Holiday in Shaoxing

About Shaoxing

Shaoxing is one of the most historic cities in eastern China, located in Zhejiang Province, just 60 km east of Hangzhou. The city is famous for its rice wine, its canal landscape, and as the hometown of some of the most significant Chinese writers and thinkers. Shaoxing is often referred to as the Venice of the East: A network of historic canals runs through the old town, lined with whitewashed houses with black roof tiles. Stone bridges from various dynasties span the waterways — the city has over 10,000 bridges, including the famous Bazi Bridge from the Song Dynasty. Lu Xun, the father of modern Chinese literature, was born in Shaoxing in 1881. His birthplace, the former school, and the places described in his works can be visited. The Lu Xun Memorial Park is one of the most visited literary memorials in China. Shaoxing rice wine (Shaoxing Jiu) is the most famous rice wine in China, with over 2,500 years of brewing tradition. The rice wine museum and historical breweries offer tastings and insights into the production process. The wine is used both as a beverage and as an essential ingredient in Chinese cuisine. The Lanting Pavilion (Orchid Pavilion) is a historic garden where the famous calligrapher Wang Xizhi wrote the Orchid Pavilion Preface in 353 AD — one of the most significant works of Chinese calligraphy. The legacy of calligraphy history is alive here.