Departing from Fuzhou, Fujian, a 6-day self-driving tour of Zhejiang (Shaoxing, Hangzhou)

The first released Spring Festival holiday, how can we not go out for a trip? When planning the itinerary, we chose to drive ourselves because we were worried about the risk of infection on public transportation and the need to bring luggage for a family trip. As Zhejiang is adjacent to Fujian, short-distance self-driving travel is also feasible. Moreover, during the 2023 Spring Festival holiday, many attractions in Zhejiang will offer free admission, so why not take action when the heart is moved? 📆[Travel itinerary] 📆Itinerary: Day1 Depart from Fuzhou at 11:00 and arrive in Shaoxing in about 7.5 hours. If you still have energy and it's early enough in the evening 🌃, you can first go to Anchang Ancient Town and have dinner there. We booked the Orange Crystal Shaoxing Jianhu Hotel, which is very close to the highway and only about 100m from the subway, but it is a bit far from the city center. However, it won't be a problem if you are driving. Day2 At 9:00 after breakfast, depart by self-driving or subway to reach the Lu Xun's hometown scenic area. It is a large-scale and well-planned scenic area, and reservations need to be made in advance on the "Shaoxing Culture and Tourism Group" public account. The important attractions include Lu Xun's ancestral home, Lu Xun's former residence, Baicaoyuan (Hundred Herb Garden), and Sanwei Shuwu (Three-Flavor Study). Have lunch at the nearby pedestrian street, where there are many restaurants to choose from. We recommend trying the famous Shaoxing Drunken Crab and Drunken Chicken. After dinner, head to Donghu Lake for a visit lasting about 1 hour. Reservation through the official account is required. Visiting on a rainy day has a unique charm, as you can take a small boat through the stone bridge and cave, and enjoy the lotus leaves in summer or the beauty of withered lotus in winter. You can also choose to walk around the scenic area, which is not very large, but photography enthusiasts may want to spend more time here. Drive to the historical block of Shusheng's hometown and park at Jishan parking lot. Walk through a section of Jishan Park, which also offers beautiful scenery. Here, there is Wang Xizhi's calligraphy on the white walls, as well as attractions such as Duopo Lane and Ink Pool. It is also a water town with the typical scenery of the Jiangnan region in misty rain. The continuous drizzle is very suitable for visiting. After dinner, go to Shen Garden. Shen Garden is free during the day, but the "Shen Garden Night" Yue opera performance requires a ticket. It is recommended to book tickets on the official WeChat account, as third-party platforms may have errors in the showtimes. The 35-minute performance is a great first experience of Yue opera, and the lantern-lit garden has its own charm. Day3 After breakfast at 9:00, drive from Shaoxing to Hangzhou, which takes about 1.5 hours. After dropping off the luggage, take the subway to Longxiangqiao Station and walk to the vicinity of Bai Di to start visiting the scenic West Lake. It is not recommended to drive, especially during holidays, as the roads around West Lake are extremely congested. We will take the bus 🚌 from Bai Di to Leifeng Pagoda and take a boat tour at Hua Gang Guan Yu - San Tan Yin Yue. Finally, the boat will return to Hubin Wharf. For dinner, we chose "Zhi Wei Guan (Hulin Branch)" next to the lakeside pier, with a short waiting time and mainly serving Hangzhou snacks. Finally, we returned to the hotel from "Longxiangqiao Station" through the subway passage under the Hulin Intime shopping mall. Day4 9:00 Drive to Hangzhou Wildlife World, you can choose the self-driving route. Self-driving cars need to purchase tickets, it is recommended to buy tickets in advance. You can bring your own dry food or dine in the park restaurant, the price is moderate. Had dinner at Hangzhou Restaurant (Qingchun Road branch), many people went to queue for seats and take numbers before 16:30, later dishes will be sold out, it is recommended to arrive early for a better dining experience. Day5 Depart at 9:00 to Nanxun Ancient Town, Huzhou. "Crystal-clear Nanxun" is a beautiful ancient town with many large parking lots and quite a few people. However, ancient towns should be lively. Sunny days in the water town are also extremely beautiful. It is recommended to walk from the [Visitor Center] towards [Xiaolianzhuang], and then take a hand-rowed boat back to the [Visitor Center]. The boat can accommodate 8 people for 280 yuan, or it can be shared. Or take the water bus for 3 yuan/person, which is an electric boat. The scenic area has performances, and the most impressive one is the water wedding ceremony, with beautiful brides in red dresses and a joyful atmosphere where guests and hosts enjoy themselves. There are many snacks and restaurants in the ancient town, have lunch here. Before driving to Taihu Tourist Resort after dinner, the journey takes about 1 hour. You can have a meal at Fisherman's Wharf, where there are many nearby restaurants. At night, the Moon Hotel lights up, and the entire resort has beautiful scenery. Day6 Today's return trip. Departure at 9:00. Passing through the Qiandao Lake scenic area, we came for a meal of "Qiandao Lake fish head". We drove all the way to the central lake area of Qiandao Lake, where the lake and mountains are connected in a continuous stream. The sunny lake surface is sparkling, reflecting the green mountains. Dine at the "Thousand Island Lake Food Stall" near the "Central Pier", where there are many restaurants to choose from. Facing the vast lake view, your heart will be refreshed. 13:00 Return to Fuzhou after lunch, about 8 hours drive. The trip ended successfully. 🚗Transportation guide: From Shaoxing to Hangzhou, you can take the subway. If you are not driving, you can take the subway directly from Shaoxing to Hangzhou. Recommended subway travel in Hangzhou city, especially around West Lake scenic area, and during the Spring Festival most recommended restaurants are located in Hubin Yintai. 🌟Highlights of the itinerary: Winter is too cold, it's hard to stay at scenic spots by the water for long, but the photos are beautiful. Visiting many attractions in a "check-in" style like this may not allow for in-depth exploration, but it's still worth the trip. Shaoxing is suitable for rainy days, with misty scenes of black awning boats and flowing bridges. Qiandao Lake and Taihu Lake are suitable for sunny days, with sparkling blue water and sunlight dotted among the waves. 💰Average cost per person: 3 adults and 1 child, for Spring Festival travel, total expenses (including gas, hotel, tickets, food, amusement, etc.) were a little over 10,000 yuan, with the hotel alone costing 6,000 yuan. 📌Small Tips: Many classics require reservations, follow the relevant official account. There are also explanations on the official account. For the hometown of Lu Xun, it is recommended to find a tour guide for cultural attractions, which require a guide for a better experience.