Luzhen, located within the Ke Yan Scenic Area in Shaoxing, is a thematic park that recreates the ‘Luzhen’ from Lu Xun’s writings. It is roughly divided into three parts by flowing water. At the entrance of the scenic area, there is a tall stone archway inscribed with the word ‘Luzhen’ and beside it stands a bronze statue of Mr. Lu Xun sitting on a rattan chair, embodying the spirit of ‘frowning at thousands of fingers, bowing to be a cow for the child’, which is also a symbol of Luzhen.
On the central axis, there is the Folk Custom Street and a double-sided stage. To the left are the Zhao Mansion, Earth and Grain Temple, and Kuiwen Pavilion. To the right are the Jingxiu Temple, Hundred Plaque Pavilion, Lu Mansion (Lu Family Garden), Lu Family Ancestral Hall, Pawnshop, and Qian Mansion (Madman’s Mansion), connected by small bridges. Occasionally, black awning boats pass through the river channels, adding to the charm.
Luzhen is not large, and you can follow the signs to explore on foot. The first place to visit is the Folk Custom Street, the bustling area of Luzhen. There are many specialty shops along the street selling antique jade and woolen hats, and other small trinkets. There are also games with Shaoxing characteristics that tourists can participate in, such as ‘Ya Pai Bao’, ‘Throwing Balls into a Vase’, and ‘Ring Toss’. Here, you will encounter many familiar scenes: the Lu Family Ancestral Hall, Kuiwen Pavilion, and the Earth and Grain Temple where Ah Q resides, among others. It’s a unique experience to walk and reminisce about the plot points from the works.
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If you’re interested, you can try them out. At the end of the custom street lies the heart of Luzhen, marked by the double-sided stage where tourists can enjoy community operas and savor yellow wine. For performance times, please refer to the announcement board near the stage.
From the stage, take a left to reach Ah Q’s dwelling, the Earth and Grain Temple, and beyond that, the tallest structure in Luzhen, the Kuiwen Pavilion. Ascending to the top offers a panoramic view of Luzhen. Crossing the bridge leads you to Qian Mansion, where, in line with the plot of ‘A Madman’s Diary’, a twisted environment of ‘cannibalism’ is recreated. Especially upon entering the wormhole, it feels as if you’re walking into the interior of an animal’s intestines, evoking a sense of being consumed by feudal ethics.
Starting from Qian Mansion and heading towards the scenic area entrance, you’ll pass by the pawnshop, the Lu Family Garden from ‘The New Year’s Sacrifice’, and the Jingxiu Temple where Ah Q teases the little nun, among other sites. After crossing the stone bridge in front of Jingxiu Temple, you exit Luzhen Square.
In addition to these buildings, actors dressed in theatrical costumes, portraying characters from Lu Xun’s works, are a sight to behold in Luzhen. Ah Q, with his oily tongue and peculiar expressions, and Xianglin’s Wife, carrying a begging basket and leaning on a bamboo pole, roam the streets. It feels as if you’ve truly stepped into the stories of Lu Xun. When there’s a crowd, they perform their roles and recite classic lines to entertain and amuse visitors, prompting many to take out their cameras for a snapshot.
—Visiting the Ke Yan Scenic Area:
The Ke Yan Scenic Area offers two entrances for visitors: Ke Yan and Luzhen. A recommended route is to start at Luzhen, take a painted boat to Hulu Wine Island, and then proceed to the Ke Yan Scenic Area to admire the Tiangong Buddha. Alternatively, you can enter through Keyan and follow the Keyan-Jianhu-Luzhen route for sightseeing.
Accessibility:
The scenic area is open to visitors all year round and operates daily.
Parking Facilities:
Service facilities at the Ke Yan Scenic Area include a parking lot, specifically the Luzhen Scenic Area Parking Lot, which can accommodate up to 1000 vehicles.
Parking Charges:
The reference price for parking is as follows:
– Free for the first 30 minutes.
– From 30 minutes to 4 hours, small vehicles are charged 10 yuan, and large vehicles are charged 20 yuan.
– From 4 hours and 1 minute to 8 hours, small vehicles are charged 20 yuan, and large vehicles are charged 40 yuan, and so on.
Location:
The Ke Yan Scenic Area is located at No. 518 Keyan Avenue, Shaoxing County, Shaoxing City, adjacent to National Highway 104.
