Lanting (Orchid Pavilion)

兰亭

The birthplace of Wang Xizhi's "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection." The Goose Pond, Winding Stream Wine Cup pavilion, Imperial Stele Pavilion and Youjun Shrine sit among bamboo groves, making it a pilgrimage site for calligraphy lovers.

Lanting lies at the foot of Lanzhu Hill, about 12 kilometers southwest of Shaoxing's city center. In 353 CE, during the Eastern Jin dynasty, Wang Xizhi and 41 other scholars, including Xie An and Sun Chuo, gathered here for a spring purification ritual. They floated wine cups along a winding stream, and Wang Xizhi wrote the "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection" in a flush of inspiration. It is known as the "Finest Running Script Under Heaven." Lanting became a holy site for calligraphy. It was rebuilt in the Ming dynasty, and the Kangxi and Qianlong emperors both inscribed steles here. The scenic area is small but refined. At the entrance, the Goose Pond stele pavilion holds the characters "Goose Pond" written by the father and son Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi. The Winding Stream site has a curved creek with a stone channel where wine cups can be set. In spring, a calligraphy festival recreates the cup-floating and poetry. Other sites include the Winding Stream Pavilion, the Little Lanting Pavilion and the Imperial Stele Pavilion. The Imperial Stele Pavilion holds a large stele engraved on both sides, with the Kangxi emperor's calligraphy of the "Preface" and a poem by the Qianlong emperor. Youjun Shrine is dedicated to Wang Xizhi. Legend links its ink pond and the eighteen practice vats to Wang Xianzhi. The Lanting Calligraphy Museum displays copies of the "Preface" from different eras and works by famous calligraphers. A bamboo path winds through the grounds. A visit takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, and you should leave time for the museum. Admission is about 40 yuan. A combined ticket with East Lake, Shen Garden and others is better value. Getting there: take Bus 3 from Shaoxing's old town directly to Lanting (about 40 minutes), or take a taxi (about 25 minutes). If driving from Hangzhou, take the Lanting exit on the Hangzhou-Jinhua-Quzhou Expressway. Tips: Around the Lanting Calligraphy Festival, held near the third day of the third lunar month, the site is very crowded. You can practice copying calligraphy and make rubbings on site. Dining options near the site are limited, so return to the city center for a meal. Lanting National Forest Park nearby is a good extension for hiking.

Lanting (Orchid Pavilion)

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby