Day 1 Suzhou → Shaoxing Anchang Ancient Town → Shaoxing Old Town → Suzhou
·morning
Meeting Point 1: 7:00-7:10, intersection of Jintang Street and Zongguantang Road (near Exit 6 of Pinghe Road Station on Metro Line 2. Parking is available at Yaosheng Building. Maximum parking fee: 20 yuan per day)
Meeting Point 2: 07:30-07:35, Suzhou City Toll Station (G1522 Changtai Expressway Entrance), 200 meters south, waiting for the bus under the elevated road (if you drive, you can park at Huadong Decoration City, the maximum fee is about 25 yuan/day)
[Meeting Point Location] After registering, you can click on the order details of the route you registered in the China-TravelNote APP or the mini program [Personal Center-All Orders] to find the location of the selected meeting point. Click the location to jump to the navigation
The team leader on the bus introduced the team members to each other, explained the itinerary and played interactive games, and they laughed and chatted all the way to their destination.
Arrive at Anchang Ancient Town around 10:00
The ancient town boasts a miles-long riverside market, quaint shops and residences, unique workshops, a patchwork of arcades, winding stone-paved alleys, and ancient, small stone bridges. In Anchang, you can also experience the rich folk customs of the Jiangnan region, showcasing the millennia-old folk customs of Shaoxing: traditional handmade winemaking, plying boats with black sails, and heavy cured meat hanging from door beams. Even Jiangnan customs like blessing, wrapping zongzi (rice dumplings), stringing sausages, and pulling white sugar are all present. Stroll through the quaint town and explore the Anchang Ming and Qing Dynasty Old Street, built along the river, to experience the local customs and culture. You can walk through the area or take a black sail boat tour.
At noon, you will have your own lunch (AA). After having a good meal and drinks, you will gather at the right time to set off for Shaoxing Ancient City.
·afternoon
Arrive at Shaoxing Ancient City around 13:00
Shaoxing's main urban area is surrounded by a roughly rectangular moat, within which lies the ancient city. Construction began in 490 BC, making it over 2,500 years old. Built during the Spring and Autumn Period by Goujian, King of Yue, it served as the capital of the then-state. During the Sui Dynasty, the original capital was expanded. The ancient city retains its 2,500-year-old site and Sui Dynasty layout, and most of the attractions are located within the city walls.
Lu Xun's Former Residence + Baicao Garden + Sanwei Bookstore
These classics are on the same street and all belong to the Lu Xun Hometown Scenic Area; this is Lu Xun's childhood home, Baicao Garden and Sanwei Bookstore are the most familiar stories to everyone. Here it feels like walking into a Chinese textbook. The capacity of the scenic area is not large, and reservations must be made in advance in different time periods.
Kurahashi Straight Street
Zhi Street consists of three parts: the river, residential buildings, and neighborhoods. Most of the residential buildings date back to the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. Many of the distinctive gatehouses are well-preserved, creating a rich waterside village atmosphere. The old street is a "living showcase of Chinese heritage."
Hometown of the Sage of Calligraphy
The typical Jiangnan water town features small bridges, flowing water, and old streets and houses. Calligraphy walls can be seen everywhere, leaving ink marks on the white walls. The Ink Pond and the Inscribed Fan Bridge are both classic check-in spots. Seeing that some of the buildings are being expropriated, I wonder how long this scenery can be preserved.
We gathered again at around 17:30 and boarded the bus back to Suzhou. We arrived in Suzhou around 20:30. Everyone was still reluctant to leave and kissed goodbye with tears in their eyes.
