Jian Lake, located within the Keyan Scenic Area, is known as the ‘Mother Lake’ of Shaoxing. It is not only renowned for its beautiful scenery but also for the Shaoxing aged wine, which is brewed using the water from Jian Lake. Due to the unique water quality, the wine produced from Jian Lake has a soft and mellow taste, which is a reason many visitors come to taste the authentic Shaoxing wine. To visit Jian Lake, one must purchase a joint ticket for the Keyan Scenic Area. Several small islands in the lake feature attractions such as the Eastern Han Flute Pavilion, Nanyang Autumn Drifting, Wuqiao Moonlight Stroll, and Hulu Drunken Island. One can enter the islands by walking from the west entrance of the Keyan Scenic Area, but this can be tiring. Alternatively, taking a free ferry ride to explore Jian Lake is a pleasant experience. A conventional approach is to first visit the Keyan Scenic Area, then take a ferry to Jian Lake, and after visiting, continue by ferry to Lu Town. Upon entering Jian Lake from Keyan, the first attraction is the Eastern Han Flute Pavilion, a Han-style building showcasing bamboo carvings and engravings. Adjacent to it, the Hundred Boats Dock offers free ferry rides into Jian Lake or one can charter a traditional Wupeng boat to experience the charm of Jian Lake at a leisurely pace (additional fees apply). If taking a ferry, the first stop is Wuqiao Moonlight Stroll, which is essentially a small park with five bridges in a pleasant environment. The highlight here is a straight causeway on the lake, leading to the main attraction of Jian Lake, Hulu Drunken Island. This causeway is an ancient towpath, exquisitely preserved and elegantly referred to as the ‘White Jade Causeway’. Walking on it gives a sense of unity with Jian Lake. Hulu Drunken Island is the largest island in the Jian Lake Scenic Area, shaped like a large wine gourd, and its attractions are all related to Shaoxing’s fine wine. You can reminisce about King Goujian of Yue’s heroic act of ‘casting wine to the troops’ after enduring hardships, in front of the sculpture ‘Casting Wine to the Troops’. The main building on the island, Hu She Lou, is a wine culture museum where you can learn about the production process and history of yellow wine through text, images, and exhibits. Of course, the tasting hall is a must-visit; don’t forget to try the authentic Shaoxing yellow wine brewed with Jian Lake water for free here, and the Shaoxing Hua Diao wine will not disappoint. If you have friends or relatives who enjoy drinking, it’s worth buying some to take back. There are ferries from the island to Lu Town, and after exploring Jian Lake, taking a boat to Lu Town to experience the water town of Shaoxing as depicted by Lu Xun is another unique experience. Operating hours are from May 1st to October 7th, 08:00-17:00; from October 8th to April 30th, 08:30-16:30. It is advisable to follow the directional signs within the Keyan Scenic Area, which is divided into three parts and covers a large area, to avoid retracing your steps.
Jian Lake – The Mother Lake of Shaoxing
Jian Lake, located within the Keyan Scenic Area, is known as the ‘Mother Lake’ of Shaoxi[...]
