Opening clams for fortune, pottery making, and crab feasting! This off-the-beaten-path Shaoxing trip is absolutely amazing!

😘 Who would've thought! I spent such a blissful day off in Shaoxing - ultimate relaxation vibes~ ❤ Woke up naturally in the morning and leisurely strolled to Shanxia Lake. Visited the World Freshwater Pearl Museum and got to pry open clams for pearls myself - totally addictive! Holding a wet clam, prying it open with a knife - "Wow!" A few softly glowing pearls rolled out, warm and smooth in my palm 💜 Had them set into a necklace on the spot - this unique joy was totally worth it! ✌ Basking in the happiness of new jewelry, wandered around Xishi's Hometown. Few crowds, walking on the bluestone paths felt so peaceful. White walls with black tiles, small bridges over flowing water, zoning out by Huansha River watching willows brush the water's surface. The old ancestral hall's corridors played with light and shadows, the breeze carrying whispers of bygone eras 📸 Every random shot captured perfect atmosphere. ❤ Afternoon laziness hit hard, so I dove into Yunmanwu. This hidden gem by tea mountains! Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the lush greenery like paintings 🍃 Sinking into plush sofas,...time? What's that! 🤭 On a whim, detoured to Shijing Reservoir. Wow! Like stumbling into the Wizard of Oz! Water so clear like glass, reflecting straight metasequoia forests 🌳 Aimlessly strolling along the shore, leaves rustling in the wind, the air filled with freedom - my heart instantly calmed. 🤭 Got to play with clay at the Porcelain Origin Cultural Town! Wheel throwing was so fun! The clay kept wriggling disobediently on the wheel until the master potter lent a hand - hey, it slowly became a little bowl! The tactile sensation of muddy fingers was strangely therapeutic~ Waiting for it to be fired and shipped home - the perfect warm souvenir of this trip ✨ 💖 The grand finale had to be Dongshan Daguan Hotel's feast. After tasting so many gourmet dishes, this was my first Dongshan Banquet experience: 🦀 Drunken June Yellow Crab Meat Cup: Huadiao wine aroma mixed with crab umami shot straight to the brain! One bite and sweetness filled my heart~ 🐟 Zhishi Blue Bream: Tender like tofu, swimming in broth so delicious it could make your eyebrows fall off! 😘 Garlic Stinky Tofu Baked Crayfish: Smelling it goes "Wow!", eating it goes "OMG!" Garlic coating springy shrimp meat, stinky tofu's magical fermentation - so fragrant I couldn't stop chopsticking! 🙃 On the way back, cool pearls around my neck, an adorably ugly clay cup in my bag, crab sweetness still lingering on my tongue... This day had it all - clam-opening thrills, hometown tranquility, reservoir freshness, childhood joy of playing with clay, all gently concluded by an amazing feast. 💡 Little reminders: 🚗 Self-driving is most convenient as attractions are somewhat spread out - stop and go as you please. 🕒 Don't rush: We left at 10am, returned at 9pm - perfect pacing.