Jiangnan is vast, but I have a special fondness for Shaoxing's tranquility and old-world charm

📍Shaoxing, a small Jiangnan city gently caressed by time. Without the commercial hustle of Suzhou and Hangzhou, yet brimming with character and poetry. Strolling through Shaoxing's alleys, you'll suddenly understand how "everyday life" and "literary Jiangnan" can coexist harmoniously. --- 🏮Day 1｜Stepping into Lu Xun's World 📍First stop must be [Lu Xun's Hometown], where entering feels like stepping into "From Hundred-Plant Garden to Three-Flavors Study". The entire street features black-tiled houses with blue brick walls, small bridges over flowing water, with pickled vegetables and straw mats drying by doorways, while the stone-paved paths creak beneath your feet. 📌Must-visit spots: Three-Flavors Study (don't miss the "Early" stele at the entrance) Hundred-Plant Garden (the wisteria trellis in the backyard is perfect for photos) Zhou Family Old Compound (see the layout of traditional Shaoxing residences) 📷Tip: Mornings are less crowded with perfect lighting for traditional-style photography! 🍜Lunch recommendation: At "Xianheng Hotel", try [fennel beans + yellow wine + stinky tofu] - an authentic local flavor. --- 🌊Day 2｜Gondola Ride Through Jiangnan's Old Dreams ⛵️You haven't truly visited Shaoxing without riding a black-canopied boat! 📍The [Shen Garden - East Lake] water route is the highlight. With the boatman's rhythmic oaring and the creaking sounds, passing under bridges between green trees and red-brick banks feels like gliding through a painting. 🎭East Lake also features cave waterways and cliff carvings - perfect for historical costume photography! 📌At [Shen Garden], don't miss the love story of Lu You and Tang Wan. Though small, the garden overflows with poetry. (Read the poem "Phoenix Hairpin" before taking a photo at its stele.) Evening recommendation: [Cangqiao Straight Street], where red lanterns line the entire street with teahouses, taverns, and snack stalls - extremely photogenic! --- 🏯Day 3｜Exploring Shaoxing's "Old Times" 📍[Orchid Pavilion] - Where Wang Xizhi wrote the "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection", a sacred site for literati. The serene garden with lush vegetation and bamboo groves makes you realize "floating wine cups along winding streams" wasn't just legend. 📍[King Goujian's Terrace + Yu the Great's Mausoleum] - For history lovers, these sites transport you back to the Spring and Autumn period. 🛍Don't forget souvenirs: Dried vegetable pancakes Yellow wine Fennel beans Handcrafted Huadiao wine cups (quintessential Jiangnan style) --- 🧭Practical Guide: 🚄Transport: High-speed rail to Shaoxing Station/Shaoxing North Station, ~20-30 yuan taxi to downtown 🏠Accommodation: B&Bs near Lu Xun's Hometown offer convenient walking access to attractions 💰Budget: ~1200 yuan per person, excellent value ⛅️Best season: Spring and autumn, avoid holidays for fewer crowds and better photos --- 🎯In Summary: Shaoxing has no skyscrapers or bustling commerce, She's like a pot of warm yellow wine - richer with each sip. You can wear Hanfu while garden-hopping, read Lu Xun's works, listen to oar sounds, snack on street-side stinky tofu... This is the real Jiangnan. Shaoxing Station