Day 1 Shanghai → Huzhou Shuanglin → Shanghai
08:15
Meet at the designated location of China-TravelNote.
We set off on time at 08:30. The tour leader will lead everyone to interact with each other on the way, with laughter and joy all the way. He will introduce himself and explain the itinerary on the bus. Before we knew it, we had arrived at our destination.
10:30
Arriving at our destination, Shuanglin Ancient Town, we begin our rural training journey today.
First, our bonsai teacher will lead us to visit the bonsai base for a field visit and knowledge explanation. Here we can learn that Shuanglin bonsai art and culture has a long history, which can be traced back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. To this day, people still have ancient pots and strange stones in their homes. Today, there are nearly 50 bonsai garden bases in the town, with a large number of bonsai, and the fine bonsai have won many awards.
Shuanglin Ancient Town is a rare place in Jiangnan with the "three consecutive prizes" and good fortune.
Shuanglin Three Bridges: Wanyuan Bridge, Huacheng Bridge, and Wankui Bridge stand side by side for 300 meters, symbolizing the "three top marks" in the imperial examinations. The shadows of the bridges and the sounds of oars remind us of the ancient students' journey to the examinations.
Wenchang Pavilion: Climb the town's tallest building, overlooking the three bridges in the west, a classic camera angle for "three consecutive wins", and overlook the modern landmark Elephant Hotel in the east, a blend of ancient and modern charm.
Shuijing Ancient Temple: This thousand-year-old temple is built by the lake. Zhao Mengfu once practiced Zen here and felt the tranquility of Zen of "mirror flowers and water moons".
11:00
Explore the old streets of the ancient town, free time, Shuanglin on the tip of your tongue, and enjoy the small town noodles
Must-try dishes:
Noodles with toppings (recommended are the yellow croaker and shrimp noodles at Hongqiao Noodle House and the secret lamb soup noodles at Axiang Mutton Noodle House, featuring freshly fried toppings for a rich, zesty flavor). Noodle shops primarily serve local residents, and some may be closed on weekends. Shuanglin's toppings have a history dating back to the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, witnessing Shuanglin's prosperity as a key port for the Nanxun merchant community and embodying the unique local culinary culture. The "freshly fried toppings" are the essence of Shuanglin's toppings. Numerous noodle shops near the scenic area offer a rich, zesty flavor and excellent value.
1. Rich and fragrant soup base, smooth and chewy noodles.
2. Rich variety, freshly fried toppings, eat it in season.
3. Eat it in season: different toppings for different seasons.
Intangible cultural heritage pastries (sister-in-law cakes and descendants cakes, which are sweet and sticky and contain the wedding customs and culture of the water town).
13:00
After lunch, friends who choose bonsai hand-made can follow us to experience it. Other friends can go to the scenic area to explore the cultural check-in points for free activities, or order a cup of coffee or tea in the scenic area, take a break, and slowly enjoy the time in the ancient town.
1. Bonsai Handmade Experience in Xiaoyin Garden, Shuanglin Scenic Area
Here, you'll discover the coiling and weaving techniques of pine and cypress bonsai, and the secrets to achieving a vibrant and vigorous appearance. Not only can you immerse yourself in bonsai selection, pruning, and
maintenance, but you'll also appreciate the cultural heritage of Shuanglin, known as "China's Leading Town for Azalea Bonsai." Best of all, after completing your bonsai workshop, you can take your own handcrafted bonsai home—a truly exceptional value!
Shuanglin also boasts 20 large-scale bonsai gardens, boasting a large number of diverse plants and a rich variety of species, including 20,000 azalea pots, 10,000 conifers, and 30,000 miscellaneous woods. Shuanglin's azalea gardens encompass 250 varieties, and its grafting techniques and number of high-quality pieces rank first in China. The gardens boast over 500 world-class high-quality bonsai pots and over 4,000 high-quality bonsai pots, placing them at the forefront of the nation.
Notice:
Since bonsai production requires the number of people to be reported to the resource party in advance, at least 6 people are required to form a group to facilitate the arrangement of bonsai teachers, and the maximum number of people is 30 (if there are more people, it is impossible to take care of every partner)
If there are less than 6 people, the trip cannot be completed. The tour leader will refund the fees to the friends who checked the box when registering. The other itinerary of visiting the ancient town remains unchanged. I hope everyone understands
2. Humanistic exploration in-depth check-in point (strongly recommended for those who like humanities)
Must-visit points:
Cai's House
The house is meticulously constructed with exquisite craftsmanship, featuring 60-centimeter-thick exterior walls and numerous brick and wood carvings within. It is one of the best-preserved late Qing Dynasty residential courtyard buildings in Shuanglin. The house's exhibitions, focusing on the history of the Cai family and the history of Shuanglin's famous figures, are open to the public, showcasing the spirit of respecting culture, education, and righteousness.
The former residence of Fei Xinwo
, China's "master of left-handed calligraphy," was where he lived in his later years. At the age of 57, after his right hand became disabled due to illness, he used his left hand to create the miracle of calligraphy called "Reverse Stroke to Create Interesting". The exhibition hall displays his manuscripts and inspirational stories, allowing visitors to experience the artistic spirit of "rebirth from despair".
Cai's House Merchants' Hall
, a mansion of late Qing Dynasty silk merchants, features a real-life silver vault experience area from the Republic of China. Here, you can try your hand at weighing silver using ancient methods, deciphering the secret language of the merchant clan, learn about the Cai family's legendary journey of "imperial examination + industry", and witness the wisdom and responsibility of the Jiangnan merchant clan.
Zhou Wenqing Art Museum
As a "world celebrity in calligraphy and painting", his works combine traditional ink painting with modern interest. The museum's collection of landscapes, flowers and birds shows that Shuanglin's calligraphy and painting tradition keeps pace with the times.
Shen Zicha's Former Residence
The former residence displays old objects related to his life, showing his spirit of "saving the country through industry" and his feelings for family and country. It is an important window to experience Shuanglin's culture of "respecting culture and education, and upholding righteousness and kindness."
Shen Binglin Memorial Hall
One of the nation's top ten poverty alleviation champions, this exhibition comprehensively showcases the life of Hong Kong-based philanthropist Shen Binglin, a native of Shuanglin, who embodied the principle that "doing good is the greatest joy." Through letters, photographs, and cultural relics, the exhibition showcases his philanthropic contributions to school construction, highlighting Shen's deep love for his hometown and his refined literary tastes.
3:00 PM
By three o'clock in the afternoon, the ancient town began to shed its afternoon laziness. A rustling sound came from the corner, and several old men appeared one after another carrying bamboo baskets, and lined up naturally under the mottled pink wall - this was their stage.
At this time, local ladies appear in the streets and alleys of Shuanglin Ancient Town, carrying a lot of vegetables and shouting. Most of them are grown by themselves. Friends who have free time can come here to buy vegetables and take them back to cook in the evening.
4:00 PM
We're starting to return.
6:00 PM
Returning to the starting point in the city, everyone was still reluctant to leave and kissed goodbye with tears~~
