The central bank didn’t lie to me! This is a must-visit ancient town that’s both beautiful and delicious!

Anchang Ancient Town is one of the four major ancient towns in Shaoxing. Founded during the Northern Song Dynasty, it has a history of over a thousand years and is a Jiangnan water town full of rich local life.

🏮 Complete Travel Guide to Anchang Ancient Town

🚶 One-Day Tour (Compact and Fulfilling)
· Morning: Depart from your location to Anchang Ancient Town. Start with a stroll along the north bank, visiting places like Suikang Qianzhuang and the Stone Carving Museum. Don’t forget to capture the water town scenery and local life with your eyes and camera.
· Noon: Find a small riverside eatery on the old street or try some local snacks. Xiaodian Wang’s fermented rice buns, Anchang stamped cake, and yellow wine popsicles are all worth trying.
· Afternoon: After lunch, you can choose to experience a black-awning boat ride. Then visit the Shiye Hall and Folk Customs Museum on the south bank. If you have purchased a combo ticket, these venues are included. Finally, you can buy some local specialties like cured meats and sauces to end your trip.
🛶 Two-Day Tour (In-Depth Experience)
· Day 1: After arriving and checking in in the morning, you can leisurely explore the main streets and attractions of the town. Enjoy local cuisine at noon. In the afternoon, focus on visiting Renchang Sauce Garden (free entry), the filming location of "A Bite of China," where you can see many sauce jars. Then relax at a riverside tea house or café. At night, enjoy the tranquil night view under the town’s lights.
· Day 2: In the morning, try traditional crafts like pulling sugar candy and wrapping zongzi (these activities are available within the town). Then explore the surrounding areas of the ancient town. End your trip in the afternoon and return.
🗺️ Key Attractions and Experiences
Town Stroll
Anchang Ancient Town is built along the river, with an old street stretching for several miles. It’s recommended to visit the north bank first, then the south bank. Renchang Sauce Garden (free) and the black-awning boat are signature experiences.
Core Attractions
If you purchase a combo ticket (about 50 RMB, including around 7 attractions), focus on visiting:
· Shiye Hall: Anchang is the hometown of the "Shaoxing Shiye," and this hall showcases Shiye culture.
· Suikang Qianzhuang: Displays the appearance of an ancient money shop.
· Anchang Folk Customs Museum: Learn about Anchang’s folk culture.
🏨 Accommodation Options
· Inside the Ancient Town:
· Shaoxing Anchang Ancient Town Guantang Hotel: Located next to the town, with a back door directly leading into the town, elegant environment, and highly rated service.
· There are also other small inns or homestays within the town.
· Outside the Ancient Town: You can also consider staying near the Keqiao scenic area.
🍜 Food Recommendations
Must-Try Snacks
· Xiaodian Wang’s fermented rice buns: A popular item with queues in the town, plain ones cost 2 RMB, and you can add sausage or braised pork.
· Anchang stamped cake: Sticky and chewy texture with a sweet filling.
· Yellow wine popsicle: About 5 RMB each, with a yellow wine flavor.
· Anchang cured sausage: A local specialty, widely available.
Special Dishes and Restaurants
· Try Shiye wontons and stir-fried rice cakes with vegetables and shredded pork at Aihua Snack Shop.
· Many small restaurants in the town offer Anchang’s sauce duck and cured meats.
💡 Practical Tips
Black-awning boat experience: Charged per boat, each boat seats 2-3 people, one-way trip, operating hours generally 8:00-16:30.
Best season: The strongest festive atmosphere is in the twelfth lunar month (before Chinese New Year); weather is pleasant after October.
Preparation: Comfortable shoes are recommended for the stone slab roads in the town; watch out for mosquitoes in summer.
Ticket info: The ancient town streets are free. Some small attractions can be visited with a combo ticket (about 50 RMB).