Day 1 Hangzhou → Shaoxing → Hangzhou
08:30
8:30 - Gather and depart for Shaoxing
【Meeting Place】Exit F of Huanglong Sports Center
【Meeting time】8:00-8:30
09:00
Open Shaoxing CityWalk
We disembarked at the hometown of the "Sage of Calligraphy," the former residence of Wang Xizhi, the "Sage of Calligraphy," and the birthplace of Cai Yuanpei, a leading scholar. The old streets, old gates, and flowing water... Without excessive commercialization, the atmosphere of life remains. We visited the ink pool where Wang Xizhi washed his brush, walked along the "Tishan Bridge" where he inscribed on a fan for an old woman, and found a rice wine workshop where we sampled four types of rice wine for free and learned about the entire rice wine production process.
Note: The event includes the choice of rice wine popsicles, stinky tofu, shredded radish cakes, or rice wine milk tea. The total cost per person does not exceed 15 yuan.
After crossing the small bridge and the road, we arrived at Cangqiao Zhijie Street.
Cangqiaozhi Street is Shaoxing's most famous food street. Most of the buildings date back to the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, and they still retain the characteristic of shops in front and houses in the back. Although it is a food street, unlike other places, it mainly serves local Shaoxing delicacies.
Cangqiao Street is very long, and we can find food freely here. There are also many restaurants frequented by locals on Fushan Street/Heng Street around the corner.
Recommendations: Huangjiu milk tea at Huijingxuan, stinky tofu at No. 56 Old Street, Kong Yiji Restaurant (drunken crab, Huadiao drunken river shrimp... supposedly a place where you can watch Yue Opera at noon), and Lao Huzi Restaurant on Fushan Heng Street.
This small historical site, about 1.2km from Cangqiaozhi Street, is highly recommended by street photographers and is considered one of the world's earliest flyovers. Old men reading newspapers, women hanging laundry... It's not a big place, but it perfectly captures my impression of waterside life. Wherever you go, the presence of people creates a unique culture and scene.
3:00 PM
Open the ancient towpath
We came to the ancient towpath in Keqiao. The Shaoxing Keqiao Ancient Towpath, known as the "Great Wall on the Water of Jiangnan", is one of the most iconic ancient water conservancy engineering relics in the middle section of the East Zhejiang Grand Canal.
Built during the Tang Dynasty, it stretches for dozens of miles, constructed with bluestone slabs, stone piers, and tow bridges. Once a necessary route for merchant ships, it bears witness to the hardships of the trackers pulling against the current. This "white jade long causeway," meandering along the waves, winds between Jianhu Lake and the Grand Canal. Stone bridges interspersed, the emerald waters reflect the ancient wisdom of "using bridges instead of roads, and combining roads and bridges." In 2014, it was listed as a World Cultural Heritage as a key component of the Grand Canal. (The total length is 7 kilometers, with parks along the way. Since we hiked a lot in the morning, we took a short walk along the ancient towpath. Parts of the ancient towpath are not shaded by trees, so please use sun protection.)
In case of heavy rain or hot weather, we will change the ancient canoe path to Shaoxing Museum or Lu Xun's hometown.
The above itinerary will be adjusted according to the weather, traffic, etc.
4:30 PM
Return
【Dismissal location】Exit F of Huanglong Sports Center
