Shaoxing

Shaoxing sits about 60 km southeast of central Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, and is one of the easiest day trips from the city, reached in as little as 20 minutes by high-speed train from Hangzhou East Railway Station, with frequent departures throughout the day. Shaoxing is one of China's oldest continuously inhabited cities, known for its network of ancient canals, arched stone bridges, and its association with writer Lu Xun and calligrapher Wang Xizhi. A typical morning after arrival is spent at Lu Xun's former residence and the adjoining Lu Xun Native Place complex, which recreates the streets and courtyards described in his stories, followed by a walk through Shen Garden, a classical garden tied to Song-dynasty poet Lu You. The afternoon can be spent wandering the old canal district near Cangqiao Street, where black-tiled houses line the water and small boats still ferry passengers, or visiting the Shaoxing Museum for local history. Shaoxing is also famous for its yellow rice wine (huangjiu), and a stop at a canal-side restaurant for local dishes such as drunken chicken or stinky tofu, paired with warmed rice wine, is a common way to end the visit. Because the train ride is short, Shaoxing works well even as a half-day trip, and it can be combined with an early return to Hangzhou for dinner if time is limited.