Shaoxing's train station is in the far north of town - the rail line that comes through here is a spur running between Hangzhou (1hr from Shaoxing) and Ningbo (about 2hr away by the express). Buying tickets from here is a relatively stress-free enterprise. Shaoxing lacks the herd of map-sellers that usually characterize train stations - you'll often have to traipse into one of the city's downtown department stores to find one - but Shaoxing's relatively small scale is fairly easy to navigate without one. If you do get lost, head to the Industrial and Commercial Bank on Renmin Lu just west of Jiefang Lu, where there is a very useful computerized, scrollable English map of the city and all its main attractions.

Jiefang Lu begins one block to the east of the station and at its northern end is the long-distance bus station , about fifteen minutes' walk from the train station. (Be aware that if you are arriving from Hangzhou or Ningbo by bus, you might be deposited in a nameless depot in the far north of town. In this case, look for the private bus operator just outside that will drive you to the main bus terminal.) From the train station, buses nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 all run past the bus station, while nos. 2 and 4 continue on to the southern end of Jiefang Lu. For bike rental there's a shop right next to the Jinyu Hotel on Jiefang Lu. In spring and summer, enterprising locals set up impromptu rental shops on the pavement along Jiefang Bei Lu between the train station and the Shaoxing Dasha.

The main Bank of China is on Renmin Dong Lu just east of Jiefang Lu (daily 8.30am-5pm), but there are branches that can change travellers' cheques all over town. The very friendly and English-speaking staff of Shaoxing CTS , 360 Fushan Lu (tel 0575/5155888), a few minutes west of the Shaoxing Hotel, can arrange tours of the surrounding area as well as book onward travel connections.