China, Place by Place

Issue 01 journey

Tea, Ink & Rice Wine

Research plan, not field-testedData snapshot 2026-11-08 · version 0.2
3 days, 2 nightsHangzhou → Shaoxing Yuecheng → AnchangBase: Yuecheng old town, both nightsWalking: moderate

Hangzhou's tea is the way in. Shaoxing's canals, calligraphy and rice wine carry the rest. Each day has one main cultural task. Times below are planning windows, not timetables.

Download trip filePreview trip fileChinese cards

One HTML page with the plan, every Chinese card and emergency numbers. Save it to your phone's Files app and it opens with no signal.

Day 1Hangzhou's tea

China National Tea Museum, Shuangfeng site

Longjing village is optional, depending on energy.

Needs evidenceOpening days and passport checkR-01
Needs evidenceWalking route between sitesR-02

Move to Shaoxing, check in at Yuecheng old town

Two ways to compare: national rail via 12306, or Hangzhou Metro Line 5 to Guniangqiao, then the intercity line to China Textile City in Keqiao (about 26.5 min). That line stops short of Yuecheng.

Desk-checkedIntercity line: Guniangqiao ↔ China Textile City, opened 2021F6
Needs evidenceDeparture point in Hangzhou for each optionR-03
Needs evidenceOnward link from Keqiao to Yuecheng old townR-04
Needs evidenceNational rail frequency and journey timeR-05
Needs evidenceArrival station name in Chinese and EnglishR-06
Needs evidenceTransfer to the hotelR-07
Day 2Shaoxing's water and ink

Bazi Bridge and Shusheng Guli

Mostly public streets. Pick one as the main stop.

Needs evidenceWhich parts are public and which are ticketedR-08
Needs evidenceReal walking distance and stepsR-09

China Rice Wine Museum

If closed, switch to a checked indoor alternative in Yuecheng.

Needs evidenceOpening days, tickets, photography rulesR-10
Day 3Anchang's flavours

Yuecheng → Anchang ancient town

Find the public entrance, the bridges and the river steps.

Needs evidenceWhere to board and the driver cardR-11
Needs evidencePublic entrance vs. paid venuesR-12

Lunch, then return to Shaoxing North Station or Yuecheng

Choose the return that passes the check. If none passes, skip Anchang and stay in Yuecheng.

Needs evidenceLast departure and its sourceR-13
Needs evidencePlan if no car or bus is availableR-14

If something goes wrong

IfSwitch to
Rain or outdoor sites closedIndoor themes at the Tea Museum, or Shaoxing Museum in Yuecheng R-15 · R-16
Anchang transport interrupted or return unclearStay in Yuecheng and visit the old-town stops you missed R-13
Too much walkingKeep to one street block with a direct pick-up point R-17

Before you leave

  • Re-check trains, buses and opening hours within 72 hours of departure. Operators change them without notice.
  • Carry your passport. Some museum and ticket counters ask for it.
  • Download the trip file on Wi-Fi before you set out.
  • If the Anchang return is unclear on the day, stay in Yuecheng. The fallback table shows what to do instead.

Want the field-tested version?

We plan to walk this route, time every connection and publish the tested trip file for US$19. It is not on sale yet. Tell us if you would buy it and we will email you once, when it's ready.