When it comes to traveling to Yangzhou, do you still have lingering fears? Last year at this time, an old lady from Nanjing brought many negative things to the city. You should know that Yangzhou has many titles such as World Heritage City, World Food Capital, and one of the first national historical and cultural cities. It should not be ruined just because of one person.
I also have many friends in Yangzhou. Nowadays, the control here is orderly, and life is still full of enthusiasm and hope.
The most important thing is that the cuisine, beautiful scenery, and historical and cultural heritage here are definitely worth a deep visit for us tourists.
So this time, I went on a five-day, four night summer trip to Yangzhou with my friends. This time, I saw the prosperity of Yangzhou in summer today, and also saw the former prosperity of Yangzhou through museums, gardens, and even food. It can be said that with this one glance, I have seen all the prosperous times in the world.

The transportation in the entire Jiangsu province is very developed, and Yangzhou is no exception. There is an airport and high-speed rail here. Moreover, nearby cities such as Nanjing, Huai'an, and Changzhou are also connected to airports and high-speed trains. Even for tourists from other provinces, transportation is not a big problem. I will list my itinerary in Yangzhou as a reference for everyone. Overall, the intensity of each day is not high, and it is a comfortable city trip.
DAY1: (arrived in the afternoon) Changzhou Yangzhou, check in at Huajiantang Hotel (Hongqiao Fang Branch), have dinner at 7 and 8 (Hongqiao Fang Branch);
DAY2: Fun Garden Tea House (morning tea), Skinny West Lake, Lunch at Shanying Villa, Daming Temple, Yangzhou Banquet (Skinny West Lake restaurant) Dinner;
DAY3: Yechun Tea House (morning tea), China Grand Canal Museum, Yechun (dinner);
DAY4: Zhuyuwan Park, Canal Banquet Lunch, Personal Garden, Heyuan, Wanfeng Hotel Dinner, Check into Yangzhou Guesthouse;
DAY5: Hotel breakfast, Hanling Garden, Tangcheng Ruins, return to Changzhou after lunch.
Don't be fooled by the fact that some of our trips only go to one or two scenic spots in a day, will the itinerary be very loose? In fact, the morning tea in Yangzhou can really be experienced for a long time, and many people even have a quick lunch, two meals in one, haha. In addition, the entire Jiangsu province experiences high temperatures during the summer, so it is recommended to reduce the intensity of travel and take a break at noon. Below, I will categorize the different experience sections for everyone. If you are interested, come and check in the same style!

Hotel Chapter | Flower Room Hall

At the beginning of this trip to Yangzhou, I came to stay at the Hua Jian Tang · Xin Chao Li Hotel by the Shouxi Lake. It is very important to find a good hotel to pack your luggage and have a good rest at the beginning of the journey. Hua Jian Tang meets this standard very well, because as soon as I arrived here, I received enthusiastic service in the style of "Hai Di Lao".

The hotel is located at 18 Dahongqiao Road, Hanjiang District, with a strong overall design sense. The revolving staircase in the lobby and customized sofas are highlights, and it also has a 24-hour gym and laundry room. That's not all. What impressed me the most about this hotel with its outstanding hardware was its service. It greeted guests with a smile (taking them to the elevator every time I entered), politely escorted them (taking them to the door every time I left), and even took the initiative to help me with laundry. Put dirty clothes in the laundry bag, and when you come back, you will find the already washed and folded clothes, all of which are free and have a high cost performance ratio.

The hotel also offers a wide range of room types, including family rooms, courtyard rooms, and private soup rooms. The room I am staying in is located on the third floor (the highest floor) of the hotel, with a small terrace where you can enjoy tea and the view. The hardware in the room should not be underestimated, equipped with top-notch brand hair dryers, and the drinks and welcome fruits provided are also very abundant. The overall feeling is: staying in a hotel, but it really feels like coming home.

Yangzhou Guest House may be the best hotel in Yangzhou, without a doubt. It is located by the Shouxi Lake and has received many domestic and foreign leaders, as well as hosted several important events. I remember the first time I came to Yangzhou, when my friend took me to eat at 7 and 8 bars, I passed by the Guesthouse and was immediately attracted by its grand entrance.

Because the building regulations by the Shouxi Lake cannot exceed three floors (if I remember correctly), the Yangzhou Guesthouse gives me the impression of being very large, with many buildings, but not the towering and magnificent ones, but elegant garden buildings, including the Quyuan Tea House and the Siqiao Yanyu Building, which are all within the hotel's scope. It's a pity that I didn't have a good time strolling around the hotel because I came late and left early this time!

Cuisine | 7 Eat 8

7 Eat 8 Bar is really a popular restaurant in Yangzhou. I used to call it 7788, which means "eat". I've really been to Yangzhou a few times, and I've only been to 7 for 8, haha~I remember the first time I came here was when a local photographer friend brought me here. It is located inside the Hongqiao Hot Spring Hotel, and at that time I was thinking: Oh~why is this restaurant so strange and passing by the hotel lobby?

I didn't realize it until I came over. The restaurant environment is really good, the atmosphere is relaxed and suitable for small gatherings with friends, and the prices are also relatively affordable. Although hidden deep, it may not be easy for out of town tourists to find, but there are still many guides online. There are many local citizens and tourists coming here, and during peak hours, they may need to wait for their location. Come to 7788, we recommend the signature scallion grilled opium fish that must be ordered at every table. The fish meat is smooth and the scallion leaves are crispy and fragrant, absolutely delicious.

For other dishes, it's up to you to choose between the rich and the poor. We also ordered caviar crispy roasted duck, Qilin tomato sauce squirrel fish, asparagus and lily beef, drunken lobster, and boiled frog with green pepper sauce. It can be seen that the dishes do not stick to the traditional Huaiyang Cuisine, and many ingredients are creative. The cuisine for Yangzhou travel is definitely recommended starting from here.

Cuisine | Fun Garden Tea House

If you come to Yangzhou, you must have morning tea. If you only have time to go to one place, then definitely choose "Fun Garden"! This was originally the residence of a salt merchant, and was later named Quyuan by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. It has been passed down to this day, and it can be imagined how famous it must be. Nowadays, Quyuan is the hottest morning tea club in Yangzhou city and also the "king of queues" in Yangzhou. The hall booth requires on-site calling and queuing, while private rooms need to be reserved in advance.

About four years ago, I visited Quyuan once. At that time, it was only 7 o'clock in the morning, and all the tourists waiting at the entrance had already filled their seats. It is said that Quyuan also had a "scalper" queue, which was eventually banned by the merchants. However, during this visit, due to wearing masks in various places, I found that the queue was still much smaller, and the experience was higher than before. If you're tempted! Hurry up and embark on a journey to Yangzhou in the name of delicious food!

We were fortunate enough to sit in a private room at Siqiao Yanyu Tower this time. This two-story attic is located on the east bank of Shouxi Lake, facing Xiaojin Mountain across the lake. It was first built during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty. During Qianlong's four southern tours, he had to climb the four bridges and look out from the window at Yanyu Tower. Nowadays, as a cultural heritage site, it may be the only restaurant in Yangzhou where you can directly see Wutingqiao.

The per capita consumption of Quyuan is between 100-300 yuan/person, why is this range a bit large? Because some famous dishes like Baobao Gourd Duck are more expensive and not ordered at every table. I recommend Huaiyang Hot Dried Silk, Five Ding Bun, Crab roe Soup Bun, Shrimp Seed Noodles for morning tea. With these basic morning tea categories, you can really close your eyes and enjoy the taste at Quyuan.

Cuisine | Yangzhou Banquet

The reputation of Yangzhou banquet is beyond doubt in the local area, and the restaurants that have won numerous awards are definitely very popular. Even Nicholas Tse's "Fengwei" has been filmed here. Come here if you want to experience Huaiyang Cuisine in a one-stop way! The arrangement and cooking of each dish have high standards, integrating freshness, fashion, and health.

If you insist on me recommending any dishes to you, I don't think it's necessary. Because the dishes here won't spoil, just follow your own preferences. We ordered Gao You double yellow duck eggs, clay pot baked large yellow croaker, oily residue Gao You Wang tofu, etc., which can be used as references.

Cuisine | Canal Banquet

Canal Banquet is a very interesting restaurant in Yangzhou that I think. Because this is a specialty restaurant that doesn't focus on Huaiyang Cuisine. As the name suggests, it is linked by the culture of the Grand Canal, allowing one to taste the local cuisine along the Grand Canal in China. For example, I never expected to order the Chaotian pot from Weifang, Shandong.

I think eating at a canal banquet is not just about taste, but also a way to appreciate canal culture. If you also live by the canal, come and check if there are any local delicacies from your hometown here!

In addition, taking photos of the second floor terrace of the Grand Canal Banquet at the China Grand Canal Museum will give a feeling of traveling through the Song Dynasty's Tokyo and Bianliang cities. If it happens to be sunset during dinner, it will be even more beautiful.

Cuisine | Yechun

When you come to Yangzhou, when it comes to morning tea, there is a high probability that you will mention "three springs". These "Sanchun" morning tea societies are among the best in Yangzhou. The "Three Springs" refer to Yechun, Fuchun, and Gonghechun. Nowadays, Yechun Tea House, which has a history of over a hundred years, is the largest in terms of scale and popularity. You may not even believe it, but on our trip to Yangzhou, we actually had three meals of Yechun! One meal in the morning, one meal in the middle, and one meal in the evening.

If you can only have one meal, then I definitely recommend coming to Yechun for morning tea. Yechun morning tea has a wide range of products, including various steamed stuffed buns and Dim sum. The tableware is also very eye-catching, including Yangzhou lacquer ware. Personal recommendations: Crab roe soup dumplings, shrimp seed noodles.

Yechun's dinner should be more diverse! All kinds of famous Huaiyang dishes can be ordered here, and the plating and carving are also well done. Personal recommendation: four pieces of fragrant geese, Loong Boat catfish, leek flavored soft bag, Yangzhou fried rice.

For lunch, we had a business set meal produced by Yechun at the basement of the recently super popular Grand Canal Museum, and a small tea house had Dim sum. Yechun has indeed become popular, and there is Yechun Coffee in the Grand Canal Museum. I can even buy Yechun's fast food buns in supermarkets in Changzhou.

Food | Wanfeng Hotel

Huaiyang Cuisine is known as "the best taste in the southeast and the most beautiful in the world". As one of the birthplaces, Yangzhou has never lacked good restaurants. So in addition to the well-known restaurants mentioned above, interested tourists can also explore some good private restaurants. This time, we went to a unique Wanfeng Hotel at the suggestion of our local friends. This restaurant, newly opened, is located at the south gate of Azure Building, No. 102 Shugang West Road, Hanjiang District. The new Chinese style decoration features clear windows and tables, and the restaurant has large private rooms, making it suitable for business banquets.

Huaiyang Cuisine pays attention to the chef's knife skills, and hot dry silk is the most basic one. The dishes at Wanfeng Hotel are evident in their craftsmanship, whether it's the ingredients themselves or the carved designs, they are infused with absolute creativity through exquisite techniques. The ingredients are mostly sourced from rivers, lakes, and seas, and the cooking is done with sufficient heat. Recommended dishes: Catfish Lion Head, Huaiyang Soft Dumplings, Golden Soup Boston Lobster, Chicken Soup Black Tiger Shrimp Slippery, Signature Crab Powder Tofu.

Skinny West Lake Edition | Tour

There are thirty-six West Lakes in the world, but only Yangzhou West Lake is thin. When it comes to West Lake, we always think of Hangzhou West Lake and Yangzhou's Slender West Lake. Compared to others, these two scenic spots are undoubtedly unique entities. This time in Yangzhou, I visited Shouxi Lake both day and night, which gave me a completely different feeling.

The slim West Lake during the day is filled with the tranquility of summer. The picturesque scenery along the way perfectly matches the reputation of "the prosperity of gardens, unparalleled in the world". However, summer heatstroke prevention is also of utmost importance. There will be some cultural and creative shops, restaurants, etc. in the scenic area. If it's too hot, you can go in and blow on the air conditioning, buy some refrigerator stickers, and other cultural and creative items. Recommended check-in locations: Wuting Bridge, Twenty Four Bridge, Diaoyutai, Xiaojin Mountain.

Skinny West Lake | Night Tour

Thin West Lake that cannot be appreciated enough, Yangzhou Moon that cannot be seen enough. In summer, when you come to Yangzhou, the first thing to recommend is the "Half Moon Remembering Yangzhou" large-scale immersive night tour at Shouxi Lake. Speaking of this night tour, I missed an opportunity to see it firsthand last year. Last year, around early July, I drove my whole family to Yangzhou and stayed at a nice hotel. The hotel gave us two tickets for a night tour of the Skinny West Lake as a gift. However, we missed the night tour because we were experiencing the "Yangzhou Three Knives" of facial contouring and foot soaking after dinner. Later on, I left Yangzhou, and not long after that old lady from Nanjing came to Yangzhou. I think everyone will know what happened later... The night tour was also forced to stop, which is truly regrettable!

The large-scale immersive night tour of "Half Moon Remembering Yangzhou" at Shouxi Lake is a performance that transcends time and space, as well as the four seasons. The magnificent lighting and deep cultural interpretation are not only a way to understand the history and culture of Yangzhou, but also a perfect baptism for the body and mind. Speaking of immersion, this night tour definitely meets the standards because once you enter the scenic area, you will be surrounded by lights, as if you have traveled back to the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty.

The lighting performance of the night show has many locations, and each location is played in a loop, so once we enter, we only need to find each location through the prompts in the scenic area, and we can see a complete show regardless of the time. I think this design is very reasonable, as it won't make tourists crowded and allows them to watch their favorite scenes twice more. Of course, there is also time for night tours, from 19:30 to 22:00. Please pay attention to the closing time of the park.

Let me briefly explain to you about the filming of night tours. The aerial photography of Shouxi Lake needs to be reported in advance (the aerial picture in front of me was taken after reporting). If reported, it can take off from the small square in front of Shanying Villa, where there are fewer tourists and it is safer. It is also not far from Wuting Bridge. I brought a tripod with my camera to capture the silky texture of the lake water and the delicate, noise free lighting. Because I like photography, I tend to take photos in this way. If you don't have this obsession, it's still best to immerse yourself in watching.

tips
Admission: Adult ticket price is 120 yuan.
Yangzhou citizens can enjoy half price with their ID card, and out of town tourists can enjoy a discount of 79 yuan/person on early bird prices by the end of July (the ticket discount period ends at the end of July, and the discounted ticket usage period ends at the end of August).

In the Tang Dynasty, there was a poem that said: "Thousands of lights illuminate the blue clouds in the night market, and customers flock to the red sleeves of high-rise buildings." - "Looking at Yangzhou City at Night.
I came to Yangzhou this summer and found that the Qiandeng Night Market outside the Slender West Lake in Yangzhou is a replica of the Tang Dynasty's grand scene in poetry. Yangzhou has always given me a comfortable and graceful feeling, and I never expected such a lively nightlife. Because the lighting here can be arranged, but the popularity never lies. Seeing the crowds, you can tell how excellent the night market is.

This time in Yangzhou, due to the convenience of the route, I visited the Qiandeng Night Market twice in a row and was deeply attracted by the comfortable and easy-going spiritual and cultural life of the local area. The night market is divided into an inner street and an outer street. The inner street specializes in traditional Yangzhou local snacks, while the outer street covers the area from the east gate of Shouxi Lake to the south to the old north gate. The whole collection combines food, cultural and creative industries, intangible cultural heritage, and even brings in alpacas... one can always find something they like.

The operating hours of night markets are from 18:00 to 21:30, but it is not ruled out that some fixed shops such as restaurants and bars may arrive later.

Landscape Chapter | He Garden

Yangzhou's gardens are world-renowned, and He Garden is one of its representatives. It is a classical garden building built in the mid Qing Dynasty and is known as the "first garden of the late Qing Dynasty". It is a national key cultural relic protection unit. I am also visiting He Garden for the first time, and it has given me a lot of surprises.

Nowadays, the He Yuan scenic area is not too large and can be visited quickly, but it makes me and my friends reluctant to leave. All kinds of scenery are excellent camera positions, perfect for capturing Chinese style clothing such as Hanfu and Qipao.

He Yuan was built by He Zhizhen during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, and the Pianshi Mountain House is a masterpiece created by Master Shi Tao. The main attractions include the winding corridors and horse riding buildings. It is also necessary to invite a tour guide when visiting He Garden. The garden has many exquisite designs that are worth pondering and savoring. For example, the design essence of "flower in the mirror, moon in the water" cannot be seen at a glance. Only through the vivid description of the guide can we understand its meaning and praise its brilliance!

tips
Opening hours: 07:30-18:00 (latest entry at 17:00)
Ticket: 45 yuan/person

Yangzhou Geyuan is one of the "Four Famous Gardens in China", with high artistic achievements in every scenery and place. Geyuan is also a must visit attraction for tourists coming to Yangzhou. Firstly, the garden is worth seeing, and secondly, behind it is the bustling Dongguan Street, where they can play together. We just didn't go to Dongguan Street this time due to time constraints.

There are three major attractions in a garden: viewing bamboo, viewing houses, and viewing rockeries! The owner of the garden was originally Huang Zhiyun, the salt merchant general of the two Huai regions in the Qing Dynasty. He loved bamboo very much, so there are several different varieties of bamboo in the entire garden. Even the name 'Geyuan' comes from the fact that there are three bamboo leaves at the top, resembling the character 'ge'.

There are many houses in the garden, like a small maze. It is said that this is not the entirety of what happened back then, indicating the wealth level of the salt merchants. I suggest finding a guide to understand the purpose of these houses and the architectural design philosophy.

The 'Four Seasons rockery' in my garden is a highlight to check out. It is an isolated example in domestic gardens and the most eye-catching. It is made of stones of different materials (bamboo shoot stone, lake stone, yellow stone, Xuan stone) to create scenery according to the seasons, allowing you to see the "four seasons" at a glance. When you understand the meaning behind it, you will admire the designer's ingenuity.

tips
Address: No. 10 Yanfu East Road, Guangling District, Yangzhou City.
Ticket: 30 yuan/person

The Grand Canal of China is a world cultural heritage site, and Yangzhou has been thriving since ancient times due to the canal. Today, the recently opened China Grand Canal Museum in the city is definitely one of the hottest scenic spots in Yangzhou. Not to mention anything else, just by looking at the number of people queuing in the picture below, it already explains everything.

Why is the China Grand Canal Museum so attractive? Because its architectural design is highly in line with modern aesthetics, it has excellent camera positions both indoors and outdoors. It has to be said that museums nowadays are no longer just places for displaying cultural relics, they themselves are also works of art. Private recommendation: The glass curtain wall on the first floor, the staircase outside the west gate of the coffee shop, and the Buddha statue on the first floor can create a sense of misalignment.

Come to the Grand Canal Museum in China during the summer, and don't miss the special exhibition of China's Shenzhou in the museum. Here, with Bai Juyi's poetry as the clue, three sections are used to recreate the capital city of Luoyang in the prosperous Tang Dynasty. (There are many precious cultural relics, and the special exhibition will continue until August 28th this year).

Of course, the historical and cultural significance of the Grand Canal in China is definitely worth exploring, as every city it passes through has its mark displayed in this museum. Modern museums also utilize advanced technologies such as sound, light, and electricity to immerse visitors in the experience. Many scenes have a high degree of restoration, which I think is also the reason why the Grand Canal Museum in China went viral, right? After visiting, I felt that it was a great way to popularize and connect knowledge about the canal.

tips
Admission to the Grand Canal Museum is free, but advance reservation is required as it is summer and those with plans must make a reservation in advance. The museum is closed on Mondays. In addition, the basement level of the Grand Canal Museum offers light meals and a tea room for resting. There is also a coffee shop on the first floor, so even if you stay here all day with air conditioning, you won't get bored.

Museum | Hanling Garden

This time in Yangzhou, I visited two relatively niche scenic spots. One is Hanling Garden, and the other is Tangcheng Ruins. Friends who love history must not miss it. Firstly, let's talk about Hanling Garden, also known as the Han Guangling King's Tomb Museum.

In books and movies, Liu Xu, the Prince of Guangling in the Western Han Dynasty, appears infrequently, but he is a very interesting feudal lord. He is strong and loves to fight bears, and he has a very long life. It was because he had lived long enough that he missed the throne twice. Later, he rebelled and was sentenced to death on charges of treason. The characters may not be particularly outstanding in the long river of history, but their deeds are very interesting.

When you come to a museum, you must also take a look at the entrance. The important thing here is that the archaeological value of the Guangling King's tomb is extremely high. It is the most typical and complete burial "Huangchang Inscription Collection" representing the highest etiquette of the Han Dynasty, and fragments of golden threads and jade clothes have been unearthed to this day. The museum is not the original site of the tomb. It is the first Western Han Dynasty tomb excavated in 1979 on Shenju Mountain in Gaoyou Lake West New District. It is a joint burial tomb of Liu Xu and his wife, Prince Guangling of the Western Han Dynasty.

Speaking of the Lady of Guangling King of Han, she is also very interesting. Like Guangling King, she also has a unique hobby of raising monkeys, and a gibbon maid was unearthed from her tomb. In addition, a complete set of bathing equipment was unearthed from this tomb, which looks very exquisite. Along with Yangzhou's "night water foreskin" lifestyle, it has been passed down for thousands of years? Haha~

tips
Recommended travel time: 1-1.5 hours, be sure to have a guide to better understand its historical and archaeological value.
Opening hours: 08:30-17:00

Yangzhou in the Tang Dynasty was a prosperous and thriving "international metropolis". Although there are not many things left over from modern times, we can still get a glimpse of it when we come to the Tang City ruins. It is located on the site of the former palace of Emperor Yang of Sui, and houses the Tang style palace building "Yanhe Pavilion", exhibiting many precious Tang Dynasty cultural relics and rich materials.

There is also a memorial hall called "Korean Confucius" Cui Zhiyuan here, which is a bridge of "China South Korea friendship". The entire Tang Dynasty ruins are not particularly large, and the recommended travel time is 1-1.5 hours. Friends who are interested in this part of history can come.

Scenic Spots | Daming Temple

The reputation of Daming Temple in Yangzhou is not small, but I have been to Yangzhou several times and bought refrigerator stickers from Daming Temple, but this place is still my first time. It was named after its initial construction during the Ming Dynasty of Emperor Xiaowu of the Southern Song Dynasty (457-464 AD), and has a history of more than 1500 years. Today, it is a national key cultural relic protection unit.

The atmosphere inside the ancient temple is solemn, and there are many traces of literati and historical sites left behind. There are Pingshan Hall, the Fifth Spring of the World, and a Qiling Pagoda, which is one of the landmark buildings in Yangzhou. In addition, during the Tang Dynasty, Japanese monk Jianzhen served as the abbot of Daming Temple, making it an important ancient temple in the history of Sino Japanese Buddhist cultural relics relations. If you are interested in this area, you can still watch for a long time.

Scenic Spots | Zhuyuwan Park

Zhuyu Bay holds an important position in the history of Yangzhou. It is located in Wantou Town, the eastern head of Yangzhou, adjacent to Shaobo Lake to the north and the Grand Canal to the west. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, Zhuyu Bay was the gateway to Yangzhou via the Grand Canal and an important port in China. Emperor Yang of Sui entered Yangzhou through this port three times. But now Zhuyuwan is mainly a zoo!

The animals here are much more diverse than I imagined, even including giant pandas. Due to the high temperature in summer, animals are active in the morning and usually sleep lazily in the afternoon, so it is recommended to come in the morning. When we arrived this morning, we saw a giant panda eating bamboo, it was really cute.

Farewell to Yangzhou

When writing this travelogue, I had been away from Yangzhou for about a week. Although I enjoyed Huaiyang Cuisine when I was in Yangzhou at that time, I was too happy, but now I have begun to miss all kinds of delicious food in the journey... I will also miss the fantasy and bustle of the Slender West Lake at night, and of course, I will miss every bit in Yangzhou. Some experiences may be accidental. For example, after dinner on the the fourth day, the shower brought a beautiful sunset. We found a parking lot on the roadside and photographed this wonderful weather. I think in many places, you will only be pleasantly surprised when you arrive. Yangzhou is a great place, and its comprehensive tourism services are also waiting for more tourists to come.
Farewell to Yangzhou, perhaps every reunion after a long separation is a better encounter!