Ancient Archways

Ancient Archways

Introduction: In ancient times, most residences in Anchang were built along the river facing south, constructed with brick and wood structures, using wooden pillars as frames and brick for partition walls. The town was a gathering place for officials and merchants, hence the concentration of residential buildings. Along both sides of the street and river, the white-walled, black-tiled houses with arched eaves, horse-head walls, and flush gable roofs stood in close rows. The stone-framed archways were simple and dignified, typically consisting of 2 to 5 courtyards, separated by open halls. A few had rockeries, stone ponds, flower plantings, and potted plants. Among the surviving archways in the area are several from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, such as the Fangjia Archway, Fangyuan Archway, and those from the Qing dynasty like Yihetang Archway, Longsheng Hall, Baoshu Hall, and Duncheng Hall. Additionally, there are the Lou Family Residence, where clans lived together; the unique and adjacent Baiyang Ten Archways; and the Qigan Archway and Maode Archway of the Chenjia Lou. Dining / Accommodation / Shopping: Dining: Bao Lin Restaurant in town sells curved sausages and displays small jars of yellow wine. The owner, Shen Baolin, is well-known far and wide. TV stations have come specifically to interview him, making him an ambassador for promoting Chang’an in Shaoxing. Specialties: Renchang Sauce Garden, established in the 18th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1892), covers an area of 7 mu and is the oldest and largest soy sauce producer in Shaoxing. It has now also become a tourist attraction in the ancient town. Accommodation: There are private guesthouses in town, with beds costing only 15–30 yuan each. Transportation: By car: Exit at the Keqiao interchange on the Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway, about 5 km to Anchang Town. By bus: From Shaoxing Passenger Transport Center or the West Bus Station (near Shaoxing International Hotel), take bus No. 118. The last bus from Shaoxing to Anchang departs at 8:00 PM, with a fare of 3 yuan and a frequency of every 5 minutes. You can also take bus No. 208 directly from Keqiao Town. Ticket / Opening Hours: If you’re just visiting the ancient town, no ticket is required. However, there are 6 exhibition halls inside, such as the Shaoxing Shiyeh Memorial Hall, Anchang Folk Custom Museum, and the former site of Bank of China, with a combined ticket price of 35 yuan. Single tickets are 10 yuan for the Shiyeh Memorial Hall and 5 yuan for the Folk Custom Museum. You can also take a black-canopied boat on the town’s waterways — one way 10 yuan/person, round trip 20 yuan/person.

Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province