East Lake (Shaoxing)

东湖

A garden of cliffs and rock scenery, formed from a Han-dynasty quarry. Ride a wooden boat through Tao Gong Cave and Immortal Peach Cave to see the reflections of the cliffs. It is considered one of Zhejiang's three famous lakes.

East Lake is about 6 kilometers east of Shaoxing's city center, at the foot of Ruokuai Hill. It was a stone quarry from the Han dynasty onward. Over the centuries, quarrying created cliffs and deep pools several dozen meters high. During the Guangxu era of the Qing dynasty, local scholar Tao Junxuan built embankments along the hills and channeled water to form a lake. The result is a garden famous for its cliff scenery, and together with West Lake in Hangzhou and South Lake in Jiaxing, it is known as one of Zhejiang's three famous lakes. The main way to see it is by wooden boat. Boatmen row and punt from the pier through Tao Gong Cave (47 meters high, wide enough for only one boat, with a narrow strip of sky overhead), Immortal Peach Cave (its entrance shaped like a peach) and Tao Shе. The cliffs bear rock carvings such as "Iron Turns to Gold." The water reflects the rock walls, which is very picturesque. The trip takes about 30 minutes and costs about 150 yuan for a boat carrying three people. On land, you can walk along the lakeside embankment, Xiachuan Bridge, Tingqiu Pavilion, Tao Shе (commemorating Tao Chengzhang) and Qin Bridge. A full walk around the lake takes about an hour. The boatmen are mostly local veterans who wear black felt hats and speak the Shaoxing dialect. This is the best place to experience Shaoxing's "Three Blacks" (black wooden boats, black felt hats and dried black vegetables). Admission is about 40 yuan, and the boat ride costs extra. A combined ticket is available with Lanting and Shen Garden. Getting there: take Bus 1 from the old town to East Lake Station, or take a taxi (about 20 minutes). Parking is available for drivers. Tips: Sit low and balanced in the boat and do not stand. Queues are long on holidays, so arrive when the park opens. The park has a Shaoxing opera stage that hosts performances on holidays.

East Lake (Shaoxing)

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Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby