hometown to teach.
Lu Xun's former residence is a traditional Taimen-style building, a typical Shaoxing residence, where families gather. Located in the heart of downtown Dongchangfang, west of the Lu Xun Memorial Hall, it enjoys convenient transportation. Sanwei Book House and Baicao Garden are places countless Chinese people have read about since elementary school.
The story of Yu the Great's flood control is well-known in China. After his success, he gathered the feudal lords at Mount Mao in the territory to reward them according to their merits. After his death, he was buried on the mountain, which was later renamed "Kuaiji." The Mausoleum of Yu the Great is located here. Today, the Mausoleum of Yu the Great is only 3 kilometers from downtown Shaoxing. During the Hongwu reign of Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, the Mausoleum of Yu the Great was designated as one of the 36 royal tombs in China, and the tradition of offering sacrifices to Yu the Great has been inscribed on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
The Mausoleum of Yu the Great consists of the Yu Mausoleum, the Yu Ancestral Hall, and the Yu Temple, all situated at different heights and surrounded by mountains and water. Among the attractions are the Yu Mausoleum Stele, built during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, the Xianruo Ancient Pavilion, which boasts over 800 years of history, and the Yu Temple, built during the Qing Dynasty.
Keqiao District in Shaoxing also boasts a historic scenic spot, Keyan, dating back over 1,800 years. Established during the Han Dynasty, the scenic area now comprises four main areas: Keyan, Jianhu Lake, Lu Town, and Xianglin. All of these areas are accessible by the characteristic Shaoxing wupeng boat.
Here is the strange stone "Cloud Bone" which was carved by three generations of stonemasons during the Sui and Tang Dynasties over a hundred years. There is also the Tiangong Giant Buddha, which was carved in the Sui Dynasty and completed in the early Tang Dynasty. It was carved by three generations of stonemasons. It is 20.8 meters high and has ears that can be seen through. It is one of the four major stone Buddhas in Zhejiang.
There are far more historical figures in Shaoxing than those mentioned in the article. Mr. Cai Yuanpei's former residence is also in Shaoxing, and Qian Sanqiang, a hero of China's "Two Bombs and One Satellite" program, was also born in Shaoxing. There are also various historical blocks, the gateway to the Tang Poetry Road, the starting point of Wuyue culture, and Buddhist and Taoist holy places since the Han Dynasty...all in Shaoxing.
Photo @Fanta
Shaoxing also boasts the Three Wus, a unique cultural phenomenon: the black felt hat, the black sailboat, and the black dried vegetable. The black felt hat is inseparable from the Shaoxing people's ancient aesthetic preference for black, and is a cultural heritage with distinct regional characteristics. Wu dried vegetable, also known as moldy dried vegetable, is named for its black color. It is typically made from mustard greens, cabbage, and rapeseed, pickled and sun-dried. Steaming pork with moldy dried vegetable is a quintessential Shaoxing dish, "Steamed Pork with Moldy Dried Vegetables," a representative of Zhejiang cuisine.
Wupeng boats are a unique and agile means of water transportation in the waterside villages. Their small hulls are woven from bamboo, with bamboo leaves sandwiched between them. They are semicircular in shape and painted black with soot and tung oil. They are a unique sight in Shaoxing. Experiencing the Three Wu culture is a must-do in Shaoxing.
Photo @Fanta
Shaoxing's cuisine was even featured on the TV show "A Bite of China." Braised pork with preserved mustard greens, pickled duck, pickled goose, pickled vegetables, and shrimp in fermented rice wine are all renowned Shaoxing delicacies. Fennel-flavored beans are a well-known local snack. A visit to Shaoxing is a must-try, as Shaoxing rice wine boasts a thousand-year-old tradition. Winemaking was already prevalent in this region of Wu and Yue during the Spring and Autumn Period.
Come to the Xianheng Hotel in Shaoxing and enjoy a bowl of freshly brewed rice wine from a clay pot. Pair it with the three Shaoxing stinks: stinky tofu, stinky (moldy) amaranth stems, and stinky winter melon, and top it off with a plate of fennel beans. It's a truly authentic Shaoxing local delicacy, incredibly satisfying.
Shaoxing is a treasure. If you don’t believe it, come and see.
