Former Residence of Lu Xun, Shaoxing
Former Residence of Lu Xun, Shaoxing
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
247 reviews
Excellent
90
Very good
104
Average
49
Poor
1
Terrible
3
Giles W
Phnom Penh, Cambodia270 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
It's a pity that so few foreigners will ever think of coming here. Lu Xun is largely unknown overseas (although rightly revered domestically as the most important figure in early 20th-century Chinese literature), and Shaoxing is a little off-the-beaten-path for most tourists (though only a short train ride from Shanghai). I suspect a lot of overseas visitors also soon become jaded with Chinese 'historical' attractions: museums here tend to be very poorly organised, and other 'notable monuments' are almost always egregiously ersatz - or stupefyingly samey.
The Lu Xun ancestral home, however, is just a ravishingly beautiful and impressively well-preserved piece of traditional Jiangnan area architecture - and it's an extensive site, with plenty to divert you for an hour or so. Even if you've never heard of Lu Xun, this is well worth a visit: probably the best historical/cultural attraction you'll see during your trip.
As with most venues of this sort in China, it is likely to become heaved out on holidays or weekends; but if you visit during the week, it's usually pretty uncrowded.
The rest of central Shaoxing is also a very attractive destination for a day out, with a number of canals and parks, and some undeveloped enclaves of the charming low-rise traditional housing. The nearby Shen Garden is the most beautiful park I've found anywhere in China.
You should also check out the famous local 'wine' in one of the many good restaurants or wine houses in the area. Shaoxing wine is a dark brown rice wine with a rather astringent, mouth-puckering quality to it - definitely an "acquired taste" (frankly, even the "good stuff" tastes rather more like soy sauce than anything you could properly call 'wine', and is probably best reserved for cooking most of the time!). However, it is fun to give it a try while you're here. Beware, though: it is usually served in enamel bowls of uncertain quantity, and it is deceptively strong - on a hot day, this stuff will get your head spinning quite quickly.
It's nice to pair this with the traditional bar snack of aniseed-infused broad beans - the favourite tavern order of Kong Yi Ji, an intellectual fallen on hard times, eponymous hero of one of Lu Xun's most celebrated short stories (there's a statue of this famous drinker outside one of the biggest wine houses).
The Lu Xun ancestral home, however, is just a ravishingly beautiful and impressively well-preserved piece of traditional Jiangnan area architecture - and it's an extensive site, with plenty to divert you for an hour or so. Even if you've never heard of Lu Xun, this is well worth a visit: probably the best historical/cultural attraction you'll see during your trip.
As with most venues of this sort in China, it is likely to become heaved out on holidays or weekends; but if you visit during the week, it's usually pretty uncrowded.
The rest of central Shaoxing is also a very attractive destination for a day out, with a number of canals and parks, and some undeveloped enclaves of the charming low-rise traditional housing. The nearby Shen Garden is the most beautiful park I've found anywhere in China.
You should also check out the famous local 'wine' in one of the many good restaurants or wine houses in the area. Shaoxing wine is a dark brown rice wine with a rather astringent, mouth-puckering quality to it - definitely an "acquired taste" (frankly, even the "good stuff" tastes rather more like soy sauce than anything you could properly call 'wine', and is probably best reserved for cooking most of the time!). However, it is fun to give it a try while you're here. Beware, though: it is usually served in enamel bowls of uncertain quantity, and it is deceptively strong - on a hot day, this stuff will get your head spinning quite quickly.
It's nice to pair this with the traditional bar snack of aniseed-infused broad beans - the favourite tavern order of Kong Yi Ji, an intellectual fallen on hard times, eponymous hero of one of Lu Xun's most celebrated short stories (there's a statue of this famous drinker outside one of the biggest wine houses).
Written 18 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mumslie
Wisconsin118 contributions
May 2016 • Friends
Given the proximity of the two homes that were in the family before and during Lu Xun's life, the area has been organized into a historical street with the sites on either side. There were two homes used by Lu Xun's family at various points, the Sanwei "college", and the Baicao garden all within 100 meters of each other. If you like history the complex is a unique little picture into life and education in Shaoxing, one of China's more prolific sources of literary talent. There are some descriptions in English but not necessarily enough to tell the entire story. For example, a Chinese friend had to fill in the details that Lu Xun's family became poorer and poorer due to a combination of factors and that is why the family kept selling off property and eventually ended up living in the smaller, second house. The architecture is typical style for south China and some effort has been put into filling the rooms with period furniture. Nothing elaborate, however. The college, for example, looks more like a home school but one can imagine 6-7 pupils at their desks practicing calligraphy. I think 2.5-3 hours is enough time to see everything (excluding shopping).
Written 22 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason C
Shaoxing, China18 contributions
This is the premier attraction of the city and is, in fact, a decent tourist destination. Lu Xun Native Place (as it's often translated) is actually an entire area -- a long, stone, pedestrian street down the center lane, with smaller lanes, courtyards, and historical rooms to visit along the way. The main street is free to all and has many quaint tourist-trap souvenir shops on either side. The courtyards and rooms (the famous writer's former bedroom, study area, etc.) are accessible only by paid admission.
Some local friends paid our admission and hired an English tour guide, which we appreciated but... I've never done it again and never taken any other foreign guests. It's too expensive, usually crowded, and just not very interesting if you don't really know who Lu Xun is/was.
On the other hand, we've gone shopping there a number of times for souvenirs, gift items, etc. as it is free to stroll and browse and is relatively enjoyable. (Oh, except that you'll be "attacked" by tricycle and boat tour drivers, especially on either end of the street. Just smile and keep walking, unless of course you want to take the tour -- then be prepared to bargain hard and still pay a fairly high price!)
Some local friends paid our admission and hired an English tour guide, which we appreciated but... I've never done it again and never taken any other foreign guests. It's too expensive, usually crowded, and just not very interesting if you don't really know who Lu Xun is/was.
On the other hand, we've gone shopping there a number of times for souvenirs, gift items, etc. as it is free to stroll and browse and is relatively enjoyable. (Oh, except that you'll be "attacked" by tricycle and boat tour drivers, especially on either end of the street. Just smile and keep walking, unless of course you want to take the tour -- then be prepared to bargain hard and still pay a fairly high price!)
Written 6 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chopstickmama
Berlin, Germany432 contributions
May 2012 • Couples
Lu Xun former residence must be a lovely sight on a week day. On the weekend, it is swamped by noisy tour groups. The guides with their microphones and speakers are especially distracting. We stopped sightseeing after two attractions
Written 8 June 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
georgina b
Sydney, Australia97 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
What an abundance of historic buildings, gardens and places of educational interest plus a boat ride twice to a nd from the island, shady trees, the rock from heaven a carved stone Buddha and much more , a place to visit , explore and enjoy
Written 30 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
synthiab
Bordeaux, France1,329 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
I didnt know anything about Lu Xun but I loved learning about him and his philosophy and writing. His home is beautiful and traditional and well worth the visit.
Written 9 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OYL T
Singapre38 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
To to visit and know the history and belongings of the respected.
The exhibit can be a little scary for kids.
No entrance fee.
The exhibit can be a little scary for kids.
No entrance fee.
Written 7 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LiJames77
Sanya, China845 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
This is the mostly unrestored and authentic ancestral home of one of China's better known poets/essayists. It feels a bit unfinished sometimes as evidenced by just one or two lifelike mannequins in a room or two as an imagination-aide, there really is just some bare dark furniture adorning empty rooms, a library with no books, so a lot of imagination is needed, while most of the museum quality stuff has been shifted to the nearby Memorial Hall. As I said it's a bit underwhelming but that in itself is testament to the fact that this really is a late-Qing real homestead and has not been falsely adorned. For that it deserves a visit.
Written 25 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gamecock95
SoCal49 contributions
Nov 2016 • Friends
Well maintained family home/complex of the writer Lu Xun. At a cost of 0 RMB, the price was certainly right. Interesting to discover a writer that had so much insight into the coming changes in China - indeed, maybe even help generate those changes. Clearly, my local friend though highly of Lu Xun and it is always nice to "dig a little deeper" into China's history and culture. Overall, the complex was well maintained and meaningful. Most of the signs were in English which as a a non-Chinese speaking laowai was, of course, helpful. Certainly worth an hour or two. Easy to find and centrally located and would fit nicely into a larger day of exploring old Shaoxing easily. Highly recommend for those interested in the later stages of the Ching dynasty although I suspect that this isn't the kind of place that kids would enjoy.
Written 6 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie L
United Kingdom3 contributions
Oct 2015 • Friends
I can know more about the Chinese great writer Lu Xun there, the scenes in his stories and his childhood life are shown. It is good place for visit in Shaoxing!
Written 3 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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