Soy sauce, cured meat, and slow living in a Wupeng boat!

### **Anchang Ancient Town: A Detailed Travel Guide to the Rustic Memories of a Jiangnan Water Town** Anchang Ancient Town, one of the four ancient towns of Shaoxing, is a millennia-old water town that has not been overly commercialized. Here, you won't find shoulder-to-shoulder tourists, but rather flagstone roads, Wupeng boats, soy sauce vats, cured meats, and a leisurely, local lifestyle. If you want to experience the most authentic Jiangnan atmosphere, Anchang Ancient Town is definitely worth a visit. --- ## **📌 Basic Information** - **📍 Address**: Anchang Town, Keqiao District, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province - **🎫 Admission**: The ancient town is free to enter; a combination ticket for some attractions is CNY 50 (including 7 minor attractions) - **⏰ Recommended duration**: Half a day to a full day - **🚗 Transportation**: - **Self-driving**: Approx. 1.5–2 hours from Hangzhou/Shanghai. Navigate to "Anchang Ancient Town." Parking fee is CNY 10/day. - **High-speed train**: To "Shaoxing North Station," then a 20-minute taxi ride (approx. CNY 30) - **Bus**: Take bus No. 805/118 from Shaoxing city center for direct access --- ## **🏮 Must-See Attractions** ### **1. Renchang Sauce Garden (Free)** The soul of Anchang! In this century-old sauce garden, thousands of sauce vats are neatly arranged, fermenting Shaoxing soy sauce and pickles. The air is filled with a rich soy sauce aroma, perfect for photo opportunities. ### **2. Master's Study Museum (CNY 15)** Anchang is the "Hometown of Masters." This museum displays historical and cultural materials about the masters (advisors) of the Ming and Qing dynasties, offering insights into the daily work of ancient think tanks. ### **3. Anchang Folk Customs Museum (CNY 10)** Showcases traditional life scenes such as waterside wedding customs, farm tools, and textiles, suitable for tourists interested in folk culture. ### **4. Stone Carving Museum & Sui Kang Money House (Combination ticket CNY 20)** The Stone Carving Museum houses exquisite Ming and Qing stone carvings, while the Sui Kang Money House recreates the accounting room and vault of an old-time money house, allowing you to experience the operations of the ancient financial industry. ### **5. Stroll Along the Three-Li Long Corridor & Ancient Bridges** Anchang's most charming feature is the corridor along the river, providing shade and shelter from the rain. Stroll through it and watch the Wupeng boats slowly pass by. **Fulu Bridge and Wan'an Bridge** are the most photogenic ancient bridges, with the best light in the morning or at dusk. --- ## **🚤 Featured Experiences** ✅ **Take a Wupeng Boat Ride** (CNY 40/boat, can accommodate 2–3 people) The sculling boat slowly travels through the water lanes, allowing you to experience the artistic conception of "traveling on blue waves, as if in a painting." ✅ **Watch the Taffy-Pulling Performance** (CNY 10/pack) Old craftsmen boil and pull sugar on the spot to make sweet taffy, a traditional Anchang skill and intangible cultural heritage. ✅ **Cured Meat Scenery (Winter Only)** Every year after winter begins, the riverside is hung with sausages, soy sauce ducks, and dried fish, making it a "cured meat museum without walls," perfect for taking photos and buying souvenirs. --- ## **🍜 Food Recommendations** ### **🔥 Must-Try Snacks** - **Anchang Sausage** (can be vacuum-packed to take away, CNY 20–30/jin) - **Soy Sauce Duck** (Baolin Restaurant is the most famous) - **Fermented Rice Wine Steamed Buns** (fluffy and sweet, super delicious with preserved vegetable and pork filling) - **Stinky Tofu & Radish Pancake** (freshly fried at riverside stalls, CNY 5/portion) - **Printed Rice Cake** (glutinous rice filling, steamed and sold on the spot, CNY 10/box) ### **🍴 Restaurant Recommendations** - **Yikouwei Restaurant**: A local favorite, recommended dishes include sliced goose and braised pork with dried bamboo shoots - **Baolin Restaurant**: A riverside time-honored brand, yellow wine with drunken crab is a must - **Anchang Ancient Town Restaurant**: High value for money, recommended dishes include stir-fried snails with soy sauce and braised bamboo shoots in oil --- ## **🏡 Accommodation Recommendations** - **In the Ancient Town**: - **Anchang Guyun Guantang Hotel** (high-end, CNY 500–1,000/night) - **Lvhangshe Inn** (literary and artistic courtyard, CNY 300–600/night) - **Shaoxing City Center**: If you also want to visit the former residence of Lu Xun, you can stay in the city center (such as Xianheng Hotel), a 30-minute taxi ride to Anchang. --- ## **📆 Best Season & Itinerary Suggestions** - **Best Season**: - **Winter (December–February)**: The aroma of cured meat fills the air, with a strong festive atmosphere - **Spring (March–May)**: Avoid the plum rain season, pleasant climate - **Half-Day Trip**: Visit the ancient town + take a boat ride in the morning, have cured meat for lunch, and return in the afternoon - **One-Day Trip**: Add in-depth experiences at the Master's Study Museum and Sauce Garden, and take photos of the sunset in the evening --- ## **💡 Useful Tips** 1. **Bring some cash**, as some old shops and stalls only accept cash 2. **Go early to avoid crowds**. There are slightly more tourists in the afternoon, but it is generally not too crowded 3. **Recommended souvenirs**: Sausage, soy sauce duck, yellow wine, taffy, preserved vegetables 4. **Wear comfortable shoes**, as walking on the flagstone road for a long time can be tiring --- The beauty of Anchang Ancient Town lies in its slowness and authenticity. There are no noisy bars or Internet-famous shops here, only old people sunning soy sauce vats, boatmen sculling boats, and the fragrant atmosphere of local life. If you want to find a Jiangnan water town that has not been overly disturbed, Anchang is the best choice. **📢 Please refer to the actual scenic spot for the latest information, and it is recommended to confirm the opening hours before traveling!**