Zhejiang Province travel guide

Shaoxing's clear spirit lies not only in its abundance of water, but in the way its people still hold an independent attitude toward the world. If you eat at a restaurant in Shaoxing after closing time, the staff will still give you a warm welcome. Shaoxing's pedicab drivers are something almost every visitor encounters: they wear felt caps like the one Runtu wears in Lu Xun's stories, crack packaged melon seeds and haggle over fares with a relaxed air, more like chatting with a neighbour. The old town's architecture follows one rule in particular: white walls with black roofs. This city, as if steeped in water, has long drifted away from the everyday rules we know, and it converses calmly with history while standing its ground against the present.

Long and narrow in shape, Mount Putuo is one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains. It is the dojo of Guanyin Bodhisattva and, geographically, a small island in the Zhoushan Archipelago. The mountain has both temples rising across its slopes and, to the east, sea and beaches, as well as rare flowers, unusual rocks and towering ancient trees. Yet its greatest appeal is the Buddhist legend of “the sacred site where Guanyin Bodhisattva manifested to preach to Shancai.” This is why Mount Putuo is known as the “Sacred Realm of the South Sea.”

Around the outskirts of the old town, quite a few rickshaw drivers will tell you they can take you into the scenic area for ¥30 and that no one checks tickets inside. Don't believe them. In fact, every attraction in the old town is staffed and ticket checks are very strict, so it's best to buy your tickets as required.

The largest natural rock cave and stone chamber in southern Zhejiang, revered by Taoists as the “12th Blessed Land under Heaven”.

For many people, the Buddhist Tiantai School is unfamiliar, yet almost everyone knows Jigong. Mount Tiantai is renowned as the birthplace of the Tiantai School of Buddhism and the hometown of Jigong, the 'Living Buddha.'

Hengdian is famous for its film and television studios. Over 1,200 films and TV productions have been shot here, including Hero, Curse of the Golden Flower, Painted Skin, The Opium War, and Mei Ren Tian Xia.

Apart from their varied and peculiar peaks, Yandang Mountain's waterfalls, springs, caves and temples are all outstanding, and it can hold its own against any of the Five Great Mountains. Thus, the locals have become all-round savvy. Once you arrive in Yandang Town, you will be met with warm hospitality for food, lodging and transport. Of course, this hospitality is not free, but their manner makes you willingly reach into your pocket.