Shaoxing

Shaoxing

  is well known for its representative waterside scenery in Yangtze South. Although there's no famous mountain or great river, there are

Jianhu Lake and Kuaiji Shan.

 

Wupeng Boat (little sampans with black canopy), Wuzhan hat, Meigancai pickle, rice wine, all these things together are Shaoxing. Countless great people were from here, from Dayu of high antiquity, one of the Four Beauties Xishi in Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods of China, Lu You (one of the leading poets in Song Dynasty) to Lu Xun and the Prime Minister Zhou Enlai.

You may go back to the village to watch She Xi (folk opera) ; you may enter Xianheng Jiudian (tavern), taste the authentic Huixiangdou (broad beans with substances that impart flavor), in the mean time sip a little bit the aromatic rice wine which has a lingering aftertaste that can be hardly forgotten ever since. Do in Rome as the Romans do. You may also try some smelly tofu. Plug your nose and take a bite. It tastes unique - in this way, you may understand what a nice and beautiful life Shaoxing people are leading. 

The weather is mild and the annual mean temperature is about 16 degrees Celsius. It's suitable for travel all the year round while the best time shall be summer and autumn. From March to April, with peach trees in blossom in Hongshan Hill, it's a golden time for visitors. The high water period during May to October will be the best choice if you'd like to visit the scenic spots around Shaoxing.

Shaoxing is a paradise for shopping.

And also, there is the biggest pearl market in Zhuji city, the home town of the famous beauty, Xishi. During the period of Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods of China, the girl who was from a small village in Yue state (Zhuji city now). At that time, her country was in danger for another much stronger state called Wu was going to attack. By force of the urgent situation, she was sent to Wu as a gift and married the king. During the following years, she captivated the king by her fellowless beauty and finally, she helped her country defeat Wu State and her country survived. So, Xishi became Helen of Troy to Wu State ; while to her homeland Yue, she was a real patriot.

Well, that's a wonderful story. Other places of interest are a lot : East Lake, Lu Xun Memorial, San Wei Shu Wu (former name of school), Ke Yan, Hongshan, Da Yu Mausoleum, Lan Ting (pavilion), Huiji Shan...wow, too many to name them all.

All in a word, if you are fond of travel as well as legends and stories, come here then.