Zhejiang’s Scenery Is Uniquely Beautiful: Savor Xiaoshan’s Charms and Discover the East Zhejiang Tang Poetry Road!

Days slip silently into autumn, and all the scenes of daily life suddenly become brilliant and bright. With sunshine just right, heading out to seek autumn becomes the top priority for this weekend.

Roaming Xiaoshan: Winding Bridges Span the Waters of Xianghu Lake

People always praise the beauty of Jiangnan—not only for its poetic charm, but even more for its millennia of history. A museum, like a wise elder, waits quietly to converse with us and unveil history’s mysterious veil.

Xianghu Lake, a lesser-known destination about 20 kilometers from downtown Hangzhou, faces West Lake across the Qiantang River. Known as West Lake’s sister lake, it was the hometown of renowned Tang Dynasty poet He Zhizhang, and literary greats like Li Bai and Lu You have left immortal poems here.

Many say that while it’s not as famous as West Lake, its scenery is every bit as captivating. And when you come to Xianghu Lake, how can you miss the Kuahuqiao Site Museum?

The Kuahuqiao archaeological site was discovered in Xianghu Lake, Xiaoshan, in 1990.

The site unearthed China’s first dugout canoe, hailed as the ‘First Boat of China’!

Today, a Kuahuqiao Site Museum stands next to the site, quiet and surrounded by water. This thematic museum comprehensively displays the archaeological discoveries and research of the Kuahuqiao culture. Its collections of bone, wood, stone, and pottery bear deep marks of history, and the museum building itself has a decade of patina. From a distance, it looks like a boat moored by the lakeside, blending perfectly with Xianghu’s natural landscape.

Stepping into the museum, a majestic group of reliefs first catches your eye.

Guided by the reliefs, a cultural journey through the Kuahuqiao theme begins: the submerged site, scenes of daily life, creative art, the power of belief, and the blending of civilizations—five independent yet integrated sections.

Descending to the basement exhibition area, the bold inscription ‘Xiaoshan 8,000 Years’ appears before you, conveying the profound weight of Chinese civilization. Directly below, a glass chamber houses the world’s earliest known dugout canoe—the ‘First Boat of China’.

From the in-situ display to the reconstructed excavation scene and then to the global dugout culture and canoe-making process, the conservation hall has evolved from mere preservation to cultural interpretation. Today, you can also see many pottery and stone tools, with detailed explanations offering a glimpse into the slash-and-burn era.

Tracing 8,000-year-old footsteps, you feel the sweep of history and your heart stirs.

The wisdom of the Kuahuqiao ancestors is embedded in every artifact, and the site reveals their intelligence to us. The Kuahuqiao site crosses not only the ‘lake’ but also bridges the gap between previously recognized cultural systems. History nourishes life, and the wisdom and indomitable spirit of these early people will be passed down, surely becoming a spiritual treasure for future trailblazers.

Besides the Kuahuqiao Bridge, Xianghu also boasts a Kuahu ‘Lou’ (tower/restaurant). The cuisine at Kuahu Lou is as elegant as its name, with just the right portions—not overly oily or salty, yet full of flavor.

The King Yue Dongpo Chicken is a signature dish, using the braising method of Dongpo pork for chicken, resulting in tender meat that’s just right. Those who enjoy sweet flavors will likely love it. Legend says it was an essential feast dish after every victory during the King of Yue’s campaigns.

The special crispy fish is delicious, crispy outside yet tender inside, with a hint of vinegar that lifts the whole dish.

The stir-fried swimming crab with rice cakes is wonderfully fresh; the crab meat is delicate and the rice cakes have absorbed all the savory flavors.

Not far from the Kuahuqiao Site Museum lies the Hangzhou Changqiao Polar Ocean Park. Who says you can’t embrace the sea while embracing a lake? Only children make choices—adults want both.

This new-type ocean park combines polar animals, marine fish displays, and polar experiences. There are scheduled animal shows, including a dolphin theater that seats over 3,000 spectators, making it perfect for families with children.

Every pavilion in the park is highly photogenic. Through glass panels, you can interact with marine life. Head straight to the Beluga Sea right after entering and have an intimate encounter with those adorable white whales!

And of course, the Dreamy Jellyfish Palace uses special lighting and mirrored projections to make you feel as if you’re floating in a real ocean. Jellyfish of every color and shape drift leisurely, and under the blue lighting, they look exceptionally romantic. The dreamlike design, with dazzling light effects, can heal any gloomy mood the moment you step into that deep blue ambiance.

If time permits, head to the various animal theaters to catch the shows!

Leaving the aquarium, I chanced upon the dolphin show. Those adorably agile dolphins spin and leap without rest, performing land waltzes and water ballets—they absolutely charm everyone.

Watching the lively dolphins, your spirits lift with every graceful arc they trace in the air. Close encounters with marine animals always touch the softest part of our hearts, making us forget all life’s worries.

Not far away, Qianjiang Fishing Village is a well-known local restaurant specializing in authentic Xiaoshan cuisine with reliable flavors. Both small bites and main dishes are delicate, light, and fresh.

The steamed river whitebait is utterly fresh and delicious; like the fruit-and-vegetable fish head, it’s a must-order river delicacy.

The farm-style steamed ‘double stink’ is a Zhejiang specialty, combining two of the smelliest things: stinky tofu and stinky amaranth stems, garnished with scallions and other seasonings. But it’s ‘smelly to the nose, fragrant to the mouth,’ a wonderful dish for beating the summer heat, and foodies start missing it if they go without for too long.

As night deepens and the hustle quiets down, we drive on to Xinchang and stay at the Slow UU Guesthouse beside Jingling Ancient Street. The wall-projected lights create a dreamy atmosphere.

The rooms, dominated by warm tones, are warmly furnished with a natural wood feel. Family rooms are available, making it perfect for those visiting the area with kids.

Exploring Xinchang: A Magical Night Tour on the Tang Poetry Road

[Jingling Ancient Street: Discover the Traces of Time]

When it comes to must-visit spots for a leisurely stroll, old streets always top the list. They shed their glamour and become silent history textbooks, but also destinations brimming with cultural character.

Jingling Ancient Street lies in Jingling Town, southwest of Xinchang County in Shaoxing, 25 kilometers from the county seat. Jingling Town, nestled between mountains and waters, is known as the ‘Little Guilin of Jiangnan’ and hides many thousand-year-old villages in this idyllic retreat.

This old street was once the important commercial hub of Jingling Town and even the whole western Xinchang area, flourishing in its heyday. Founded in the Song Dynasty and thriving in the Ming and Qing, it was the go-to market for villagers over the centuries. But as times changed, Jingling Ancient Street gradually faded from view.

Today, after restoration, Jingling Ancient Street retains its authentic age-old charm while incorporating fresh modern creativity, blending cultural preservation with new life.

The old supply-and-marketing cooperative and the Xinhua Bookstore have been repainted and given new vitality, not only carrying memories of past generations but continuing forward with new stories.

[Tianzhu Wonderland: Emerald Waves Lead You In-depth]

Xinchang always surprises: it brims with mountains, waters, and culture—turn your head and there’s a bend of water; turn around and there’s a mountain.

After admiring so much lakescape and mountain scenery, it would be a pity not to immerse yourself fully in the beauty.

This Tianzhu Wonderland, with its danxia landforms, has long been praised by Xinchang locals as the ‘Little Three Gorges of Jiangnan.’ Entering by water and exiting by land is its special feature.

Tianzhu Lake widens and narrows, winding its way into a secluded valley. Riding a dragon boat, you’ll encounter sights like the Penguin Welcome Rock, Five-Finger Peak, Millennium Nu’er Hong, Golden Toad Teasing Turtle, and the Origin of Life. Bathing in the gentle breeze of this natural wonderland, with crystal-clear water rippling all around, offers a special charm.

The mountains here, though not towering, create an embracing enclosure, so tranquil that you can only hear the murmuring water and the rustle of leaves rubbing together.

[Tang Poetry Road: Stroll at Gushan, Dream Back to Taimu]

We’re all familiar with the ‘Silk Road,’ but have you heard of the ‘Tang Poetry Road’?

The East Zhejiang Tang Poetry Road starts at Xixing in Xiaoshan, linking the Eastern Zhejiang Canal, Jinghu Lake, Kuaiji Mountain, Ruoye Stream, Cao’e River, Shanxi River, and Mount Taimu, ending at Tiantai Mountain. It’s not just a cultural route of the Tang Dynasty but a route of Tang poets, traversed by over 450 poets including Li Bai, Du Fu, Meng Haoran, and Bai Juyi, leaving behind more than 1,500 exquisite poems. Mount Taimu, with the most poems, is famed as ‘One Mount Taimu, Half the Complete Tang Poetry’.

With such a precious cultural legacy, it must be passed on. The Tang Poetry Road Museum, housing manuscripts of ancient sages, sits atop Gushan Park in Xinchang, consisting of the Li Bai Memorial Hall, the Tang Poetry Cultural Stele Corridor, and the Taimu Pavilion.

Li Bai himself visited Shanzhong (the region) three times. Entering the museum, gazing at the Tang poetry steles, you can almost hear the immortal poet’s ‘Dream Journey to Tianmu Mountain—a Farewell Song’ echoing in your ears.

Though Gushan isn’t high enough to ‘tower into the sky’ or ‘surpass the Five Great Mountains and overshadow Chicheng,’ standing atop and looking down, you can’t help but wonder if the Green Lotus Scholar (Li Bai), who visited Xinchang three times, once stood in the same spot—and what thoughts crossed his mind.

Ascending the Taimu Pavilion, you can gaze southeast at Mount Taimu’s main peak, Boyun Peak, taking in its majestic ‘reaching-to-heaven’ grandeur; to the west, the new face of Xinchang city; northward, the Taimu Bridge; eastward, Wozhou Mountain and the Aviation Town; and beneath your feet, the Shanxi River—all making you marvel at nature’s artistic mastery.

After a long mountain climb, it’s time to savor some food. The State Banquet Sizzling Rice Soaked in Soup at Yue Yan is the most surprising dish. It looks like ordinary rice crust soup, but the crispiness of the rice crust isn’t diminished by the broth; instead, it cleverly combines the savory soup with the crunchy rice.

The fragrant mango spicy chicken is ringed with what first appear to be eggs but are actually mango capsules that burst with juice, transforming the dish. The sweet mango adds a refreshing twist to the fiery spicy chicken.

The restaurant’s elegant decor is full of cozy charm, perfect for a date with your sweetheart.

[Meizhu Ancient Village: Travel Through a Millenium in a Flower Sea]

When you think of an ancient village, what scene comes to mind first? Perhaps blue bricks and green tiles, white walls and Western-style buildings, or apricot blossoms in light rain and misty pavilions. This ancient village has all that, but with an added intoxicating sea of flowers.

Meizhu Ancient Village lies 10 kilometers southwest of Xinchang county, founded in the Song Dynasty. A millennium has slipped by, yet the village still nourishes generation after generation. According to the Republic-era County Annals, ‘The place had many plum trees in ancient times, with settlements clustered like a patch, hence the name Meizhu (Plum Islet).’ Today, there are no plum trees, only a 400-year-old camphor tree in the village.

The village preserves many valuable buildings from the Ming, Qing, and Republic periods: pond-front houses, watchtowers, nunneries, ancestral temples, dwellings, and shops. With spacious pavilions, upturned eaves, carved beams, ornate window lattices, and exquisite decorations, it’s a living museum of folk architectural carving.

In the shops, many craftspeople are at work; ordinary clay comes to life in their hands.

Elderly women meticulously craft paper-cuttings with their special tools, turning thin paper into intricate art. Meizhu paper-cutting is a local specialty, along with other intangible heritage like grain liquor and traditional opera.

Worth mentioning is the vast flower sea on the village’s north side, where different blossoms bloom every month. Now, a field of sunflowers is in full glory, just as described in Distant Sunflower Fields: ‘Gold and blue hold each other on this ancient planet. Those who walk between gold and blue suddenly feel spotless…’

[Fantastic Land of the Classic of Mountains and Seas: A Heroic Path in Holographic Light]

Lantern festivals in ancient times, night tours in modern days.

Thanks to modern technology, lighting effects have undergone earth-shattering changes.

The immersive fantasy show ‘Fantastic Land of the Classic of Mountains and Seas: The Hero’s Path’ is incredibly cool! Set among the Chuan Yan 19 Peaks, with natural cliffs as screens and strange valleys as backdrops, it creates a feast of sight, sound, and touch for visitors at night.

This immersive night tour, based on the CCTV documentary IP series, extensively uses 3D mapping projections, holographic imaging, dome laser arrays, and interactive sound-and-light technologies, with innovative multi-layer spatial screens, making you feel truly part of this wondrous journey.

The total route is about 2.5 kilometers, divided into six major chapters: Chaos World, Smashing the Buzhou Mountain, Emergence of the Hero, Turning into a Bear to Fight the Flood, Encounter at Qingqiu, and Naming the Mountains and Rivers. Over a dozen mini-storylines and interactive segments scattered in the valley connect these chapters.

You begin at a primitive tribal-style beginner’s village, where you receive an interactive prop: the ‘Lei Si’ (ancient plow). It lights up as a lamp and helps you interact, playing a key role in advancing the story.

The lighting design fits the local environment perfectly, blending in seamlessly.

A 600-meter tunnel is particularly impressive: you walk through clouds, mist, and rain, traversing time and space to reach the world of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, with hanging water droplets and a starry tunnel that are super dreamy.

Then, in scenes like ‘Smashing Buzhou,’ ‘Emergence of the Hero,’ ‘Turning into a Bear to Fight the Flood,’ and ‘Qingqiu Nine-Tails,’ you can immerse yourself in the story of Yu the Great taming the floods, feeling as if you’ve traveled to ancient times. The experience is utterly immersive!

[Tang Poetry Feast: Savor Dishes and Guess the Allusions]

One Mount Taimu, half the book of Tang poetry—Xinchang is a place where you encounter poetry and distant dreams.

When in Xinchang, be sure to sample the Taimu Tang Poetry Feast in this Tang Poetry City of East Zhejiang. Every dish, soup, staple, dim sum, and wine is named after a Tang poem, and each has a traceable allusion. While savoring the cuisine, you’re also tasting the poetic charm and mood of the literati.

This dish comes with a tiny ladder—easy to guess it’s from the line ‘I put on Xie’s clogs and mounted the blue cloud ladder.’

The dish ‘The Yue Maiden, Whitest in the World’ is shaped like the Four Treasures of the Study; not only is the name beautiful, but its presentation perfectly complements the Tang poetry theme.

The Xinchang taro dumplings are wonderfully soft and glutinous, adorned with lotus flower decorations, inspired by the couplet: ‘Bamboos show green under the stream; lotus flowers mirror their fragrance.’ Li Bai, leaving Yangzhou and entering Shaoxing, just reached the Shanxi River and was moved by the beautiful scenery.

The snowy-white Xinchang soup noodles—you have to fish them out to guess their real name. They really do evoke a ‘downward pours the torrent three thousand feet in flight’ feeling. Though plain, they’re both pretty and tasty, perfectly seasoned without overshadowing other dishes.

Even an ordinary fruit platter becomes intriguing when paired with the name ‘Who gathers spring’s colors as it departs?’

Mountains and rivers on the plate, poetry overflowing from the dishes—‘Taimu reaches to the sky,’ ‘a guest at Taimu by the tea stove,’ ‘this trip not for the perch meeting’… Each dish learns from the past without being rigid, brilliantly melding Tang poetry culture with culinary art.

Savor a poem, taste a dish—every course here is intricately paired with a line of Tang poetry, revealing that even home-style food can be so refined and delightful!

Staying in Xinchang: Taimu Langyuan Health Valley

Back in Xinchang by nightfall, we stayed at the Taimu Langyuan Health Valley. In the morning, you can climb the Xianyuan Ladder in the valley to gaze at Mount Taimu from afar. There’s also a vast lawn for playing and picnicking—the natural oxygen bar seems to sweep away all fatigue!

Worth noting is that it also has a thousand-acre blueberry picking base. Blueberry wine is produced by the valley’s Qinyue Winery, whose main building houses the brewing facility, a tasting area, and a wine cellar. You can sip wine while enjoying the fresh air of this natural oxygen bar in a pleasant buzz.

Continuing on, we arrive at Waipokeng Village, a small settlement 42 kilometers southwest of Xinchang County in Shaoxing, Zhejiang. It sits at the source of the Chengtan River, bordering Dongyang, Shengzhou, and Pan’an.

In the past, Waipokeng was extremely poor, as reflected in the local saying: ‘Xinchang has a Waipokeng, where no one marries their daughter to this pit; three meals of corn mush, working and walking like oxen plowing; short of money, grain, and girls.’

Today, Waipokeng has undergone a dramatic transformation. Living off the mountains and waters, villagers grow tea thanks to the unique environment, successfully producing their own ‘organic tea.’ It’s now renowned as the ‘First Ethnic Village of Jiangnan,’ and the days of hunger and cold are long gone.

Waipokeng’s toasted corn crisps are famous; large golden sheets are sun-dried outside by elderly women, as simple and honest as the villagers themselves, and very affordable.

You can rent ethnic costumes for photos—with such stunning landscapes, every snapshot is a masterpiece.

Coming here, you not only feel the serene beauty and profound history of a traditional Chinese village, but also appreciate the unique folk customs of ethnic minorities and the warmth of ‘grandma’s’ home.

In a fleeting two days, I wandered the charming streets of Xiaoshan, explored the poetic landscapes of Xinchang, and savored the specialty dishes from a hundred counties. It turns out, after a riot of colors, the scenery here in Zhejiang is truly the best!