Anchang Ancient Town (Legacy of the Shangze Kingdom)

Anchang Ancient Town (Legacy of the Shangze Kingdom)

Anchang Ancient Town (Legacy of the Shangze Kingdom) is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Over 4,000 years ago, the ancestors of the Yue people thrived in Anchang. More than 1,000 years ago, King Qian of Yue, under the order of the Tang emperor, quelled the Dongchang Rebellion and named the place Anchang. The old street was built during the Hongzhi era of the Ming Dynasty. With a long history and rich cultural heritage, this millennia-old town boasts enduring legends, legendary generals and merchants, literary figures recorded in history, and a thriving tradition of private secretaries beyond the imperial examinations. It is widely renowned as the homeland of these secretaries. Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, Anchang has been a hub of vibrant commodity economy and trade, distinguished by its prominent cultural characteristics and profound historical roots. It was once a major commercial port along the eastern Zhejiang shipping route, an important distribution center for goods in the surrounding areas of Shaoxing, and a bustling town in northern Yue known for its prosperity, numerous merchants, and developed finance.

Anchang Ancient Town boasts beautiful scenery and an elegant environment, and is a national AAA-level tourist attraction. The existing three-mile-long street is built along the river, with simple and sturdy shops and workshops, elegantly arranged overhanging arcades, winding and quiet stone alleyways, and enjoys the reputation of “a myriad of homes spanned by clear waters, and seventeen rainbows crossing the river.”

Suggested Duration

5 hours

Transportation

Bus: You can take bus 118 from Shaoxing Passenger Transport Center or outside the West Bus Station (near Shaoxing International Hotel), get off at Anchang Grand Hotel stop, and cross the street to reach the ancient town. The last bus from Shaoxing to Anchang departs at 20:00, with a fare of 5–6 RMB and a frequency of every 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can take bus 208 from Keqiao Town directly to Anchang.

Self-driving: Exit at the Keqiao intersection of the Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway, about 5 km to Anchang Town.

Ticket

No ticket is required if you are only visiting the ancient town. However, there are six exhibition halls inside (the Secretary Hall, Stone Carving Hall, Former Site of Bank of China, Cultural Hall, Folk Custom Hall, and Suikang Money Shop), with a combined ticket price of 50 RMB. There are also covered wooden boats available on the town’s canals, costing 10 RMB per person for a one-way trip and 20 RMB for a round trip.

Opening Hours

The ancient town is open all day. The opening hours for paid attractions are May–September: 8:00–17:00; October–April of the following year: 8:00–16:30.

Location

Anchang Town, Shaoxing County, Zhejiang Province (south of Keqiao, north of the Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway)