48-Hour Walking Tour of Shaoxing | Weekend Special Forces Style Check-in of the Ancient City's Essence and Suburban Fireworks

Shaoxing's urban area boasts a dense concentration of attractions, making it perfect for a quick two-day, one-night weekend getaway. Centered on the core area of the ancient city, the first day involves walking to connect Lu Xun's Former Residence, the Former Residence of the Calligrapher Lu Xun, Cangqiao Straight Street, and Bazhi Bridge, with an evening view of Chenyuan Garden at night. The second day includes half a day spent visiting Anchang Ancient Town, before returning in the afternoon. This route is direct and avoids repetition, ideal for young people with limited time who want to avoid a rushed experience.

Day 1 Morning: Breakfast at Lu Xun's Former Residence and Old Town

Start your day by visiting Lu Xun's Former Residence. Before the scenic area opens, grab a bowl of Ciwu noodles or some savory soy milk with fried dough sticks nearby. Lu Xun's Former Residence includes Lu Xun's ancestral home, Sanwei Study, and Baicao Garden. Advance reservations are required on the official platform, and entry is by showing your ID card. It's recommended to arrive before 8:00 AM to be among the first to enter and avoid tour groups. Highlights include the "Zao" (early morning) table in Sanwei Study and the stone well railing in Baicao Garden; a visit should take about two hours. After leaving Baicao Garden, you can stroll along Lu Xun Middle Road. Many stalls along the road sell yellow wine ice cream; buying one to eat while walking is quite refreshing.

Day 1 Lunch: Local dishes and Shaoxing wine derivatives

From Lu Xun's former residence, walk to the nearby old street. For lunch, choose a local favorite Shaoxing restaurant and order braised pork with preserved vegetables, Shaoxing drunken chicken, stinky tofu, and a bowl of rice. After lunch, buy a cup of Shaoxing rice wine milk tea or a Shaoxing rice wine popsicle to enjoy while walking. Cangqiao Straight Street is nearby, lined with houses built along the water's edge on the cobblestone street. Several handmade Shaoxing rice wine shops are hidden in the alleys; you can sample the drinks, but buying too much is not recommended. In the middle section of the straight street, there are several old traditional houses with well-preserved brick carvings on the lintels, perfect for taking photos.

Day 1 Afternoon: Hometown of the Calligrapher Sage and Eight-Character Bridge

From Cangqiao Straight Street, it's about a 15-minute walk to the former residence of the Calligrapher Sage, Wang Xizhi, and Cai Yuanpei. This area is less crowded than Lu Xun's former residence, making it more suitable for leisurely exploration. Jishan Street in the Calligrapher Sage's former residence runs along the river, with dried plums and bamboo shoots drying on the banks, creating a strong sense of local life. Afterwards, head to Bazhi Bridge, one of the oldest existing urban bridges in Shaoxing, surrounded by the vibrant atmosphere of the original inhabitants. It's recommended to walk along the river for a while and take photos of the ancient bridge and the covered boats together; the sight of boatmen rowing with their feet is unique to Shaoxing.

Day 1 Evening: Night at Shenyuan Garden or City Square

After dark, you have two options: If you want to see a performance, you can book a night show at Chenyuan Garden in advance; the lights and Yue Opera excerpts create a great atmosphere. If you don't want to spend money, you can take a walk in the city square or along the city moat to see the ancient city wall and its reflection in the lights. For dinner, have Shaoxing Three Delicacies or Braised Pork with Dried Vegetables nearby; avoid the crowds at the scenic area entrance. The fish balls, pork skin, and river shrimp in Shaoxing Three Delicacies are very fresh and go perfectly with a bowl of rice.

Day 2 Morning: Leisurely stroll through Anchang Ancient Town

Starting from the city center in the morning, you can reach Anchang Ancient Town by subway or bus, a journey of about forty minutes. Anchang is more authentic than the city's attractions, with its riverside promenade lined with sausages, soy-braised duck, and dried fish. First, stroll along the old street to see the traditional soy sauce vats at Renchang Soy Sauce Shop, then visit the Master's Mansion and Suikang Money Exchange. Take a ride on a covered boat to view the banks from the river; the boatman rows with his feet, a unique feature of Shaoxing. The covered walkways in the ancient town are very long, allowing you to stroll along the main street without an umbrella even on a rainy day.

Day 2 Noon: Local Flavors of the Ancient Town

For lunch, we found a local restaurant by the river and ordered steamed eggs with Anchang sausage, a platter of braised duck, and a bowl of Shaoxing wine. The sausages and duck here are made starting in winter, giving them a richer flavor than those in the city. After lunch, we watched a sugar-pulling performance and bought a small bag of freshly made sugar as a souvenir. There were also stalls along the river making freshly printed cakes; the warm osmanthus-flavored cakes were perfect for afternoon tea.

Day 2 Afternoon: Return Trip and Closing Remarks

Leave Anchang around 2 PM, return to the city center to collect your luggage or go directly to the high-speed rail station. If you have time, you can buy a couple of bottles of Shaoxing rice wine near Shaoxing North Station to take with you. It's not recommended to fill your itinerary completely; leave some buffer time for traffic. Shaoxing North Station is a certain distance from the city center, so allow at least 40 minutes to depart from the core area of the ancient city on your return trip.

Transportation Saving Card

Shaoxing's attractions are concentrated in the city center, so public transportation combined with shared bicycles is the best option. Many roads within the ancient city prohibit motor vehicles, making cycling more flexible than taking a taxi. For travel outside the city, the subway is the preferred choice, as the Shaoxing subway already connects to key stations such as Lu Xun's Former Residence. Purchasing a combined Shaoxing Ancient City tourist ticket is more cost-effective than buying individual tickets, and some platforms offer early bird discounts. Tourists departing from Hangzhou can take the intercity train directly to Shaoxing Station, which is cheaper than the high-speed rail. From the city center to Anchang Ancient Town, you can take the subway and connecting buses, saving significantly more than taking a taxi directly.

Packing list

For a two-day, one-night weekend trip, just bring a backpack. Essentials: ID card, power bank, collapsible water bottle, lightweight, non-slip shoes (many streets are paved), raincoat or folding umbrella. Bring a light jacket in spring, and sunscreen and a sun hat in summer. It's recommended to buy souvenirs like rice wine and sausages in the old town or at the station later, rather than carrying them around. If you plan to take a traditional wooden boat ride, choose a small bag, as space is limited on the boat.

Avoiding pitfalls while queuing

Lu Xun's Former Residence requires reservations one day in advance, otherwise it may be fully booked on weekends. Tickets for the "Night at Chenyuan" performance must be purchased online in advance; there are often long queues at the venue. Cangqiao Straight Street and the Former Residence of the Calligrapher Sage do not require tickets, but they are most crowded in the evening, so it's recommended to visit in the afternoon. Anchang Ancient Town sees an increase in tour groups after 10:00 AM on weekends, so try to arrive before 9:00 AM. Avoid the peak dining times of 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM; local restaurants have fast turnover, so arriving a little later may mean less waiting. Shared bicycles within the ancient town are easily emptied at the scenic area entrance; it's more time-efficient to find one on a side street.