Highlights—Top Spots in Shaoxing
| Shaoxing, a beautiful city in the north of Zhejiang, has a rich and famed history spanning over 2,500 years. Within Shaoxing, there is the Lu Xun Native Place, Dayu Tomb, Shen Garden, East Lake and Lan Pavilion (Orchid Pavilion/Lanting). Beyond downtown Shaoxing, there are other great attractions awaiting you, such as Wuxie (Five Waterfalls) in Zhuji, and the Keyan Scenic Area in Shaoxing County. |
Lu Xun Native Place
Lu Xun, the great contemporary novelist of modern China, spent his teenage years in Shaoxing. Today, Lu Xun Native Place has been developed into a historic block depicting the traditional lifestyles in East China. The attraction represents a true feeling of Lu Xun’s life as most of the buildings mentioned in his stories can be seen. The most popular buildings and sites include the Sanwei Study, Baicao Garden, Xianheng Restaurant, and others.
Shen Garden
Shen Garden is a Chinese classical garden with a tragic love story. According to history, the great poet Lu You of the Southern Song Dynasty was forced to divorce his wife, whose name was Tang Wan. Later, the two happened to meet each other in Shen Garden and Lu You composed the famous poem “Hairpin Love” to express his sadness after the separation. When Tang Wan found the poem, she followed up with another melancholy poem and soon died in sorrow.
Lan Pavilion (Lanting or Orchid Pavilion)
Located in the southwest of Shaoxing, Lan Pavilion is well-known for the master calligrapher Wang Xizhi of the East Jin Dynasty. In 353, Wang Xizhi wrote an article called “Prologue to the Lanting Pavilion Collection”, praiseworthy in both calligraphy and literary talent. From then on, Wang Xizhi was crowned the “sage of calligraphers” and Lan Pavilion became famous. Today, Lan Pavilion has been developed into the Lan Pavilion Park which is very popular among visitors from home and abroad.
Dayu Tomb
Located four kilometers southeast of Shaoxing is the Dayu Tomb. Dayu, also known as Yu the Great, was the King of Xia Dynasty (22-16 B.C.). He is remembered for his outstanding efforts in flood control. Inside the Dayu Tomb site area, there are the Dayu Temple and Memorial Hall, as well as the Xianruo Pavilion. For 5,000 years, the Dayu Tomb has been a Mecca for people to offer sacrifices and pay respect to Yu the Great.
East Lake
East Lake is one of the Three Famous Lakes in Zhejiang, besides West Lake in Hangzhou and Nanhu in Jiaxing. Located at the eastern suburbs of Shaoxing and three kilometers from downtown Shaoxing, East Lake is an elegant scenic spot comprising lakes, mountains and stone cliff structures. What’s truly unique about East Lake is the three fascinating caves; Xiantao (fairy peach) Cave; Langba (horn) Cave; and Taogong Cave. Taking a traditional Wupeng boat tour on East Lake is the best way to take in its magnificent scenery and to experience its spectacular caves.
Keyan Scenic Area
In 2000, Keyan Scenic Resort was recognized as a “National AAAA Tourism Attraction.” Keyan Scenic Resort is located in Shaoxing County, not far from downtown, and offers a variety of charming natural scenery and cultural attractions. Keyan is a comprehensive tourist destination encompassing natural beauty, religious relics, cultural attractions and recreational facilities. Keyan is comprised of three unique and special areas, i.e. the Keyan rock structure area; Jianhu Lake; and Lu Town.
Wuxie (Five Waterfalls)
Wuxie is one of the most magnificent waterfall areas in Zhejiang. Located in Zhuji (a county-level city in Shaoxing), Wuxie is about a one-hour drive from Shaoxing. Wuxie is famous for the five connecting waterfalls, each with a unique shape. If you’d like to climb hills and experience natural beauty at its best, why not come and visit Wuxie?
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