Lanting (Orchid Pavilion): Where Calligraphy Meets Nature's Poetry

#chinatravel
### **🖌️ Why This Garden is Legendary**
As the **birthplace of Chinese calligraphy culture**, Lanting is where Wang Xizhi (China’s "Sage of Calligraphy") composed the *Lanting Xu* in 353 AD. This UNESCO-listed garden blends:
✔ **Flowing serpentine canals** inspired by the "Floating Wine Cup" literary game
✔ **Ming Dynasty pavilions** surrounded by 1,600+ orchids
✔ **Stone carvings** of history’s greatest calligraphy masters

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### **🚗 Getting There**
- **From Shaoxing**: 30-min taxi (¥50) or Bus 3 to Lanting Station
- **From Hangzhou**: 1h high-speed train to Shaoxing + taxi
- **Entrance**: ¥70 (spring/summer), ¥50 (autumn/winter)

*Tip*: Visit **before 9AM** to hear birdsong in the bamboo forest!

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### **🎋 Must-See Spots**
1. **Goose Pool (鹅池)** – Watch calligraphers paint with water on stone
2. **Flowery Wine Cup Stream** – Try the ancient drinking game (re-enacted April-May)
3. **Imperial Stele Pavilion** – Kangxi & Qianlong emperors’ engraved poems

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### **🍵 Local Flavors**
- **Shaoxing "Drunken" Dishes** – Wine-marinated crab & chicken
- **Lanting Tea House** – Orchid-scented Longjing tea

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### **📜 Cultural Experiences**
- **April Calligraphy Festival** – Watch masters create ink wash art
- **DIY Ink Rubbing** – Take home a souvenir of ancient poetry

**#lantinggarden #chinesecalligraphy #shaoxing #hangzhoudaytrip**

🦢🖋️🎋

*Fun Fact: The "wandering cup" game inspired Japan’s kyokusui-no-en poetry tradition!*