Shaoxing Old Street

绍兴老街

Shaoxing has preserved several old streets, which are full of water town characteristics and 2,500 years of history and cultural heritage.
The park focuses on traditional dwellings and original ecological life, and consists of river channels, ancient bridges, dwellings, and stone roads.
There are many traditional shops and restaurants on both sides of the street, as well as Yueyi Museum, Huangjiu Wine House, drama museum and calligraphy and painting museum, etc., which allow people to learn more about Shaoxing's customs and habits.

Attractions Location: 120 meters north of the intersection of Baiya Lane and Xiaochanfa Lane, Yuecheng District, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province

Opening hours:
All day

Transportation:
Take the bus to Shaoxing Grand Theater Station or City Square Station, then walk to the destination.

Time reference: 1-3 hours


Recommended itinerary for Shaoxing Old Street tours

Day 1: Arrival in Shaoxing & Initial Exploration

Begin your journey by immersing yourself in the charm of Shaoxing's ancient streets and waterways.

  • Morning: Arrive at Hangzhou East Railway Station or Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport.
  • Transportation: Take a high-speed train to Shaoxing North Railway Station (approximately 1 hour). From there, transfer to a local bus or taxi to reach your accommodation in Shaoxing (approximately 20–30 minutes).
  • Afternoon: Check-in at your hotel and have lunch at a local restaurant.
  • Evening: Stroll along the ancient streets of Shaoxing, including the famous "Bazi Bridge" and "Cangqiaozhi Street," to experience the city's historical ambiance.

Accommodation/Food: Stay at a riverside guesthouse or boutique hotel in Shaoxing. For dining, try local specialties such as "Shaoxing Smoked Fish" and "Steamed Dumplings."

Souvenirs: Hand-painted fans, traditional silk scarves, and local handicrafts.


Day 2: Visit to Shaoxing Calligraphy Sage's Hometown Scenic Area

Delve deeper into Shaoxing's cultural heritage by visiting the Calligraphy Sage's Hometown Scenic Area.

  • Morning: Visit the Calligraphy Sage's Hometown Scenic Area, dedicated to Wang Xizhi, the "Sage of Calligraphy." Explore the Ink Pool and Goose Pond, and learn about the history of Chinese calligraphy.
  • Afternoon: Visit the nearby "Shen Garden," associated with the poet Lu You and his love for his first wife Tang Wan.
  • Evening: Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony at a local teahouse and watch a performance of "Shadow Puppetry."

Accommodation/Food: Return to your hotel. For dinner, savor "Shaoxing Braised Pork" and "Lotus Root Soup."

Souvenirs: Shadow puppets, traditional tea sets, and local calligraphy works.


Day 3: Visit to Lanting Scenic Area

Explore the Lanting Scenic Area, famous for Wang Xizhi's "Lanting Preface."

  • Morning: Take a bus or taxi to Lanting Scenic Area (approximately 1 hour).
  • Visit: Explore attractions such as the Goose Pond, Liushang Pavilion, and Imperial Stele Pavilion, where tourists can experience the charm of calligraphy culture.
  • Afternoon: Enjoy a leisurely walk around the scenic area and take photographs of the beautiful landscapes.
  • Evening: Return to Shaoxing (approximately 1 hour).

Accommodation/Food: Stay at your hotel in Shaoxing. For dinner, try "Lanting Fish Soup" and "Steamed Tofu."

Souvenirs: Lanting-themed calligraphy sets, traditional inkstones, and local snacks.


Day 4: Visit to Anchang Ancient Town

Experience the traditional architecture and culture of Anchang Ancient Town.

  • Morning: Take a bus or taxi to Anchang Ancient Town (approximately 1 hour).
  • Visit: Explore the ancient town's well-preserved buildings, traditional workshops, and local markets.
  • Afternoon: Participate in a hands-on workshop to learn traditional crafts such as silk weaving or paper cutting.
  • Evening: Enjoy a traditional dinner at a local restaurant in Anchang.

Accommodation/Food: Stay at a guesthouse in Anchang. For dinner, try local specialties such as "Anchang Smoked Duck" and "Steamed Buns."

Souvenirs: Handwoven silk products, traditional paper-cut art, and local snacks.


Day 5: Visit to Lu Xun Native Place

Explore the birthplace and childhood home of the famous writer Lu Xun.

  • Morning: Visit the Lu Xun Native Place, including his former residences, Baicao Garden, Sanwei Study Room, and other historical sites.
  • Afternoon: Explore the Lu Xun Memorial Museum to learn more about his life and works.
  • Evening: Enjoy a traditional dinner at a local restaurant in Shaoxing.

Accommodation/Food: Return to your hotel in Shaoxing. For dinner, try "Lu Xun's Favorite Dishes" and "Shaoxing Wine Chicken."

Souvenirs: Lu Xun-themed books, calligraphy sets, and local snacks.


Day 6: Visit to Keyan Scenic Area

Explore the natural beauty and historical sites of Keyan Scenic Area.

  • Morning: Take a bus or taxi to Keyan Scenic Area (approximately 1 hour).
  • Visit: Explore attractions such as the Tiangong Buddha, Yungu, and the ancient quarry sites.
  • Afternoon: Take a boat ride on Jianhu Lake and visit Lu Town to experience the local culture.
  • Evening: Return to Shaoxing (approximately 1 hour).

Accommodation/Food: Stay at your hotel in Shaoxing. For dinner, try "Keyan Fish Soup" and "Steamed Dumplings."

Souvenirs: Stone carvings, traditional calligraphy sets, and local snacks.


Day 7: Departure

Conclude your journey with a final exploration of Shaoxing before departing.

  • Morning: Visit the Cao'e Temple, built to honor Cao E, a young girl who was drowned when she tried to save her father in an act of filial piety.
  • Afternoon: Enjoy a farewell lunch at a local restaurant in Shaoxing.
  • Evening: Depart from Shaoxing to your next destination.

Accommodation/Food: Depending on your departure time, have a meal at your accommodation or a nearby restaurant.

Souvenirs: Local snacks, handicrafts, and Zhejiang-themed memorabilia.


User Reviews

By kikyou |

Walking on the crowded old streets, sightseeing aimlessly, leaving behind all distractions to better feel and understand every landscape, and learn to feel quiet in the chaos.

I took a rickshaw and felt that it was not easy for the old driver.

Friends who love rice wine can enjoy it here. Xiangxue is the sweetest, followed by Huadiao, and finally the finale is Nv'erhong. You can try it, it's delicious~

There are many places selling alcohol here, and you can have the alcohol delivered directly to your home, which is very convenient.

By It may rain |

I have a very good impression of Shaoxing. Slow down and feel the simplicity and comfort of the Jiangnan town.

By bingmenger |

Crowded with people, commercial development leads to poor hygiene and nothing good to eat

By A harmonious family brings prosperity |

I haven't been to Shaoxing for sixteen years! It's a place that brings me both joy and sadness. More than a decade has passed... Now I want to go back to Shaoxing the most, to relive the past. All my beautiful memories are in Shaoxing. This photo was taken in 2001 at the Shaoxing Railway Station Square. Alas! Time is like a song.

By Doudoudoudoudou |

Shaoxing Old Street is not bad compared to the new one. It has been renovated and has a clear feeling. It is very good and can be a pedestrian street.

By DrZou |

Enjoy a bowl of rice wine, stroll through the old streets, and ride a black-sail boat. This is Shaoxing.

By Andy.Bohu.Tang |

Shaoxing Old Street is crowded with tourists and has many restaurants and delicious food.

By Eagle |

In a mature scenic spot, there are role-playing time-travel characters, and you can bring some rose fermented bean curd.

By Emily Zhuo |

Walking into the old street, it feels like walking into the rich history of Shaoxing City. No matter how the world changes, only the old houses with white walls and black tiles and the bluestone roads are still waiting for the next passerby.

By Tamama |

It is a place with rich historical and cultural heritage, and I hope it can be preserved forever.

By Halada |

If you want to see the original style of Shaoxing Old Street, I strongly recommend the area around Xiegong Bridge to Xixiao Road, and the area around Guangning Bridge to Bazi Bridge. It is authentic and not commercialized, and the people along the river are ordinary residents. Don't go to Anchang Ancient Town

By Ordinary life |

Shaoxing has preserved several old streets, which are full of water town characteristics and 2,500 years of history and cultural heritage.

The park focuses on traditional dwellings and original ecological life, and consists of river channels, ancient bridges, dwellings, and stone roads.

There are many traditional shops and restaurants on both sides of the street, as well as Yueyi Museum, Huangjiu Wine House, drama museum and calligraphy and painting museum, etc., which allow people to learn more about Shaoxing's customs and habits.

By Angola |

My destination was Shaoxing Old Street, long since eclipsed by skyscrapers. Arriving so early, there was no bustling activity; I could only quietly admire the picturesque landscape of a century ago. There were also early-bird tourists, looking around, as if searching for the memories described by Lu Xun. Teahouses in the morning evoke a sense of tranquility. Suddenly, I remembered the line "warm a bowl of wine and two ounces of fennel beans." Marinated fish and meat hung outside to dry. The local flavor permeated the wisdom of food preservation in an era before electricity. The sign of a wine shop evoked a desire to find the Xianheng Hotel. The bluestone slabs of the bridge spoke of centuries of memories. Air conditioning has become a symbol of the old street today. Electric scooters, like a modern symbol, demarcate the distance between past and present. The river in front of the door remains a popular source of water for washing and rinsing. This tranquil water town, like every city, has cleaners, the difference being that they clean the river surface with boats. Small bridges, flowing water, wine shops, and teahouses remain the most relatable connections to homesickness.

By nine o'clock |

After many renovations, the old street has lost its original flavor and is now a check-in point for tourists.

By The affection of green leaves for roots |

In summary, Shaoxing Old Street is still relatively well preserved. Young literary and artistic people can still consider it. Friends who like Jiangnan water towns are also a good choice to come to Shaoxing. There are small bridges, flowing water, houses and black-sailed boats everywhere, which is very charming.

By Yang Dazhuang |

There are also the most ocarina performances in Shaoxing Old Street. A girl dressed in ancient costume plays the ocarina while covering her face with her hands to avoid tourists taking pictures. The song she plays is all "Myth".

By Roger Lin |

Shaoxing Old Street is lined with original residents on both sides, which truly reflects the characteristics of Shaoxing.

By Travelers Without Borders |

It is a very small street that sells the goods commonly sold in scenic spots. Among them, you can still find things that belong to Shaoxing.

By Sophie |

Take a stroll along the old streets of Shaoxing, where the streets follow the river and the houses are beside the water. You can always see Shaoxing people peeling wontons while you move a small stool to make wontons in front of your house.

By Walking Wind |

The scenery is as its name suggests, it's worth the trip, very nice!

By Tiramisu Rabbit_Xixi |

It just rained a little, and the Shaoxing Old Street in the early morning was quiet, full of oxygen, and very comfortable. ~ We two were the first group~~

By Tanggu©Grand Commander |

It has a sense of age. Walking in the old streets gives you a feeling of traveling through time. Then have a jar of Shaoxing rice wine, it is so beautiful.

By Zhao Huoding |

The old street is the symbol of Shaoxing, with narrow alleys, old stone roads, gurgling bridges and flowing water, and occasionally black-sailed boats floating on the water.

By |

There are a lot of food here, and it is a place that backpackers cannot miss!

By Don't be a small fry |

It is recommended to stay in the area of Huanshan Road/Shaoxing Old Street, where there are many folk inns with a strong Jiangnan flavor. The conditions are not particularly good, but the basic needs of traveling are met.

By Amoer |

I visited the old street near Cangqiaozhi Street, which was very original, simple and quiet.

By heroed |

Zhi Street is Shaoxing Old Street, which is mostly lined with modern teahouses, clothing stores, and restaurants. It's a good place to stroll around, and the dining prices are not high. At the entrance of the old street is the City Square and Shaoxing Theater.

By Heart is far away |

I have always been fond of Shaoxing, probably because I was deeply influenced by Mr. Lu Xun.

By clover |

I don’t know why Lu Xun’s former residence is not included. There is now a statue at Caishikou where Qiu Jin died. People come and go every day. How many of them remember Lu Xun’s "Medicine"?

By dawn |

You can see actors dressed up as various characters. Among them, there is an actor who plays Ah Q. He looks very similar to the real Ah Q and left a deep impression on us. Many people are willing to take photos with him.

By Kumamoto |

I have a good impression of Shaoxing. The preservation of its ancient culture is quite good...

By true0754 |

Shaoxing, Zhejiang, has the characteristics of a water town. I had a quick visit there and it gave me a pretty good feeling. It is a little bit commercialized, but much better than many other places.

By You don't |

I have always loved Shaoxing. Maybe it was because of the profound influence of Mr. Lu Xun. I feel that Shaoxing is like my childhood.

By FzMr_Liu |

The commercial district imitates the Jiangnan ancient street, which is purely for the needs of business.

By Stormy weather |

Cangqiao Zhi Street is located within the Yuewangcheng Historic District, on the southeastern foot of Wolong Mountain in downtown Shaoxing. The street's center runs along the Huanshan River, stretching from Shengli West Road in the north to Luxun West Road in the south, for a total length of 1.5 kilometers. This historic and cultural street features the style of an ancient city, traditional dwellings, and pristine living. Cangqiao Zhi Street has also received the United Nations Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Award, which hailed it as a "living showcase of Chinese heritage." The street primarily consists of a river, an ancient bridge, residential buildings, and stone-paved roads.

By Black Horse |

This is the most lifelike and Shaoxing old street full of ancient charm.

By color |

There is an old street in Hangzhou called Shaoxing Old Street. It is a good place for cultural old streets.

By Tang Jia San Shao |

A representative work of Jiangnan Water Village, you can get fennel beans at Xianheng Hotel

By Small words |

The Old Street is the symbol of Shaoxing, with narrow alleys, old stone roads, gurgling bridges and flowing water, and occasionally black-sailed boats floating on the water.

The old streets of Shaoxing are like apricot-yellow aged wine, full of ancient charm and profound meaning.

By Candy |

Cangqiao Street tells the history of Shaoxing for more than 2,500 years and is known as the "museum without walls."

By Mr. Chen |

With pink walls and black tiles, a quiet and elegant atmosphere of a water town hits you in the face. The lifestyle and atmosphere permeating the old streets of Shaoxing are still so simple and friendly.

By sweet lazy bear |

It's quite lively. It has the characteristics of that time. You can eat a lot of things.

By A Thousand Miles Journey~~~HJ |

There are many shops selling tourist souvenirs on Shaoxing Old Street.

By Dancing little fox |

What a rip-off! I skipped Xixi Wetland and the Broken Bridge and followed the broken Baidu navigation on China-TravelNote from Xiaoshan City to this Shaoxing Old Street. The address was completely wrong! It was wrong! It was wrong! It was wrong! The broken navigation took us to a suburb of Hangzhou, Yu'an District! I was completely wasted! Has anyone complained to China-TravelNote?

By wcjljh |

Located in the urban area of Shaoxing, it is inhabited and retains the ancient folk customs.

By Seven |

The food is good, but don't try the food that is not well cooked, such as drunken crab, haha

By Ren Aiyue Wuhen |

It is mainly around Cangqiaozhi Street, including Lushan's hometown. Anchang is also an ancient town, but it is not called Old Street.

By Tao Zitingting |

It feels similar to the old streets and ancient towns in other places. There is nothing new. If you like this feeling, you can go for a walk.

By Melancholic Cricket |

How come I ended up at my grandmother's house in Qiaosi, Yuhang?

By sll |

It's a rising star, but it has Zhejiang characteristics and there are many local specialties to buy. It's nice to go shopping when you have free time.

By hanki yip |

Rubbish software, the address is completely wrong, it is not a piece of shit

By Rock 129 |

Since I am not particularly interested in cultural attractions, I think it is just a little unique.

By Kevin |

The old street is mainly composed of rivers, ancient bridges, houses, stone roads and other parts.

By Reomoo |

A street with an ancient flavor, nice to stroll around

By Yoling116 |

I went there with a tour group when I was in high school. I felt that Shaoxing had beautiful scenery and Lu Xun's former residence was worth seeing. However, the roadside was not very clean and tidy, probably because there were too many tourists. I wonder if it has improved after so long!

By mariaick |

Very antique, but the surrounding environment is average

By Jenna |

The place that appeared in the textbook is relatively quiet and comfortable

By |

Shaoxing Old Street is nice, but it has a slightly more modern feel. It would be better if it could be restrained a little.

By You lead the way, I'll follow |

It has that kind of antique feeling, it is recommended to go around

By green tea |

Kong Yiji and fennel beans, the content repeated in the primary school Chinese textbook comes to mind.

By Chen Feiyang |

It is a very distinctive old street, very quaint and lively.

By frankbest |

It has retained some of the ancient features. If you have time, you can go for a walk, it is quite interesting.

By Earthly Grass |

I took a rickshaw to visit Shaoxing Old Street, which was nice and well preserved.

By Simple§Simple§ |

Shaoxing is a leisurely little city where you can wander around freely and at ease.

By Teresa Tsai |

Although he is a madman, his home is very warm and he even has his own small vegetable garden.

By liutiaoer |

I've long wanted to visit Shaoxing, and this year I finally made the trip. Shaoxing left a very positive impression on me. The old streets, in particular, are so well-preserved and vibrant, not just for show like some preserved villages and towns. It's truly remarkable. It reflects the city's rich history and profound cultural heritage, as well as the confidence and pride of its administrators and residents.

By pig |

It's free, this place is really nice, but now there are more and more people, I really like going there

By Zheng Fan |

Shaoxing people like the style of Shaoxing, water, bridges, black and white memories... Some old streets in Shaoxing are still relatively simple and quaint.

By Banyan Forest |

Shaoxing, the hometown of Lu Xun, is known as a water town, a bridge town, a wine town, a calligraphy town, and a hometown of famous officials. Shaoxing is considered one-tenth the beauty of Jiangnan. In Shaoxing, you can ride a Wupeng boat, taste rice wine, watch local operas, learn calligraphy, visit famous residences, and explore Shenyuan Garden at night. Felt hats are also a local specialty.

By A calm smile |

I like nostalgia.

Especially the old streets in different cities,

Stroll quietly,

You can slowly savor the memories of the past.

By Sara Jane |

I have to mention that the traffic in Shaoxing is extremely chaotic. Some intersections do not have traffic lights. I encountered speeding cars several times and was so scared that I broke out in a cold sweat.

By darling |

It's an old street, not very big. It's quite lively at night, but also quite commercial, so it's okay to go shopping on weekends.

By Yang Shao |

A historical old street, with thousands of years of stories and many ups and downs, is worth remembering and commemorating.

By Meitian |

This is a protected historical old street and also a tourist attraction in Shaoxing. There is a cruise ship pier there where you can take a black boat tour all the way to Lu Xun's hometown, Shen Garden, etc.

By Job's tears |

The historical old street is not very commercialized. It is full of stalls set up by ordinary people. I personally feel that it is better than Xitang.


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