Three-day in-depth tour of Shaoxing | From ancient calligraphy and painting to fireworks in the waterside village

📅 Day 1: Shumo Ancient Alley and the Millennium City Morning: The hometown of the sage of calligraphy Secret Realm of Calligraphy: Strolling through the hometown of Wang Xizhi, you will see bluestone pavements connecting ancient sites such as the Tishan Bridge and the Ink Pond, and calligraphy elements can be seen everywhere on the walls. It is recommended to arrive before 8 am to avoid the crowds and take photos of the reflections in the windows of the "Grandpa Bookstore" and occasionally encounter a Jiangnan painting of rowing boats passing through the Tishan Bridge. Handcraft experience: Try to make a copy of the "Lanting Preface" in the handcraft workshop next to Cai Yuanpei's former residence and take away a memory of calligraphy. Noon: Lunch at Baji Bridge Fireworks in the Water Village: Try the authentic Shaoxing three fresh dishes and braised pork with preserved vegetables and rice at "Aqiu Shiwantou" in Qiaotou. After the meal, drink rice wine and milk tea under the century-old camphor tree and experience the slow time of "bridge leaning against the water, water surrounding the house". Afternoon: Explore Cangqiao Street Fun in the Ancient Street: Walk through Cangqiao Zhi Street, which is lined with shops from the Ming and Qing dynasties. You must try the "Changqing Temple Stinky Tofu" (crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside), check in the Qingteng-themed coffee at the Xu Wei Art Museum, and wait for a sunset on the terrace of "Six Days Coffee" in the evening. Evening: Climbing in Fushan Park Panoramic view of the ancient city: Climb the Feiyi Tower to overlook the whole picture of Shaoxing and capture the moment when the sunset turns Yuewang Terrace into gold. Walking down the mountain along the circular trail, you may come across locals taking a stroll and playing with birds. Recommended overnight stay: Shaoxing Dayu Kaiyuan Guantang, a resort transformed from an ancient village. The single-family villas include private hot springs. You can listen to frog croaking and watch the stars at night, and see white walls and black tiles when you open the window in the morning. 📅 Day 2: Cultural pilgrimage and beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains Morning: Explore the Mausoleum of Yu the Great Ancestor of the Chinese nation: Pay homage to Dayu's Mausoleum at the foot of Kuaiji Mountain, walk along the sacred path to experience the flood control spirit of "passing by your home three times without entering", and climb up to the Jieyu Square to overlook the mountain mist. Cultural Easter Eggs: Participate in the ancient rubbing activities in the scenic area and make Dayu totem souvenirs by yourself. Noon: Immerse yourself in Lu Xun’s hometown The textbook reappears: Walk through the vegetable patch in Baicao Garden and the "Zao" table in Sanwei Book House, order a dish of fennel beans and Taidiao wine at the "Xianheng Hotel", and experience the literary interest of Kong Yiji. Cultural and creative collection: Buy black felt hat bookmarks and community opera prints at the "Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk" store next to the Lu Xun Memorial Hall. Afternoon: The Secret Place of 犭茶湖 🈶The beauty of nature: Drive 20 minutes to the pristine lake, stroll along the 2.5-kilometer ancient towpath, feel the lake breeze, and occasionally encounter egrets flying among the reeds. It is recommended to wear Hanfu or a plain long skirt to take pictures with ink painting style. Evening: Boating on East Lake Landscape bonsai: Take a black-sailed boat to pass through Taogong Cave and Xiantao Cave, where the moss on the cliff and the clear water complement each other. The boatmen will sing Yue Opera tunes, and capture the "One Line Sky" light waterfall as the setting sun passes through the stone bridge. 📅 Day 3: Lanting Gathering and the Relics of the Ancient Town Morning: Lanting Elegance Qushui Liushang: Experience Wang Xizhi's "elegant gathering" at Lanting Pavilion amidst the mountains, watch the big white geese bending their necks to play in the water by the goose pond, and copy the inscription of "Lanting Preface" on the stele. Tea break in the bamboo forest: At the Youjun Tea Garden in the scenic area, you can taste Lanting snow chrysanthemums, eat mugwort glutinous rice cakes, and listen to guqin performances. Noon: A feast in Anchang Ancient Town A feast of soy sauce flavor: stroll along the river lined with sausages, watch thousands of soy sauce vats being dried in the "Renchang Soy Sauce Garden", and must-try soy sauce braised meat and soy sauce quail. I recommend the steamed river eel with pickled mustard greens from Guzhen Restaurant, served with a pot of five-year-old wine. Souvenir shopping: buy handmade soy sauce and sugar, and experience the Wupeng boat trading scene at the "floating market". Easter egg before returning: If you have enough time, take a detour to the "Master's House" to listen to a story about the wisdom of a Shaoxing master, which will put a cultural end to your journey. 🌟 Special experiences and tips 1. Photography Tips: The Tishan Bridge in the hometown of the Sage of Calligraphy was photographed with a wide-angle lens from a low position, including the stone bridge, the black-sailed boats and the tower in the distance; After 4 p.m., the light at 㹧犭茶湖 becomes soft, and the red coat and the gray-white towpath create a visual impact. 2. Peak shifting suggestions: Lu Xun's hometown is crowded after 10:00 on weekends, so it is recommended to enter the park at 7:30 on weekdays; Anchang Ancient Town is most charming when the lanterns are lit in the evening. You can adjust your itinerary to arrive in the afternoon of the third day. 3. Local cuisine: Recommended supper: "Aguo Congee Shop" on Fushan Heng Street, shrimp oil chicken congee with pickled radish; Dessert lovers should not miss the "Granny Gao's Creamy Pancake", which has the aroma of egg and milk mixed with a crispy caramel shell. From the scent of ink in the hometown of the Sage of Calligraphy to the aroma of sauce in Anchang Ancient Town, from the black-sailed boats rowing in East Lake to the towpath stroll in the tea lake, this route connects the literati spirit and water town soul of Shaoxing in 72 hours. Every blue brick is engraved with thousands of years of cultural heritage, and every wisp of tea fragrance is imbued with the temperament of the Jiangnan region.