Must-Visit Lanting in Shaoxing: A Place of Literary Elegance

🎈Lanting (Orchid Pavilion) is steeped in ancient charm Located at the foot of Lanzhu Mountain, 13 kilometers southwest of Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, nestled among mountains and waters 🏞Attraction Highlights ✅Goose Pool: The first scenic spot in Lanting, featuring crystal-clear green water where white geese play freely. Legend has it that the character "goose" was written by Wang Xizhi, while "pool" was written by his son Wang Xianzhi. This father-son collaboration has become a beautiful story passed down through generations. The "Father-Son Stele" is truly meaningful. The leisurely white geese are absolutely adorable ✅Lanting Pavilion: A square-topped structure with classical elegance. The characters "Lanting" on the stele were written by Emperor Kangxi. The current stele is fragmentary, reconstructed in 1981 ✅Winding Stream Party Site: One of Lanting's core attractions. A zigzagging stream flows through the site. Every year on the third day of the third lunar month, calligraphers gather here for the Winding Stream Party. In ancient times, scholars would sit around the stream, and when floating wine cups stopped before them, they had to compose a poem - such an elegant pastime ✅Liushang Pavilion: Built to commemorate the Winding Stream Party, with powerful calligraphy reading "Liushang Pavilion" on its plaque. Inside are displays of "Picture of Lanting Gathering" and "Picture of Winding Stream Party," along with replicas of drinking vessels, vividly depicting the historical scene ✅Imperial Stele Pavilion: An octagonal double-eaved structure built during the Kangxi period. The 300-year-old imperial stele features Emperor Kangxi's rendition of "Lantingji Xu" on the front, written in an elegant style, and Emperor Qianlong's impromptu seven-character regulated verse "Poem of Lanting" on the back, written in a flowing style ✅Wang Youjun Temple: Built during the Kangxi period, with white walls and black tiles, surrounded by water on all sides. Inside is a clear pool said to be where the Sage of Calligraphy washed his brushes. The Mohhua Pavilion in the pool, together with the connecting bridge and surrounding corridors, creates a unique Jiangnan watertown scene ✅Lanting Calligraphy Museum: China's largest specialized calligraphy museum, built in Hui-style architecture with white walls and black tiles, exuding scholarly charm. Here you can systematically learn about Lanting calligraphy and culture Walking through Lanting Scenic Area, you can feel the rich historical culture and unique Jiangnan charm everywhere Whether you're a calligraphy enthusiast or someone who enjoys exploring historical sites and natural scenery, this place is definitely worth visiting