Just back from Shaoxing, here's the honest truth! A comprehensive travel guide

🔵 Recommended Shaoxing attractions in May 🔵 Lu Xun Native Place 💸 Ticket: Free (reservation required) 🔥 Recommendations: Visit early in the morning to avoid crowds, focusing on the "Early" character desk in Sanwei Bookstore and Baicao Garden. In the evening, enjoy Shaoxing rice wine popsicles on the pedestrian street. 🕰️ Duration: 3 hours 🔵 Shen Garden 💸 Ticket: CNY 40 (CNY 80 for night tour) 🔥 Recommendations: Admire the Song Dynasty garden during the day, and watch the Yue Opera performance "Shen Garden at Night" in the evening to experience the love story of Lu You and Tang Wan. 🕰️ Duration: 2 hours 🔵 Keyan Scenic Area 💸 Ticket: CNY 115 (including Lu Town and Jian Lake cruise) 🔥 Recommendations: Take a cruise on Jian Lake, climb Yungu Stone to enjoy the spectacular scenery, and experience the water town charm described by Lu Xun in Lu Town. 🕰️ Duration: 4 hours 🔵 Anchang Ancient Town 💸 Ticket: Free (some attractions charge a fee) 🔥 Recommendations: Take a Wu Peng boat through the canals, buy Renchang soy sauce and hand-pulled white sugar, and stay overnight in the ancient town to experience the lively atmosphere. 🕰️ Duration: 3 hours 🔵 East Lake 💸 Ticket: CNY 50 (Wu Peng boat CNY 40/person) 🔥 Recommendations: Take a boat to explore Xiantao Cave and Taogong Cave, listen to the boatmen sing Shaoxing Lianhualuo, and walk along the boardwalk to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery. 🕰️ Duration: 3 hours 🔵 Orchid Pavilion 💸 Ticket: CNY 70 🔥 Recommendations: Copy the "Preface to the Poems Collected from the Orchid Pavilion," visit the Imperial Stele Pavilion (inscriptions by Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong), and experience interactive calligraphy activities. 🕰️ Duration: 2.5 hours 🔵 Cangqiao Straight Street 💸 Ticket: Free 🔥 Recommendations: Take photos of the stone-paved roads and Taimen architecture in the early morning, taste stinky tofu and cream Xiapan, and buy Shaoxing rice wine milk tea. 🕰️ Duration: 2 hours 🔵 Mount Kuaiji Scenic Area 💸 Ticket: CNY 65 🔥 Recommendations: Visit the Dayu Mausoleum, hike up the mountain for a panoramic view of Shaoxing, and visit the stone inscriptions and ancient architecture. 🕰️ Duration: 3 hours 🔵 Hometown of Wang Xizhi 💸 Ticket: Free 🔥 Recommendations: Visit Jie Zhu Temple, Bifly Alley, and Tishan Bridge, experience calligraphy culture, and taste white sugar sweet-scented osmanthus cake. 🕰️ Duration: 2 hours 🍧 Recommended Shaoxing specialty food stores in May 🍧 Xun Bao Ji Shaoxing Cuisine (Lu Xun Road Branch) 🔥 Recommendations: Drunken crab, Shaoxing Sanxian, and Shaoxing rice wine pudding are all must-try Shaoxing dishes. 📍 Address: No. 1, Lu Xun Middle Road 🍧 Kong Yiji Restaurant 🔥 Recommendations: Aniseed beans and pork belly with preserved vegetables. The restaurant has a retro-style decor and offers authentic local flavors. 📍 Address: No. 275, Jiefang South Road 🍧 Fengle Restaurant 🔥 Recommendations: White cut goose and braised pork with preserved vegetables. This is a time-honored Shaoxing restaurant. 📍 Address: No. 111, Shengli West Road, Yuecheng District 🍧 Yuexiang Wang Laohan Stinky Tofu 🔥 Recommendations: Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, stinky tofu with sweet sauce is a local favorite. 📍 Address: No. 260, Lu Xun Middle Road 🍧 Tongxin Restaurant 🔥 Recommendations: Pan-fried buns and small wontons. This is a time-honored breakfast restaurant known for its thin-skinned and juicy dumplings. 📍 Address: No. 432, Jiefang North Road 📅 5-day, 4-night Shaoxing itinerary Day 1: Exploring the ancient city culture Morning: Lu Xun Native Place (Sanwei Bookstore, Baicao Garden) → Shen Garden Afternoon: Cangqiao Straight Street (stinky tofu, Shaoxing rice wine milk tea) Evening: Shen Garden at Night Yue Opera performance Day 2: Water town experience Morning: Keyan Scenic Area (Jian Lake cruise, Lu Town) Afternoon: Anchang Ancient Town (Wu Peng boat, hand-pulled white sugar) Evening: Stay overnight in the ancient town Day 3: Nature and history Morning: East Lake (Wu Peng boat, Xiantao Cave) Afternoon: Mount Kuaiji (Dayu Mausoleum, stone inscriptions) Evening: Shaoxing banquet (high-end Shaoxing cuisine) Day 4: Calligraphy and local life Morning: Orchid Pavilion (Calligraphy Museum, Imperial Stele Pavilion) Afternoon: Hometown of Wang Xizhi (Jie Zhu Temple, Tishan Bridge) Evening: Shaoxing Xianheng Hotel (aniseed beans, Kong Yiji aniseed bean set meal) Day 5: Free time or departure Morning: Free time (recommendations: Bazi Bridge, Fushan Park) Afternoon: Departure 🌤️ Shaoxing travel tips for May Weather: The temperature in May ranges from 17-26°C (63-79°F). Wear a light jacket and sun protection clothing, and bring an umbrella. Transportation: Public buses cost CNY 2 per person. Shared bikes are available throughout the ancient city. Walking is recommended as the attractions are concentrated. Tickets: Lu Xun Native Place and the Hometown of Wang Xizhi are free. Keyan Scenic Area is CNY 115, East Lake is CNY 50, and Shen Garden is CNY 40. Food: Shaoxing rice wine popsicles and cream Xiapan are must-tries. Avoid the internet-famous "Master XX" stinky tofu. Accommodation: Homestays in Lu Xun Native Place or Cangqiao Straight Street are recommended for experiencing the water town charm. 🌸 May highlights: Cherry blossoms and rapeseed flowers are in full bloom, Wu Peng boats sway gently on the water, and the absence of summer crowds makes it a cost-effective time to visit!