Walk along this ancient towpath to experience the real Shaoxing!

The ancient towpath is located along the Shaoxing section of the Zhejiang East Canal in Zhejiang Province. It runs east to west through the whole of Shaoxing, stretching for more than 40 km. It was used by ancient people to tow boats. The ancient towpath has been destroyed and rebuilt many times throughout history. The central section of the ancient towpath that remains today is between Keqiao and Nanqianqing, which is 7 km long and 1.5–2 m wide. Many ancient bridges are still preserved on the ancient towpath, including Yinyu Bridge, Taiping Bridge, Yuzhu Bridge, Ban Bridge, Xingyi Bridge, and Qingjiang Bridge. 💞The ancient towpath in Shaoxing is also known as "Xiantang," "Yuandaotang," and "Xiandaqiao." It was first built in the 10th year of the Yuanhe period of Emperor Xianzong of the Tang Dynasty (815). It was built along the Xiao, Shao, and Yu Canals, running east to west through the whole of Shaoxing, stretching for more than 40 km. It runs parallel to the Hangzhou-Ningbo Railway and Highway and was used by ancient people to tow boats and as a windbreak. ☀Transportation: You can drive to the southwest of the intersection of Xiaozuo Road and Jianhu Road in Keqiao District, Shaoxing City. There are parking areas nearby, but parking spaces may be limited on holidays. Alternatively, you can take bus No. 5 or 88 from downtown Shaoxing to Keqiao, and then walk to the ancient towpath. 🌟Tour route: It is recommended to enter from the entrance near the intersection of Xiaozuo Road and Jianhu Road, admire the towpath with water on one side, and then walk to the area with water on both sides to experience the unique scenery of the "white jade long embankment." You will pass by ancient bridges such as Yinyu Bridge and Taiping Bridge, where you can stop and admire the view. ☀Best time to visit: The best time to visit the ancient towpath is in spring and autumn when the weather is pleasant. In spring, everything comes back to life, and the vegetation on both sides of the towpath is lush. In autumn, the weather is cool, and the sky is blue, making it a great time to take beautiful photos. 🍵Food recommendations: Shaoxing is the hometown of yellow rice wine. After your visit, you can try authentic Shaoxing yellow rice wine, as well as derivative products such as yellow rice wine milk tea and yellow rice wine popsicles. In addition, traditional Shaoxing delicacies such as stinky tofu, braised pork with preserved vegetables, and shrimp in wine sauce are also worth trying. 💢Notes: Some sections of the ancient towpath are narrow and have no guardrails on either side, so be careful when walking. In summer, the weather is hot, so take sun protection and heatstroke prevention measures. In winter, the temperature is low, so keep warm.