Like many other ancient aquatic towns throughout China, Anchang of Shaoxing County in southeastern China’s Zhejiang Province (always contained in AFFORDABLE China tours) is endowed with crisscrossing rivers and stone bridges, making it an attractive retreat destination for urban dwellers.
Compared to famous ancient towns like Zhouzhuang, Xitang and Wuzhen (all of them are destinations of China best tours), which have become popular tourist destinations, Anchang is quieter and more tranquil, resembling an ink and wash painting – simple yet elegant. Along rivers snaking through the village are roofed corridors and winding lanes, which provide access to stores, theaters, craft workshops, archways, and residential houses. Wet clothes hanging from balconies of riverside buildings sway gently in the breeze, while occasionally the shouting of a peddler breaks the serenity.
First built in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), Anchang was destroyed in warfare several times. However, that historical legacy starkly contrasts the meaning of its name: “peace and prosperity.” The town was last reconstructed during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Since then, it has witnessed few changes, with most of its buildings still preserving authentic Ming and Qing style.
The intersecting canals across town appear and function like veins. Cruising down the meandering emerald rivers are ferries covered with bamboo-weaved awnings painted black to resist weathering. Boatmen usually wear triangular black felt caps and steer using both hands and feet.
The ferries pass under stone bridges providing pedestrian access across the rivers. The names of bridges, such as Fuyuan (literally “happiness and good luck”) and Jieshan (literally “connecting kindness”), illustrate local attitudes about life. Though trampled by passersby day after day, year after year, hardy wild grass peeks up from between stones in the bridges. The lifestyle and beautiful view will make your popular China tours different and unforgetable.
Along the rivers are porticos of local residences, many of which double as restaurants serving homemade food. Under the eaves of the riverside eateries are chairs and wooden tables, carrying blue and white porcelain tableware. From the banks of the rivers, some old lanes weave into the distance, along which can be found sun-tanned boatmen, wrinkled old women, and children atop bamboo horses. The faint clap of wooden gates echoes down the lanes as residents come and go.
Luckier visitors can catch traditional operas performed on riverside stages and local weddings held on boats. In local restaurants, one can find snacks like New Year cakes, sticky rice dumpling wrapped in leaves, and hand-pulled maltose. In such establishments, it is not uncommon to see a lonely old man with long beard smoking a copper tobacco pipe while sipping a cup of wine and munching on a plate of beans.
China Travel Tips
How to Get There
The ancient town of Anchang lies at the northwest tip of Shaoxing County and borders Xiaoshan District of Hangzhou City. By car, you should exit the Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway at Keqiao, which is only five kilometers away from Anchang. Buses leave Shaoxing Passenger Transport Center and North Bus Station for Anchang every five minutes between the hours of 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.
When to Visit
Anchang features a mild, humid climate, with an annual average temperature of 16.4 degrees Celsius. The best time to visit is during spring and summer, especially late spring when the weather is warm and flowers are in full bloom.
Where to Stay
Though there are hostels in Anchang, most tourists spend the night at hotels near Jiefang Road in the county seat of Shaoxing. Typically, each room runs 30-100 yuan a night.
What to Eat
Tourists shouldn’t miss Anchang’s smoked pork and sauced chicken. The local cuisine is characterized by an abundance of soy sauce. A widely-known product, Renchang Soy Sauce, has become a popular gift for housewives. Tourists can find the product at most area grocers.
If you want to know more about this town, you can contact with China tour agents.
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