Keyan Scenic Area & Jian Lake
柯岩
The 'Cloud Bone' rock pillar left from Sui and Tang quarrying and the Tiangong Buddha, boating on Jian Lake past its ancient towpath, and Lu Town, a recreated Jiangnan town from Lu Xun's stories, make this a one-stop Shaoxing culture experience.
Keyan Scenic Area lies in Keqiao District, about 12 km from Shaoxing's city centre, and is made up of three zones: Keyan, Jian Lake and Lu Town. Keyan is a quarry site dating back to the Sui and Tang dynasties. Its most famous 'Cloud Bone' is a pillar more than 30 metres tall, narrow at the bottom, under 1 metre across at its thinnest point, and wider at the top, like a giant boulder poised in the air, earning it the title 'the finest stone under heaven'. Beside it is the Tiangong Buddha, a seated Maitreya carved in the Sui dynasty, about 20 metres high, cut into the rock face and set off against the Cloud Bone. The site also has Lotus Listening Pavilion, the Seven Stars Cave and Puzhao Temple. Jian Lake was built in the 5th year of the Yonghe era of the Eastern Han dynasty (140 CE) under the direction of Ma Zhen, Governor of Kuaiji. Shaoxing yellow wine is brewed with its water. Within the scenic area you can take a painted boat or wupeng boat around the lake, see the ancient towpath (a stone-slab embankment built since the Tang dynasty, along which trackers hauled boats, spanning the lake), the White Jade Embankment, and Gourd Island in the lake. Lu Town is a water town reconstructed from Lu Xun's stories, with Xianheng Tavern, the Lu Mansion, Tugu Shrine, a pawnshop and a village opera stage. On holidays there are performances featuring characters such as Ah Q and Xianglin's Wife, along with village opera shows, making it good for families. Suggested route: Keyan (1.5 hours), then a boat ride on Jian Lake (30 minutes), then Lu Town (1.5 hours), for about 4 hours in total. The combined ticket costs about RMB 115, including the boat ride. Getting there: take a bus from the old city of Shaoxing to the Keyan Scenic Area stop, about 40 minutes, or take a taxi, about 25 minutes. Notes: the three zones are far apart, so connect them by boat and sightseeing bus where possible; food prices at Lu Town are high; the Keyan stone area has many steps.
Opening hours
08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Keqiao Ancient Town
- Dongpu Ancient Town (Yellow Wine Town)
- Yangshan Stone City
- Anchang Ancient Town
- China Yellow Wine Museum
- Fushan Park & Yuewang Terrace
- Shaoxing Museum
- Cangqiao Straight Street