Locking your bike to a sofa on the street seems like quite sensible idea; it's big and heavy and no one's likely to wander off with it. (Photo by Aimee Groom)

This picture was taken on a visit to Shaoxing in January 2008.  Two years on and the bike is still there, though somewhat diminished...

... but then you have to remember to come back and get it. (Photo by Aimee Groom)

It always pays to lock your bike up to a large immovable object. It's advice I should have taken myself back around the time Chengdu Living's Charlie put out his useful Top 5 Tips to Prevent your Bike from getting Stolen in China. My trusty steed was nicked just two weeks later! Of course, if you leave a bike anywhere for long enough, it's bound to start disappearing...

Just 70km south-east of Hangzhou, Shaoxing is a pleasant destination to spend a day or two while exploring Zhejiang province. Stroll through the canal-laced old town with its whitewashed, slate-roofed houses and ancient bridges and be sure to enjoy a glass or two of Shaoxing wine (Shaoxing huangjiu), distilled from locally grown rice and famous throughout China. But if you're riding a bike, well, don't drink... and don't forget that bike thieves have tool boxes and a lot of patience.

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