Jianhu Lake

Jianhu Lake

Located 1.5 kilometers west of Shaoxing City, the world-renowned Shaoxing rice wine is brewed using the water from Jianhu Lake. In his later years, Lu You lived in seclusion by the lake, surrounded by picturesque scenery.

History: During the Yonghe era of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Ma Zhen, the governor of Kuaiji, gathered the waters from 36 sources across Shanyin and Kuaiji counties to form the lake, stretching east to the Cao’e River and west to the Puyang River, spanning 127 li in length and covering an area of approximately 206 square kilometers. It could irrigate over 9,000 hectares of farmland, greatly benefiting the people of both counties. After the mid-Tang Dynasty, the lake gradually silted up. The lake features embankments and bridges scattered throughout, with fishing boats often seen, surrounded by distant mountains and crystal-clear waters mirroring the surroundings — a true representation of the Jiangnan water town aesthetic. Wang Xizhi’s words “Traveling on the mountains above, as if floating in a mirror,” are nothing but the truth.

Yuan Hongdao wrote: “Qiantang is as gorgeous as flowers, while Shanyin is as lush as grass. People before the Six Dynasties never heard of the beauty of West Lake.” This is no exaggeration. Both He Zhizhang and Lu You loved this “wondrously beautiful lake and mountain scenery” and chose to spend their final years here.

The islands of Jianhu Lake are elegant. The small islets are connected by uniquely named bridges, such as “Mirror Water,” “Moon Embrace,” and “Silk Tie.” There are bridges everywhere, yet they form a well-connected and delightful network.

Mirror Water Bridge is one of the most famous floating bridges in ancient Shaoxing, recorded in the Jiaqing-era Kuaiji Annals. Silk Tie Bridge is said to have been where, in the 18th year of the Shaoxing era during the Southern Song Dynasty (1148 AD), the scholar Wang Zuo achieved top honors in the imperial examination. On the eve of his departure to take up an official post elsewhere, a group of scholars tied ceremonial silk sashes around him, dressed him in ceremonial attire, and saw him off from Ke Rock. Painting Bridge, also known as Fishing Bridge, existed before the Southern Song Dynasty. Lu You, after returning to his hometown in seclusion, often rowed a small painted boat here to fish. The poet wrote: “A painted bridge emerges from the grove, with red blossoms lining both shores connecting reeds and cattails.” The Eternal Theater Stage is an eastern-facing stage by the water in this Jiangnan water town, surrounded on two sides by water and facing Jianhu Lake. Here, the charm of rural opera performances described by Lu Xun and the ambiance of theatrical shows in water towns come alive.

Transportation:

Take bus routes 3 or 7 from the train station to Pianmen Station, then walk to the site.

Address: Inside Keqiao Scenic Area, Keqiao District, Shaoxing City (next to National Highway 104)

Type: Lake

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0575-84361555

Opening Hours:

8:00–16:30 (winter hours); 7:30–17:00 (summer hours)

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Keqiao Scenic Area ticket (115 RMB for the three-zone combo ticket). The connecting cruise between Jianhu, Keqiao, and Luzhen costs 15 RMB. No student discounts available.