A Trip to Shaoxing
It took me a while to nail down the destination of the trip, in the precondition
of our time schedule and limited budget. Shaoxing was only but two hours and a
half distance from Shanghai by train, and, though called a city, it was pretty town-like and interesting. My friend and I searched out some scenery picture of Shaoxing off the Internet upfront, whose seeming transquility and unfamiliarity wholly embraced what we expected for the trip.
We started the journey early in the morning. The weather was humid due to the thunder storm the day before. It was but also cool and breezy. I asked my friend to print out the specification of the components we were to purchase so that we might talk about it on the train. Also I tucked The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, into my bag. Past experiences told me not to travel empty-handed. Carrying something that interest you on the way may largely eliminate the transportation boredom
As scheduled, we got to Shaoxing Railway Station at 8:45. There we stepped out of the station and headed for the downtown area, which later turned out only some
-three-minute walk. On the way a man on his rickshaw tried to get us in his rickshaw with a ridiculous price. Both of my friend and I got amused by his coaxing
and audacious lie.
It took us a while to find a satisfying map of the city. Carrying it, we stopped
at a bench near the city moat to plan our trip route. We wanted to visit places
that are interesting but not too touristy. I told my friend that this city was
renowned for Lu Xun, a famous Chinese writer and revolutionist during his times
and the times to follow. Hence it was a must that we visit his former residence.
Maybe it would be tourist-packed, but that was the reason that I prioritized the city over others: I want to see what environment the writer was once in and what places in his essays were like in real life.
After pinning down our route plan, we left the bench to walk northward. It was interesting to see how different a city looked like from others. Shaoxing was like Suzhou in some ways, such as stone bridges, narrow rivers, verdant willows, and the style of the building. Still, it comprises something which is unique in itself. It was the uniqueness that intoxicated my friend and me. Its slow life pacing and the distinct panorama of the city left us the impression of ease and wholeness.
The first stop was Dais of Yue King. 8 RMB entrance fee allowed us to amble around the mountain the whole morning. The cypress trees were still dotted with rain
drops, which reflected more the verdancy of the trees; two symmetrical stone lions stooped at the dais gate, which gave you a glimpse of the ambiance and style
of the past dais; The pavilions sat at the slope of the mountains and stone herons over the roof told you a story of past glory and grandness; and Fei Yi Pavilion led you back to the remote history of the city, which was full of ups and downs. The debris exhibited in it proved a time that was far from now, but was still breathing in and out in the river of history.
There were a few other things to mention. The Chinese idiom which means “To sleep on a stick; to taste gall” was presented in the exhibition hall. My friend
and I talked about it and all consented to its impracticality. The idiom aims to tell us to strive hard but is quite controversial and infeasible in reality. We all thought to strive hard by all means is not the wisest way to success and achievements.
Another thing is that on the way to the apex of the mountain, we came across lots of elm trees with strings of seeds dangling among the branches and catkin trees with its caterpillar-shaped strings of seeds, some of which dispersed on the stone stage below. I told my friend I hadn’t seen those things ever since my family moved to town, and it was amazing how readily those commonplace trees dragged me back to the sweat and innocent childhood.
After a hearty lunch at the foot of the mountain, we followed the map to the formal residence of Lu Xun. It was situated on a history-tinged street, with lots of touristy attractions affiliated to it. I was a bit disappointed to be honest.
Probably because it was a touristy place, every single spot was tagged with price that basically you had to pay for everything. Furthermore, the whole street was permeated with the stinky smell of Tofu and moldy dried cabbage, both of which
were said to be local specialties. I didn’t know how others thought of them;
I myself was really put off by the smell.
We left the place much earlier than scheduled. There wasn’t really much to see.
Lots of rickshaws were laid out at the entrance of the street, with owners of which trying to peddle you their service. On the surface of the filthy river lots
of boats berthed around. You had to pay 50 RMB in order to get onto the boat for a half-hour floating on the river in the scotching sun. And on the specialty shops assistants eyed you around, as if you were a burglar plotting to rob their
shop. I guess they must think those moldy dried cabbage, jars of spirit, and brown pickled meat were really tempting to us.
We readjusted our route after we finished the place. Two parks were added on the
list. Following the map we walked along. For a while we were attracted by the narrow lanes interspersed among people’s living areas and there we meandered around a while. At one point we reached another small river and saw an old man’s house by it. He had lots of flowers outside of his house, and was playing with them when we passed by. But what amazed us was what’s inside his house: Right in
the middle of his house, there was a huge profile of Mao Ze Dong hanging on the
wall. The profile-centered house setting right dragged me back to some sixty years ago. My friend and I were surprised.
Also we dropped by a flower market. There the first time in my life I saw Sensitive Plant. With a soft finger touching, its leaves cuddle together immediately.
Very cute and lovely. Besides flowers shops, there were some pet shops, mostly gold fish, cats, and dogs. Passing by a gold fish shop, you might see lots of artificial fake stones on display. They reminded me there was one time in my life I
was so jealous of my classmate, who got lots of those stones and carried them with her to school. That was a time when meagerness was life. But she was spared
of that somewhat.
It was still early when we finished visiting the places on the list. So after dinner my friend and I walked away the time near the station. It turned out to be
far more interesting and rewarding than we thought. There was a big lake behind
it. Sitting on the stone by the lake in the twilight, we talked for a long time.
My friend mentioned his dream when he was still back in England. He wanted to have some holding, and lived in the countryside where he could raise his own chickens and grow his own flowers and plants. You had to be rich to be poor, he said in the end. It was true: What was only the life style of the poor becomes a luxury these days that only the rich can afford. It was pretty ironic.
Anyway, in general it was a worthwhile trip. My friend and I had intended to have a trip of this kind a long time, and finally we had time to give it a go. For
me it was a nice day-off to get away from the chaotic city life and a refreshing
start for another project. I guess somewhat it was also a bit like a closure. Life itself goes on with only one start and stop. But as we live though it, we always can start it over and over again, if something doesn't work out. Hence it was no point to linger over something that weighs you down. Traveling is a solution to closing that sort of things up. By visiting somewhere unknown to you before, you get to imbibe in new experience and perspective, which was absolutely catalytic to new ideas and inspirations.
