Lu Xun Shaoxing

Author: Han Mo Lin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: The great painter Gu Kaizhi of the Jin Dynasty highly praised the landscapes of Kuaiji Mountain: "A thousand peaks vie in beauty, ten thousand gorges contend in flow, with lush vegetation covering them like clouds rising and rosy mists gathering." The renowned calligrapher Wang Xianzhi said: "Walking along the mountain path, the rivers and streams reflect each other, leaving one overwhelmed by the scenery." The scenic beauty lingers, but what truly touches the heart is the culture that has been nurtured over thousands of years of history. Four thousand years ago, Yu the Great, the legendary ruler, tamed the waters here; two thousand years ago, the King of Yue established his capital, engaging in conflicts with Wu, turning the land into a battlefield of warring factions. During the Southern Song Dynasty, it was once a temporary capital. Over millennia, the legacy includes the majestic Yu the Great Tomb at the foot of Kuaiji Mountain, the imposing Yue King Terrace at the base of Longshan, the Kuye Creek where Goujian smelted metal and forged swords, the Qinwang Mountain where Qin Shi Huang gazed at the sea during his eastern tour, the Qiu Jin Memorial Hall in the southern part of the city, and the Baishiding in the city center where Zhou Enlai's ancestors once lived. Scenic wonders are painted by brush, and nature writes its own stories. What makes Shaoxing captivating is not just its landscapes. Wang Xizhi's retreat, the Jingzhu Temple, the Fanshan Bridge where he inscribed on fans for elderly vendors, the Liquanquansi where the Orchid Pavilion gathering took place, the Shen Garden where Lu You composed "Hairpin Wind," the Qingteng Study of Xu Wei, and Lu Xun's Baicao Garden. Thinking of the romantic tales of these predecessors, even ordinary courtyards seem deeply imbued with emotion.