Five Falls Hike

The bamboo clad hills of Zhejiang are what Shanghai-bound expats dream about when sunny Saturdays roll around. But there is much more down there than Moganshan or West Lake. The Five Falls of Shaoxing are one of the delightful gems of the area. And now with the advent of the fast train (dongchezu) to Yiwu, the Five Falls are an easy day trip away.

It's a bit of a hop, skip and a jump to get to the trailhead. A fast train to the Yiwu train station, a minibus to the Wuxie park, a ferry across a large reservoir and then a short walk finally puts you at a large stone gate that hints that people have been appreciating the scenery here for centuries. That's also where the real hike begins.

A paved trail winds up the skirt of a mountain and along the way you pass five impressive waterfalls, each different, all completely natural. The first fall drops like a curtain of water into a big lagoon. Don't be shy about abandoning the pavement and diving into the bamboo forest. A short walk brings you to the edge of the lagoon where you can strip off your shoes and wade into the chilly waters. No swimming allowed, of course.

Back on the path, make your way through a valley and keep winding uphill until you hit the second and third falls. Though these are nice, we suggest pushing on to the fourth fall with its gentle flow and big boulders–it's an ideal spot for your lunch break.

The total hike time is about three hours and is strenuous in parts. But that's actually good, because it thins out the tourists who crowd over on the ferry but never seem to make it past the first fall. "That's why it's so enjoyable," says Jenny Zhou of the Shanghai Weekend Oasis Club. "Feeling the quietness of nature, birds and the sound of the waterfall."

DETAILS

What: Shanghai Weekend Oasis Club
Email: zhou_jenny@hotmail.com
Cost: ￥450