Jan 2009

This amazing Museum is opposite the entrance to Lu Xun's Native Place but while thousands of people throng to see the places that featured in Lu Xun's life, there are few across the road in this amazing Museum.

There is an entrance fee of 40 RMB but there are four floors of glass cases with items from the Shaoxing area going back many decades.

Sadly there is NO ENGLISH anywhere in the Museum - not on any of the museum pieces, and the staff I spoke to had no English language skills, so it was rather disappointing not to understand the detail about the exhibits.

On paying the fee, one is presented with a rather grand brochure - the English on the front "Existing dust-covered history here let you see civilization's passing And dynasties' substitutions; Your ancestors stories here Make you aftertaste contend for hegemony And talk the world events at will" and on the back "Only in here Can you see more and better finer and nicer Elites of enriched culture and wisdom of Ancient Yue Kingdom's ancestors: Only in here Can you know truer and kinder Wider and deeper Historical and cultural Shaoxing."

Now I don't meant o be disrespectful, but I have no idea what it all means!!!! I wish that after translation from Chinese to English an editor[u] be employed to make some sense of it.

Many of the exhibits are pottery items - with such fascinating items as a "Long Neck Frangrant Fumed Bottle." and a "Lucky Beast Pulse Pillow" There were daggers, swords, urinals, bowls, mirrors and jewelry and on the top floor which has a grand view over Shaoxing was a wonderful display with the "Tomb Figures of Military Forces"

Well worth a visit - but if you can take a Chinese translator it would be a good idea.

Right in the centre of Shaoxing, is Lu Xun walk which is dedicated to the life and work of the famous poet and writer who went under the name of Lu Xun.

He was born in this place in 1881 and his ancestral home is part of the tourist walk here. A small canal runs through parallel to Lu Xun Lu (Lu Xun Road) and these days Shaoxing Boats, which are little wooden boats with bamboo awnings ply the waters taking tourists for a look at the place from the water. Shaoxing Boats are propelled by the boatmen using their feet on a long oar at the back of the boat.

He left Shaoxing in 1899 and later returned from 1910 and 1912, and taught at the teachers training centre there.

Along the street are many stalls to purchase food, Shaoxing Wine, and other momentos of one's visit to the street.

His ancestral home, the school, the Memorial Hall are all open to the public - for a fee - and there is an office at one end of the walk to purchase tickets or meet with a tour guide.

There is not much English translation anywhere, so if anyone has little Chinese langauge skills it is best to take someone who can explain things for you.

Sometimes the name is written as LuXun.