At Shaoxing’s Orchid Pavilion, Wang Xizhi gathered poets and scholars in 353 AD for the event that inspired his celebrated “Preface to the Orchid Pavilion”. For 1,700 years, every calligrapher in China has studied and copied this masterpiece. Now it's your turn to pick up the brush at the very place where it all happened.

Your experience begins with a guided walk through the gardens. Your guide will tell the famous storey of that legendary gathering — how cups of wine were floated down a winding stream, and any guest whose cup stopped in front of them had to compose a poem on the spot or drink a penalty cup. You'll see the actual winding stream (Qu Shui Liu Shang) and the pavilions where this event took place.

Visit the calligraphy galleries displaying reproductions of Wang Xizhi's works and stone inscriptions by emperors and scholars through the centuries. Your guide will explain the different styles of Chinese calligraphy and why Wang Xizhi's flowing “running script” was revolutionary.

Then comes the hands-on experience. In a traditional workshop space within the garden complex, a calligraphy instructor will guide you through the fundamentals: how to hold the brush, control the ink, and execute the basic strokes. You'll practice on rice paper, starting with simple characters and progressing to writing your own Chinese name or a meaningful phrase.

The instructor will demonstrate how the same character looks completely different in regular script, running script, and grass script — and you'll try each style yourself. The meditative focus required for calligraphy is itself a unique experience: many guests describe it as deeply relaxing and surprisingly addictive.

Your finished practice sheets and one formal piece on a decorative scroll are yours to take home — signed and stamped with a traditional red seal. A truly one-of-a-kind souvenir from one of the most important sites in Chinese calligraphy.