Shen Garden

🌸**Shaoxing, an ancient city immersed in poetry**🌸 🎋Stepping into Shaoxing is like entering a flowing ink painting. It is a treasure of Chinese culture and a representative of the Jiangnan water towns.🎋 🏞**Recommended Attractions**: 1️⃣ **Shen Garden**: Located in the urban area of Shaoxing, it is the site of the love story between Lu You and Tang Wan. Strolling in Shen Garden, it seems that you can hear the sighs and whispers of a thousand years. 2️⃣ **Lu Xun's Hometown**: This is the hometown of the literary master Lu Xun, where you can deeply experience Lu Xun's literary world and Shaoxing's traditional culture. 3️⃣ **East Lake**: The lake and mountains reflect each other beautifully, and boating on the lake, you can enjoy the beauty of nature. 📍**Location**: Inside the urban area of Shaoxing, with convenient transportation, you can take a bus or drive there. 🕰**Travel Duration**: It is recommended to spend 2-3 days to fully experience the style of Shaoxing. 🍜**Food Recommendations**: Of course, coming to Shaoxing, how can you miss the authentic Shaoxing rice wine and delicious fennel beans?🍶🥢 📸**Photo Check-in Spots**: The pavilions and towers in Shen Garden, or the lakeside of East Lake, are both excellent spots for taking photos. Remember to wear Hanfu for a more immersive experience!📷 💡**Tips**: Shaoxing's spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons, making it a better time to visit. Also, Shaoxing's night scene is unique, so consider taking a walk at night as well.🌙 🌼Shaoxing, an ancient city full of poetry and stories, is waiting for you to discover more beauty!🌼

Shen Garden is known as the first love garden in China, famous for the two Phoenix hairpin poems. It witnessed two tragic love stories. The love between Lu You and Tang Wan, love but not get. Zhao Shicheng is a pure love warrior. Lu You is still Lu You without Tang Wan, but Zhao Shicheng lost the whole world without Tang Wan. Lu You divorced Tang Wan for his mother, while Zhao Shicheng married the divorced Tang Wan under the pressure of the entire royal family. Day and night of companionship and comfort, finally opened Tang Wan's heart, a chance encounter in Shen Garden, a Phoenix hairpin poem, locked Tang Wan's heart again. This encounter in Shen Garden completely changed the fate of the three. Tang Wan died of depression, Zhao Shicheng never married again, and died in battle. Lu You had a full house of children and grandchildren, and died of illness at the age of 80. It's better not to see each other at first sight in Shen Garden.

Located at No. 318, Lu Xun Middle Road, on the east side of Lu Xun's hometown in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, there is an ancient garden known as 'Shen Garden,' which was originally a private garden of the Shen family from the Song Dynasty. The once obscure Shen's garden became famous because of 'Chai Tou Feng,' and because of Lu You and Tang Wan. Their 'Chai Tou Feng' verses complement each other, making them rare gems within this style of poetry, and both Lu and Tang brought it to the ultimate level. The sorrowful verses of 'Chai Tou Feng' evoke sympathy, and their undying and faithful love shines through the ages, becoming a model for future generations. Shen Garden in Shaoxing is a key national cultural relic protection unit and a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The poignant and beautiful love story of Lu You and Tang Wan, a great poet of the Southern Song Dynasty who is as famous as Li Bai and Du Fu of the Tang Dynasty, took place in this old garden. The world-famous verse 'Chai Tou Feng' has since made Shen Garden renowned, attracting countless visitors. The 'Chai Tou Feng' written by Lu You and Tang Wan on the walls of Shen Garden is a classic and leading work among the ancient 'Chai Tou Feng' style of poetry. The entire verse is sorrowful and desolate, touching the hearts of readers. Lu You wrote: 'Soft hands of rouge, wine of yellow silk, the city is full of spring colors and willows by the palace walls. The east wind is harsh, joy is thin, a heart full of sorrow, years of separation. Wrong, wrong, wrong...' Tang Wan responded: 'The world's affection is thin, people's hearts are harsh, rain sends dusk flowers falling easily. Morning wind dries, tear stains remain. Wishing to write down my feelings, I speak alone by the slanting rail. Difficult, difficult, difficult...'

In the 5th year of traveling, I visited Shaoxing 7 times, averaging once or twice a year. I love the Jiangnan region, but I love Shaoxing even more. I've always been fond of Jiangnan since I was young, and as soon as I grew up and could travel on my own, I went to Jiangnan countless times, but it was always Hangzhou and Suzhou, never Shaoxing. It wasn't until the autumn of 2017, while sitting on the high-speed train from Yiwu to Hangzhou, that I passed by a city with pink walls, black tiles, and small bridges over flowing water, which struck my heart. I quickly took out my phone to check the map - where was this place? The map showed it was Shaoxing. From that moment on, the initial image of Shaoxing took root in my heart. Three months later, I made a special trip to Shaoxing. As the year was drawing to a close, the winter in Shaoxing was misty with drizzling rain. Walking on the stone-paved roads with an umbrella, looking at the old residential buildings on both sides of the river, I felt a warm and familiar sensation, as if I had been there before. Ah, this is the Jiangnan in my heart. I had been searching for Jiangnan in Hangzhou and Suzhou, not realizing that the real Jiangnan was in Shaoxing. Pushing open the wooden door of the homestay I had booked in advance, the decoration of the old Shaoxing residence greeted me. The flower and pot on the table, the dim light... I seemed to have walked into the old times of Shaoxing. Holding a pot of warm, fine Shaoxing yellow wine given by the owner, I took a sip. It warmed my heart and stomach, and my first date with Shaoxing began amidst this tender warmth. For the first time, I visited Shen Garden, exploring the love story of Lu You and Tang Wan. During my studies, I had shed tears over their love and hate several times. Now, walking among the grass and trees of Shen Garden, I imagined their feelings and appearances back then. For the first time, I visited the former residence of Lu Xun, the Sanwei Study. Finally, I arrived at the master's hometown. It was so beautiful. Although Lu Xun's writing was powerful, his family home was so gentle and graceful. For the first time, I visited Kong Yiji's tavern, chewing on fennel beans and revisiting Kong Yiji's articles, imagining the scenes of that time, and feeling deeply moved. For the first time, I visited the Orchid Pavilion, seeing where Wang Xizhi wrote the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion. Reading the Preface inscribed on the Orchid Pavilion stele, although I had read it countless times, this time was different. The artistic conception was profound. For the first time, I visited the ancient town of Anchang. The festive atmosphere of the town amazed me. Rows of cured meat, soy sauce ducks, and the extended market along the river with a dazzling array of New Year goods suddenly brought back the atmosphere of celebrating the New Year in my childhood. It was wonderful. For the first time, I tasted Shaoxing cuisine and couldn't stop ever since. Endless nostalgia, my favorites are drunken chicken, drunken shrimp, and 'Shaoxing Three Delicacies.' I eat them every time I go. I love Shaoxing cuisine so much, the aftertaste lingers. For the first time, I tasted Shaoxing's pastries, sticky and sweet, with a rich variety. Truly a paradise for heavy sticky food lovers. For the first time, I tasted Shaoxing's yellow wine popsicle, only then realizing that popsicles could be spiked with alcohol. The taste was incredibly unique, quite intoxicating. For the first time, I took a ride on Shaoxing's black-awning boat, slowly swaying between the rivers, watching the black and white old buildings on both sides, immersed in the misty rain of Jiangnan, romantic feelings surged, making one unable to resist expressing them in words. For the first time, I walked through Shaoxing's old alleys, seeing the coal stoves outside the pink-walled and black-tiled old houses, watching the old grandmother washing clothes in the river, observing the handwritten signs of the yellow wine shops, and the time-honored pastry shops. This is the lively atmosphere of old Shaoxing, seeping into one's heart. For the first time, wearing a cheongsam and holding an oil-paper umbrella, I took my first set of retro photos on the old alley's bluestone road, which reminded me of Dai Wangshu's 'Rain Alley' and the girl with the oil-paper umbrella. Shaoxing encapsulates the scenery of Jiangnan, the misty rain of Jiangnan, the poetic charm of Jiangnan, the grace of Jiangnan, the small bridges and flowing waters of Jiangnan, the stories of Jiangnan. Once I came here, I could never let go of Shaoxing. Until the 7th visit, my feelings for Shaoxing remained as before, as fresh, curious, and affectionate as the first time I stepped into Shaoxing. The 7 times are not the point, I will come again~

📍Recommended route: Entering Shen Garden is the ancient relics area, from one Taihu stone to another, with the words "Poetic Realm" written on it, from where you can start the tour. To the left is a corridor, with many inscriptions of poems on the walls, and wind chimes hanging under the eaves, with small wooden plaques full of messages written by lovers. Following the path in the garden, passing by Wenmei Barrier and Bayong Tower to the Six Dynasties Well Pavilion, this well and the gourd-shaped pool next to it are the only relics from the Six Dynasties in the garden. The Guhe Pavilion next to the pavilion is the center of Shen Garden, and to its south is the famous "Hairpin Phoenix" stele. Visitors who come here always stop to recite a few lines and reminisce about the love between Lu You and Tang Wan. To the east of Guhe Pavilion is the Shuanggui Hall, which is the place for evening performances in Shen Garden, and near its entrance are the entrances to the South Garden and East Garden. 💃Tour route: From the entrance of Shen Garden scenic area 🚪 enter ➡ ancient relics area 👀 (visit various ancient buildings and relics) ➡ East Garden 🎑 (a garden themed on love) ➡ South Garden 💐 (beautiful natural scenery). ✨Attraction recommendations: 📍Shen Garden's top ten sights ⭐⭐⭐⭐: Including Poetic Realm Garden, Wenmei Barrier, Qintai, etc., each with its own characteristics, very worth seeing 😍. 📍"Hairpin Phoenix" Lyric Wall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Experience the love story of Lu You and Tang Wan 🥺. 📍Shuanggui Hall ⭐⭐⭐: Learn about the history and culture of Shen Garden 📚. 🍱Food recommendations: 👉Shaoxing rice wine 😜: Taste the local specialty wine. 👉Stinky tofu 🤤: Delicious. 👉Meigan cai pork belly 🥩: Rich but not greasy. 🚗Transportation guide: 🚌You can take a bus to Shen Garden station. 🚕You can also choose to take a taxi. 🏨Accommodation recommendations: 🤩Nearby hotels or homestays, convenient for travel. 🎫Ticket cost: 40 yuan during the day. 🌸Shen Garden, full of historical and cultural atmosphere, is a very nice tourist destination 🤩. Come here and experience it 💕!

A dreamy intoxication. If you ask me about my favorite water town in the south of the Yangtze, my answer would be Shaoxing. The white walls and black tiles are infused with a resonant spirit that makes it hard not to fall in love with this place of outstanding people and magical land. For your first visit to Shaoxing, I suggest ticking off the central attractions all at once. Day 1: Lu Xun's Hometown + Shen Garden The two spots are close to each other and within walking distance. In between, there's a shop called Huijingxuan. I recommend trying their yellow wine ice pop and milk tea. Although a bit pricey, the taste is directly next level. Day 2: Sage of Calligraphy's Hometown + Fushan Park + Cangqiao Straight Street Fushan Park is not crowded with tourists, but the scenery is quite nice, and many locals come here to exercise and walk their dogs. Down the hill is Cangqiao Straight Street. Although it's quite commercialized, it's still nice to stroll around and pass the time. Most attractions in Shaoxing do not charge an entrance fee, which is very appealing. Accommodations are also inexpensive. I suggest finding one near a subway station.

I went to Shaoxing at the end of May and the beginning of June, and since then she has been lingering in my mind😍. Here, there are green bricks and tiles, leisurely awnings, small bridges and flowing water, which is simply synonymous with the water town of Jiangnan😘, which makes me linger and always want to go again. And there are also free sightseeing activities recently, from January 26 to March 31, 2024, 68+ scenic spots are free💰! 🚗Three-day and two-night tour route: Day1: Lu Xun's Hometown Scenic Area - Shen Garden - Bazi Bridge - Donghu - Cangqiao Straight Street (Night Tour) Day2: Xu Wei Art Museum - Qingteng Book House - Book Sage's Hometown - Anchang Ancient Town Day3: Orchid Pavilion 🚙Travel: Self-driving 🏠Accommodation: Near Lu Xun's Hometown 📢Travel Tips: 1. 💯Lu Xun's Hometown Scenic Area: No need to say more, must go! Feel the Jiangnan in Lu Xun's pen. 2. 🌸Shen Garden: Adjacent to Lu Xun's hometown, those who like gardens can go and see. 3. 🏞Bazi Bridge: Few people and beautiful scenery, highly recommended! 4. 🌌Donghu: In addition to the charm of the water town of Jiangnan, there are also cliff rocks, very unique (you can take a awning boat, 40 yuan/person). 5. 🌃Cangqiao Straight Street: Go at night, don't go too late. 6. 🖼Xu Wei Art Museum: A paradise for calligraphy and painting lovers, and it is also very photogenic. 7. 🏡Qingteng Book House: Xu Wei's birthplace, next to the Art Museum, you can visit together. 8. 🤩Book Sage's Hometown: The Internet celebrity bridge is here, and there are other attractions such as the ink pool. 9. 💖Anchang Ancient Town: Highly recommended! The original ancient town! 10. 📜Orchid Pavilion: Those who have practiced calligraphy in their student days must come and feel the cultural heritage here. If you come in summer, you can also see lotus flowers and leaves! Don't miss the Orchid Pavilion Calligraphy Museum! Come to Shaoxing for a free play🎊!