Onboard Reflections: A Trip to Shaoxing—A Few Things That Stirred My Heartfelt Thoughts

Source: www.sxwetalent.com Release Date: August 23, 2023

Information Summary: Onboard Reflections: A Trip to Shaoxing—A Few Things That Stirred My Heartfelt Thoughts

Invited by logistics technology, I came to Shaoxing for a meeting. This time, the keynote speaker, Researcher Liu Yong from the State Council, said that Shaoxing is a must-visit spot for cultural enthusiasts—but I, on the other hand, am here in Shaoxing for a completely different reason.

During my career, I’ve traveled extensively on business trips, which often provided opportunities for impromptu sightseeing. Before coming here, the first things that popped into my mind when I thought of Shaoxing were the Treaty of Shaoxing, the story of “sleeping on firewood and tasting gall,” the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion, and the gentle, refreshing breeze of Hui Feng. Of these topics, what I’d really like to see is the archaeological site of the Spring and Autumn period Yue State—but then again, given how distant those events were, it’s highly likely that little or no remnants or ruins from that era remain today, isn’t it?

So, another story that feels just a bit closer to home is Lu Xun’s “From the Hundred-Plant Garden to the Three-Flavor Study.” Reading this essay aloud in the Wenshui dialect on the high-speed train, I still find myself humming along effortlessly to the gentle hum of the oil beetle and the clear melody of the cricket’s chirping—and I can even recall vividly the centipedes and blister beetles. The reason is that it instantly brings back memories from my own childhood that are strikingly similar.

After getting off the high-speed train and taking a taxi to the hotel, we suddenly spotted a sign for Jinghu Lake along the way. “Ah,” I immediately said to my wife, who was traveling with me, “Is He Zhizhang also here?” “Only the waters of Jinghu before my door remain unchanged—just as they were in days of old, even as the spring breeze blows.”

I picked up my phone and checked—it was indeed as I’d expected. I even saw that Shen Garden was here too. With these two attractions—Sanwei Bookstore and Shen Garden—on my list, I began to feel genuinely excited. “Red, delicate hands, yellow silk wine. The whole city awash in spring’s beauty, willows lining the palace walls”—Shen Garden isn’t just etched in Lu You’s memory; it’s also lingering in mine. I wonder—if only I could still catch a glimpse of that fleeting “shadow of a startled wild goose”...

As for Lanting, my previous knowledge seemed rather shallow. But thanks to the WeChat public account of Chairman Xu from the Shaoxing Logistics Association yesterday, my horizons have been broadened.

It is said that during the Spring and Autumn period, King Goujian of Yue once planted orchids here. During the Han dynasty, a post station and pavilion were established here, hence the name "Lanting." As for the origin of Lanting's name, Yu Min of the Qing dynasty recorded in his "Zhecheng Bilan" that "some say Lanting was not first named after Wang Xizhi; rather, it was originally a watchtower or post station—similar to a postal inn. It gained widespread fame throughout the country only after Wang Xizhi held his禊 gathering here."

As for the thrilling tale of Wu and Yue from the late Spring and Autumn period, although many sources offer fascinating accounts, in reality, these stories feel so distant as to seem almost untouchable—mere things to ponder.

At the official meeting held on the 18th, the moderator, Dr. Xun Wei, said that Li Bai’s “Ode to a Dream Journey to Tianmu Mountain—A Farewell Poem” was also composed right here. “I long to dream of Wu and Yue, and in a single night, I’ll fly across the Mirror Lake under the moonlight.” “The waters of the Mirror Lake are like the moon, and the women of Yexi are as pure as snow. With their fresh makeup rippling through the new waves, both scenery and figures are utterly extraordinary.” The scenery and beauties of Shaoxing are truly so exquisite—it’s no wonder this place is a cultural treasure trove.

With the official workday ending on the 19th, we still had half an afternoon left, so we quickly made our way to Shen Garden. At a fleeting glance, I wasn’t sure exactly which “Shen” the garden was named after, but the courtyard turned out to be much larger than I’d imagined. Shen Garden is a place steeped in Lu You’s painful memories—a final resting place for Tang Wan, a poignant witness to a love gone tragically wrong, and an enduring echo of criticism against the rigid, Confucian scholar. Today, it has become a popular tourist hotspot, immortalized in Zhu Yao’s poem: “Where has the love of Shen Garden gone? The ink marks on the walls now invite green moss to grow. Tourists come and go like horses in a race, drawn here to gaze upon crumbling walls and dilapidated ruins.”

We quickly made our way to Lu Xun’s former residence. Instead of taking a traditional black-awning boat, we opted for a guided tour route that led from the Sanwei Bookstore to the Hundred Grass Garden. Seen from a modern perspective, Lu Xun’s home was truly spacious, and the learning environment he grew up in was remarkably conducive to study. Even the narrow alleyways—places where he’d played as a child—were brimming with rich memories. Still, while many people lived in such an environment, it certainly wasn’t easy for him to produce those remarkable literary works that have since become part of our classroom curriculum.

Life is but a fleeting visitor—amid the rush, we wrapped up the meeting, hurriedly visited two attractions, and yet, to our regret, we forgot to sample those fennel beans. Of course, we also regretted not having paid a visit to the hometown of the “Sage of Calligraphy” nor explored the ruins of the Yue Kingdom.

What should we do? I’m looking forward to visiting Shaoxing again in a leisurely manner!

About Ma Xiao

Ma Xiao, Senior Engineer, currently holds the position of Yingcai Group Chairman, major: Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Engineering; personally passionate about poetry, history, travel, and more.

Honor

• ·2021, Member of the Shanxi Province Engineer Evaluation Committee
• ·2017, Shanxi Province’s Sanjin Talents
• ·2017, Leading Talent in Emerging Industries of Shanxi Province
• ·2016, Taiyuan City’s high-end talent

Academic Honor

• · Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board Member of “Logistics Technology”
• · Expert of the Guangdong Nanhai Aluminum Processing Industry Alliance
• · Expert Member of the Aluminum Processing Professional Committee, Guangdong Nonferrous Metals Society
• · Member of the 3rd Subcommittee on Warehousing Technology and Management (SAC/TC269/SC6) of the National Logistics Standardization Technical Committee
• · Visiting Graduate Supervisor at Shaanxi University of Science and Technology
• · Expert from the Warehousing Association,
• · Director of the Transportation Association
• · Expert from the Logistics Products Network and the Information Center of the Logistics Technology Association

Academic Achievements, Science and Technology Awards

1. ·In 2003, the GDX-type rail-guided stacker crane was evaluated by the Science and Technology Department of Shanxi Province, and the conclusion was that it filled a technological gap.
2. ·In 2004, the automated stereoscopic warehouse combination shelving system was awarded the Second Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress by the Shanxi Province Science and Technology Award Review Committee.
3. ·In October 2013, the automated three-dimensional warehouse for aluminum alloy profiles passed the scientific and technological achievement appraisal conducted by the Nonferrous Metals Industry Association and the Nonferrous Metals Society, receiving an advanced appraisal rating; Document No. [2013]156 issued by the China Nonferrous Metals Science and Technology Association (Appraisal). In 2014, the “Automated Three-Dimensional Warehouse for Aluminum Alloy Profiles” was awarded the Second Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress by the Nonferrous Metals Society.
4. ·In December 2014, the project received the Second Prize of the Nonferrous Metals Industry Science and Technology Award from the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association and the China Nonferrous Metals Society; certificate number: Zhongse Xie Ke Zi [2014] No. 215-2014122-R02. In the same year, the project also won the Third Prize of the Nanhai District People’s Science and Technology Award from the People’s Government of Nanhai District, Foshan City; certificate number: [2013] No. 202.
5. ·In April 2016, the automated three-dimensional warehouse for aluminum extrusion dies passed the appraisal of scientific and technological achievements conducted by the Nonferrous Metals Industry Association and the Nonferrous Metals Association. The appraisal result was recognized domestically; Zhongse Kexie (Appraisal) No. [2016]003.
6. ·In September 2022, the research and demonstration project on intelligent application technologies for aluminum profile production logistics was evaluated by the Nonferrous Metals Industry Association and the China Nonferrous Metals Society, and the evaluation concluded that the project is at an advanced level. Zhongse Xie Ke (Ping) Zi [2022] No. 121

3 monographs

• · Smart Logistics Distribution Center—Design, Equipment, and Cases, published by Chemical Industry Press in 2021.
• · Practical Technologies for Classification and Picking Systems in Logistics Distribution Centers, published by China Machine Press in 2014
• · “Design and Application of Logistics Distribution Centers,” published by China Machine Press in 2013, Associate Editor

More than 30 professional papers and interview appearances.

• · “Detailed Design of the Stacker’s Travel Mechanism Based on Several Standards Including GB 6067.1-2010 ‘Regulations for Lifting Machinery’,” Logistics Technology, January 2023;
• · “Calculation of Inbound and Outbound Frequency for Special Automated Storage Systems Based on the Standard,” Logistics Technology, December 2021;
• · “Key Considerations for Planning an Automated Logistics System for Ultra-Large and Ultra-Long Materials in an Entire Factory,” September 2022, *Logistics Technology & Applications*;
• ·“Planning, Design, and Application of an Automated Three-Dimensional Warehouse for Aluminum Profile Extrusion Dies,” Logistics Technology & Applications, January 2017
• · “Application of Automated Stereoscopic Warehouses in Aluminum Profiles,” March 2016, *Light Alloy Processing Technology*
• ·“Economic Analysis of Automated Warehouse Systems,” November 2016, published in Logistics Technology & Applications, among others;
• ·“Research on Key Technologies for the Application of Automated Stereoscopic Warehouses in the Aluminum Profile Industry,” July 2014, Special Issue on Aluminum Profiles
• · “Research on Automatic Material Calculation for Shelves in Logistics Systems Based on Excel,” Logistics Technology, 2010;
• · “Shelf Dilemmas and Countermeasures,” 2011, Logistics Technology & Equipment Edition
• ·“Analysis of the Height-to-Width Ratio of Automated Stereoscopic Warehouses,” August 2010, Logistics Technology and Applications;

More than 10 patents

• · A Monitoring and Alarm Device for Fork Lower Deflection
• · A Dual-Track Airflow Velocity Control Clamp
• ·Wait—