6 Hidden Gems Around Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai You'd Never Expect

Here are 6 unexpected paradise-like destinations around Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai with foolproof guides. Immerse in local vibes and just follow this itinerary! 💃💃1. Shaoxing, Zhejiang (Lu Xun's Hometown & Water Town Slow Life) Play: Lu Xun's Former Residence (textbook comes alive), black-canopied boat ride (Bazi Bridge/Calligraphy Sage's Hometown), explore alleys at Cangqiao Straight Street, taste wine at Yellow Rice Wine Museum. Eat: Freshly fried stinky tofu (street stalls!), Xunbaoji's Shaoxing Three Delicacies, authentic dishes at Hebutou Restaurant, yellow rice wine ice cream & milk tea. Stay: Old-style courtyard B&Bs near Lu Xun's Hometown, wake up to cobblestone views. Soul moment: Dawn riverside coal stoves, umbrella strolls listening to oar sounds in rain. 💃💃2. Moganshan, Zhejiang (Bamboo Forest Oxygen & Designer Retreats) Play: Yucun Cultural Market (artsy cafes), hike Sword Pond/Reed Marsh, Discovery Adventure Park, lazy stays at B&Bs. Eat: Local free-range chicken stew, bamboo shoot braised pork, wild chive omelet, Yucun's old noodle shop. Stay: Design "foreigner-friendly" resorts (Naked Stables/Le Passage Mohkan Shan) or Yucun B&B cluster. Soul moment: Bamboo sea views with tea at hillside cafe, stargazing on terrace at night. 💃💃3. Nanxun Ancient Town, Zhejiang (Millionaire Mansions & Morning Tea) Play: Little Lotus Villa & Jiaye Library (wealthy family compounds), riverside walk at Hundred Rooms, rowboat rides, morning market. Eat: Early rise! Champion Tower/Wufu Tower's double-topping noodles (crispy fish + braised pork), Dingsheng cakes, Xun trotters, riverside seafood shacks. Stay: Waterside B&Bs at Hundred Rooms, sleep by the river. Soul moment: 7am noodle-slurping with locals at old noodle shops, watching busy docks. 💃💃4. Tonglu, Zhejiang (Fuchun Landscapes & Ancient Villages) Play: Yan Ziling Fishing Terrace (Fuchun River cruise), Shishe/Maoping villages (hike Maling Ancient Trail), Daqishan Forest Park (mini Jiuzhaigou). Eat: Fermented rice buns with braised pork, Tongjiang mandarin fish, rice cakes, aunty's rice sieve pasta at Shishe. Stay: Fuchun Riverside hotels or rustic Shishe village B&Bs. Soul moment: Snacking under ancient camphor trees, wading streams for snails. 💃💃5. Yangzhou, Jiangsu (Morning "Water-Wrapped Skin" & Night "Skin-Wrapped Water") Play: Slender West Lake (best at dawn/dusk), artsy Pishi Street, Ge/Yuan Gardens, spa scrubs. Eat: Must-try morning tea! Quyuan/Yichun/Garden Teahouse: crab roe soup dumplings, dried tofu shreds, three-dice buns, layered oil cakes. Stay: Near Dongguan Street or lakeside. Soul moment: Following locals for morning tea with Yangzhou green tea and dim sum, leisurely "skin-wrapped water" ritual. 💃💃6. Shengsi Islands (Island-Hopping & Seafood Feast) Play: Gouqi Island's "Overgrown Village" ruins, Dongya Cliff sunrise, Shenshan fishing port, Jihu Beach waves. Eat: Self-pick seafood at Shenshan market (swimming crab, mussels, tiger fish), seafood dough drops, sea moss jelly. Stay: Instagrammable Gouqi sea-view B&Bs or authentic Shenshan stays. Soul moment: Crab-feasting at dockside stalls with sea breeze, waiting for fishing boats.