Anchang Ancient Town, Shaoxing 

Shaoxing

A Millennium Water Town of Literature, Wine & Brush

Shaoxing, formerly known as Yuezhou, is a national famous historical and cultural city with over 2,500 years of urban history. As the capital of the ancient Yue Kingdom and the cradle of Yue culture, Shaoxing perfectly intertwines misty water-town scenery with profound literary heritage. It is the hometown of the great writer Lu Xun, the birthplace of Shaoxing yellow wine, and a sacred site of Chinese calligraphy. With its dense network of rivers, ancient stone bridges, black-awning boats and white-walled houses, Shaoxing preserves the most authentic Jiangnan water-town lifestyle, earning it the reputation of being a "museum without walls."

I. Top Must-Visit Attractions

1. Lu Xun Native Place  [5A Scenic Spot]

The spiritual core of Shaoxing and the only 5A-level cultural celebrity-themed scenic spot in China centered on Lu Xun. It encompasses Baicao Garden, Sanwei Study, Lu Xun Ancestral Residence and the vibrant Fuchun Riverside old street.

Sanwei Study (Sanwei Shuwu) — Where the young Lu Xun studied 

2. East Lake (Donghu)  [Grandeur Gorge Lake]

A unique landscape known as the "No.1 Gorge Lake in Jiangnan," formed by ancient quarrying over centuries. Towering cliffs of strange rock rise vertically from the emerald water, creating a dramatic and poetic scene.

3. Shen Garden (Shenyuan)  [Romantic Heritage Garden]

A classic Jiangnan garden immortalized by the heartbreaking love story between the Song Dynasty poet Lu You and his cousin Tang Wan. The garden preserves the famous "Chaitou Feng" poems inscribed on stone tablets.

Shen's Garden (Shenyuan) — The garden of Lu You and Tang Wan's tragic love story 

4. Orchid Pavilion (Lanting)  [Calligraphy Sacred Land]

The legendary site where Wang Xizhi, the "Sage of Calligraphy," composed the "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Poems." Surrounded by bamboo groves and flowing streams, this serene garden recreates the famous "flowing-cup gathering" of 353 CE.

5. Keyan Scenic Area  [Stone & Buddha Wonder]

A magnificent scenic area combining ancient quarrying relics, stone carvings and natural landscapes. The iconic "Cloud Bone" rock pillar and the Tang Dynasty Maitreya Buddha cliff carving are highlights.

6. Anchang Ancient Town  [Authentic Water Town]

A well-preserved millennium-old water town that retains its original Ming and Qing dynasty charm. Famous for its traditional cured meat hung along the streets during winter.

Shusheng Cultural Street — Preserving the literary atmosphere of old Shaoxing 

II. Unique Urban Culture

1. Yue Culture & Ancient Kingdom Heritage

As the capital of the ancient Yue Kingdom, Shaoxing carries the indomitable spirit of King Goujian's legendary perseverance.

2. Shaoxing Yellow Wine Culture

Shaoxing is the undisputed capital of Chinese yellow wine (huangjiu), with a brewing tradition spanning over 2,500 years.

Black-awning boat (Wupeng Chuan) — The iconic vessel of Shaoxing waterways

3. Lu Xun & Modern Literary Heritage

As the hometown of Lu Xun, Shaoxing is a city where words have shaped the national soul. The settings of his classic works blur the line between literature and reality.

4. Calligraphy & Orchid Pavilion Tradition

The Orchid Pavilion gathering of 353 CE established Shaoxing as the eternal capital of Chinese calligraphy.

5. Water-Town Opera & Folk Arts

Shaoxing opera (Yueju) originated here and is characterized by its melodious, lyrical style performed entirely by female artists.

III. Local Special Cuisine

Shaoxing cuisine is renowned for its distinctive use of yellow wine, fermented ingredients and river-fresh produce. The flavors are rich, savory and deeply aromatic.

Stinky Mandarin Fish (Chou Guiyu)

Fermented in a special brine and then pan-fried with chili sauce — a bold delicacy that Lu Xun himself loved.

Yellow Wine Braised Pork

Pork belly slow-cooked in aged Shaoxing yellow wine until meltingly tender, with a deep amber glaze.

Shaoxing Drunken Chicken

Free-range chicken marinated in Shaoxing yellow wine and aromatic spices, served cold.

Fennel Beans (Hui Xiang Dou)

The iconic snack immortalized by Lu Xun's character Kong Yiji, best enjoyed with warm yellow wine.

Anchang Cured Sausage (La Chang)

Handmade pork sausages air-cured along the riverside in winter — a signature taste of Anchang Ancient Town.

IV. City Summary

Shaoxing is a living poem where every stone bridge, every cup of yellow wine and every line of calligraphy tells a story spanning millennia. From the ancient Yue Kingdom's martial spirit to Lu Xun's literary revolution, from the Orchid Pavilion's calligraphy legacy to the misty canals of Anchang, Shaoxing embodies the very soul of Jiangnan culture. It is a city where the past is not preserved behind glass but lived daily — in the aroma of simmering wine, the rhythm of boat oars and the ink of a calligrapher's brush.