The best way to experience Shaoxing is to clear your mind.

Just walk along those polished bluestone paths,

and the soles of your feet will tell you

what a thousand years feels like.

To soak up the authentic charm of the old city,

strolling is the only right answer.

Start at Lu Xun's Hometown,

follow a citywalk route through the old town,

and spend a day

tracing Shaoxing's cultural heritage and waterways.

Push open the wooden door of Sanwei Study,

and the rustic hall and study

come into view.

The desk Lu Xun once used

sits quietly on display,

and you can almost picture

that young boy

hunched over it, studying hard.

Tucked deep in the old town's lanes

among gray tiles and white walls,

Sanwei Study is steeped in the fragrance of books and time.

Don't miss Hundred-Plant Garden either.

No need to mention

the emerald vegetable plots,

the smooth stone well curb,

the tall soapberry trees,

or the purplish-red mulberries.

Once you stand on this

childhood ground,

you'll see that

Lu Xun's words were no exaggeration.

About 250 meters east of Lu Xun's Hometown,

Shen Garden appears.

Shen Garden was a private garden of the Shen family from the Southern Song Dynasty,

a Song-style garden.

It may not be as beautiful as the gardens of Suzhou,

but its rockeries, waterside pavilions, and terraces

complement each other perfectly.

Inside, Duanyun Rock,

the Phoenix Hairpin Stele,

and the Lu You Memorial Hall

piece together a love story.

Standing before the Phoenix Hairpin Stele,

the two heartbreaking poems by Lu You and Tang Wan

seem to weep from the stone.

This small garden

holds 800 years of poetry and sorrow

because of one lingering romance.

Leaving Shen Garden,

we continue east.

Shaoxing is known as the "town of ten thousand bridges,"

and Bazi Bridge

is one you must see.

Built during the Southern Song Dynasty, this stone bridge

looks unremarkable—

just over 20 meters long—

but its layout forms the shape of the Chinese character "ba" (eight).

The main span runs north-south,

with ramps descending at both east and west ends,

and the southern side splits into two further ramps.

Even better,

beneath the two southern ramps

are arched openings,

letting pedestrians and carts above

pass without disturbing the boats below.

If you have time,

follow your map to Cangqiao Straight Street—

you can't miss it.

This 1.5-km ancient lane

isn't overly long,

but it's not short either,

growing alongside the canal, homes,

and neighborhoods.

The street is filled with late Qing and early Republican-era architecture,

blending the gentle charm of a Jiangnan water town

with the earthy vibe of old Shaoxing.

If you're also looking for a way

to savor Shaoxing slowly,

start with a citywalk.