Don't be fooled by travel guides in Shaoxing | A local's firsthand experience: a 3-day, 2-night trip with revisions and a list of 10 things to avoid.

I accompanied a friend from out of town on a 3-day, 2-night classic Shaoxing itinerary that I found online. The next afternoon, he asked me: Do people in Shaoxing usually not go out?

Having lived in Shaoxing for over five years and traveled there more than twenty times, I dread friends sending me links on Xiaohongshu (a Chinese social media platform) asking, "Is this itinerary reasonable?" Most travel guides treat Shaoxing like a theme park, queues like an experience, and "since we're already here" as a principle. The following revisions dismantle these time-wasting arrangements one by one.

First, don't make Lu Xun's former residence your first stop, and don't enter through the main gate.

The first stop on most popular routes is Lu Xun's Former Residence. Arriving at 9 a.m., you queue up at the main gate to take pictures of the four characters "Lu Xun's Former Residence". Locals will tell you that that time is the peak time for tour buses to unload passengers, and the traffic jam between the main entrance and Sanwei Study will be so bad that you'll question your existence.

The best way to visit is after 4:30 PM, or you can enter from the Dongchangfang direction. The three core areas – Baicao Garden, Sanwei Study, and Lu Xun Memorial Hall – can be explored in about 40 minutes. The real gem worth taking your time with is the manuscript exhibition in the memorial hall. If you have children, don't expect them to understand the word "early"; just let them look at the plants in the small garden.

Second, one can't stay at Shen Garden for an entire afternoon, and one shouldn't force their way into Cangqiao Straight Street during mealtimes.

Shen Garden is just an ordinary Jiangnan garden during the day; you can walk around it in half an hour. Instead of making a special trip to see Lu You and Tang Wan, you might as well take a look at the inscriptions along the way. Cangqiao Straight Street is more typical. All the guides say that "it's most charming to stroll around in the evening," but as a result, everyone goes there in the evening. The main street is narrow, and even electric bikes can't pass through around dinnertime.

Locals usually only walk along the western riverside section, or turn into the side alleys from Renmin Road. If you want to eat snacks, don't queue on the main street of Cangqiao Straight Street. For the same few items, walk two blocks west, and you'll find a better wok hei (wok aroma) and avoid the crowds of tourists.

Third, visit Donghu Lake according to the seasons; avoid a day trip to Anchang Ancient Town and crowding the main street.

Donghu Lake is a former quarry, characterized by its cliffs and covered boats. Visiting during the dry season in winter and spring, when the water level is low and the cliffs appear grayish, significantly diminishes the experience. The best time to visit is in May or June after the initial rains of the plum rain season, or after a summer rain when the lake is full and the mountains are lush and green.

The worst part about Anchang Ancient Town is the "day trip, only visiting the main street on the north bank." From 10 AM to 2 PM, the main street is a soy sauce duck and sausage fair, offering no glimpse into daily life. The real Anchang comes alive before 7 AM and after 4 PM, with the local rhythm of residents on the south bank, the backyards of soy sauce factories, and people washing clothes by the river. If you only have half a day, it's better to skip this and visit Keqiao Ancient Town or Xixiaolu instead.

IV. Choose between Lanting and Keyan; Doushuai Heavenly Palace can be deleted.

The most illogical part of the itinerary is cramming Lanting, Keyan, and Doushuai Palace into a three-day, two-night trip. Lanting is in the southwest suburbs, and Keyan is in the west; visiting both would mean spending two days rushing.

For families with elders or calligraphy enthusiasts, Lanting is a good choice—it's less crowded and quieter. For families with children or those who enjoy photography, Keyan is the better option; you can see only Luzhen and Jianhu Lake. Doushuai Palace is a recent marketing project; the buildings are new, there are many steps, and the cultural significance is limited. Unless you're specifically going there to pray, skipping it will save you a lot of time.

5. A "must-eat" dish that requires queuing for two hours, but even locals shake their heads in disapproval.

The popular "Shaoxing cuisine restaurants with long queues" often mentioned in travel guides are successful because of their prime locations, not because their food is irreplaceable. For dishes like braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens, Shaoxing three delicacies, and drunken chicken, local neighborhood restaurants are more reliable and don't require waiting.

Yellow wine milk tea and yellow wine popsicles are just for taking photos; one cup and one picture is enough. What's truly worth trying are yellow wine yogurt and fermented meats, but you have to go to the small shops near the market. Remember this rule: if the line is full of tourists, just walk away.

VI. Optimized version for locals: 3 days 2 nights plus 1 flexible day, this is the best way to travel.

We landed on the first evening and first strolled along the section from Bazhiqiao to the former residence of the Calligrapher Sage, watching local elderly people enjoying the cool breeze by the river. Then, we took a walk in the dark around the outskirts of Lu Xun's former residence. We ate dinner around Renmin Road, avoiding the main street of the scenic area.

On the second morning, go to either Lanting or Keyan, arriving before 10:00 AM. In the afternoon, return to the city and stroll along Fushan Mountain and the west side of Cangqiao Straight Street. In the evening, walk along Huanshan Road to Xixiaolu. On the third day, get up early and go to either Anchang or Donghu Lake, choosing one depending on the season. After lunch, go to Shaoxing Museum or Xu Wei Art Museum. Leave an hour at the end to buy Shaoxing wine and preserved vegetables at a bulk market, avoiding tourist souvenir shops.

If you have an extra day, don't go to Xi Shi's hometown in Zhuji. On a sunny day, go to the Feiyi Tower in Fushan Park for a panoramic view of the city; on a rainy day, go to Qing Teng Bookstore and Xu Wei Art Museum. Take the elderly for a walk along the Sacred Way of Dayu Mausoleum, couples go to the riverside walkway on Huancheng South Road, and families go to Jinghu Wetland or the Science and Technology Museum.

In closing: 10 things locals didn't tell you

1. Don't go to Lu Xun's former residence in the morning; 2. Don't go to Cangqiao Straight Street during mealtimes; 3. Don't just walk along the main street of Anchang Ancient Town; 4. Don't spend most of the day at East Lake during the dry season; 5. Yellow wine and milk tea are not worth the queue.

6. Don't buy too much braised duck at the scenic spot; buying it in bulk at the market is more economical. 7. Don't wear new white shoes into the old courtyard; they're slippery on the moss in the rain. 8. Don't take a black tricycle at the entrance of Lu Xun's Former Residence. 9. Don't go for a long walk at noon in summer; go out after 3 pm. 10. Don't treat Shaoxing as a one-day tour of a water town; its best things are found when you slow down.

In short, here are five points: The best food isn't at the main entrance of the scenic area; the most photogenic spot is at 6 a.m. at Bazhiqiao; rainy days are more Shaoxing than sunny days; take a covered boat on East Lake or the section near the former residence of the Calligrapher Sage; don't rush through the itinerary, follow the locals' dinner times.