The wupeng (black-awning boat), foot-paddled by a straw-hatted boatman, is Shaoxing's living symbol, immortalised by writer Lu Xun. Drift along the old town's stone-lined canals past arched bridges, whitewashed houses and waterside teahouses while your English-speaking guide shares the water town's 2,500-year storey. The ride is private, calm and unhurried, letting you simply sit back and take in the scenery at the slow rhythm of the paddle. It suits couples, families and photography lovers looking for a peaceful, authentically local moment away from the crowds. Unique, peaceful and deeply photogenic — a memorable glimpse of everyday canal life.