# Yangzhou travel guide (扬州) Jiangsu Province · East China, China · 12 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/jiangsu/yangzhou ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Daming Temple → Slender West Lake → Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou Memorial Hall → Wenchang Pavilion (dinner can be had at the nearby Siwangting Road Food Street or Huaihai Road Food Street) - **Day 2:** Geyuan Garden → Heyuan Garden → Lane Wandering (the streets near Ge Garden and He Garden have many old residences and former homes of famous figures; plan your route according to your interests) → Guandong Street (dinner) ## The feel of the place - **Ordinary Lanes and Alleys:** “Of the world's moonlit nights, two parts belong to Yangzhou's charming scoundrels”: this single line of poetry drew emperors, ministers and literati in ancient times, and it remains the most evocative slogan today. The song-and-dance glamour of the old pleasure quarters has long faded. Though “Yangzhou in the third month of flowering mist” is the famous image, the most captivating thing is still the ordinary lanes and alleys of its streets. For a few yuan, hire a pedicab and glide through the lanes that interweave like blood vessels, and Yangzhou's past and present rush at you all at once. - **Leisurely Living:** “Morning, skin around water (tea in the teahouse); evening, water around skin (the bathhouse)” vividly captures daily life in Yangzhou: morning tea and evening bathhouse visits are the two most important events of the day. Though both are leisurely lifestyles, Yangzhou differs greatly from Chengdu. Yangzhou people enjoy their comfort quietly, reservedly and refinedly, whereas Chengdu is much more boisterous. - **Beauties of Yangzhou:** “Since ancient times Yangzhou has produced beauties,” so people have always linked the city with beautiful women. In fact, the Jiangnan region has produced not only scholars but also beauties, though not necessarily only in Yangzhou city. The water and misty air of Jiangnan are such that women from anywhere, after just a week here, find their skin turning fine and moist. It is hard not to become beautiful. ## The feel of the place ### The Beautiful Wangyue Lake Wangyue Lake lies in the hilly country northwest of Yangzhou's urban area. Its scenery is beautiful, and it is the original home of China's Yuhua stones (rain-flower stones). Winter is a good season for birdwatching by the lake, when migratory birds such as wild geese, swans and mandarin ducks winter here. Bring a high-powered telescope if you can; the birds gather in their hundreds and thousands, quite a spectacle. ### Shorter Journey via Zhenjiang Trains between Shanghai and Yangzhou have to detour via Nanjing and take a long time, so visitors coming from Shanghai, Suzhou and other directions may prefer to take a train to Zhenjiang first and then transfer to a bus to Yangzhou, which shortens the trip. ### Pedicabs Are a Good Choice Pedicabs are inexpensive, and riding in one lets you take in the streetscapes at a leisurely pace. In a city like Yangzhou, the pedicab is a very pleasant way to get around. ### Preparation and Information ### Language The Yangzhou dialect belongs to the Huai group of Chinese dialects, but Mandarin is understood just as well here. ### Climate and Best Time to Visit Yangzhou has distinct four seasons, with an annual average temperature of 14.8℃, and winter is relatively long. April and May are the best months to visit. As the classic line “Yangzhou in the third month of flowering mist” attests, this is when the Qionghua (Yangzhou viburnum) blooms. Yangzhou's Qionghua differs from the common herbaceous Qionghua: its flowers form round, snowball-like clusters, glistening white and intensely fragrant. ## Getting there & around ### Getting In and Out Well-developed waterways link Yangzhou northward to Beijing, up to Shanghai, and down to Wuhan and Chongqing. Of course, road transport is also the main way Yangzhou connects with the outside world. Self-driving visitors from Shanghai can take the Shanghai–Nanjing Expressway, passing Kunshan and Suzhou, then switch to the Beijing–Shanghai Expressway after Wuxi. Exit at the Yangzhou exit, pass the Zhuanqiao toll station, then leave the expressway at the Yangzhou East signposted junction to enter the city. Shanghai to Yangzhou is 290 km. ### By Air Flights from Yangzhou Taizhou Airport serve cities including Beijing, Shenyang, Dalian, Harbin, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Sanya, Changsha, Chengdu, Kunming and Xi'an. Buses and city buses run between the airport and the city. A direct trip from downtown Yangzhou to the airport takes only 45 minutes. - phone: 0514-89999999 ### Trains and High-Speed Rail Passengers can take high-speed rail to Zhenjiang station. On leaving the railway station, walk 50 metres to the right to reach the bus station, where buses to Yangzhou run about every 10 minutes on average. It is quick and convenient. In addition, Yangzhou Railway Station has direct express trains to Beijing, and express trains direct to Xi'an, Guangzhou, Hankou and Shanghai. Several other trains departing from Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Anhui, Jiangxi, Jiangsu and Shanghai also pass through Yangzhou. ### By Road Minibuses run several times a day between Nanjing Bus Station and Yangzhou, and there are also coaches to and from Wuxi and Zhenjiang. Between Zhenjiang and Yangzhou, shuttle buses run every 10–15 minutes, with a journey time of 45–50 minutes. Shanghai Coach Terminal, Pudong Coach Station and Hutai Road Coach Station all run buses to Yangzhou, with fares of ¥70–102. ### Getting Around the City ### Buses For visitors, tourist bus lines and sightseeing buses stop at major sights such as Slender West Lake, Daming Temple, He Garden, Ge Garden and Dongguan Ancient Ferry, making them a good bus option. Wenchang Pavilion in the city centre is where bus routes are most densely concentrated, and they reach almost every part of the city. If you cannot find a bus that goes directly to your destination, change at Wenchang Pavilion. Yangzhou and Zhenjiang are separated by just a river and are very close, and intercity buses now connect the two cities. ### Taxis Flag fall is ¥10 for the first 3 km; ¥1.80 per km for 3–16 km; ¥2 per km beyond 16 km. During statutory public holidays, a surcharge of ¥5 per trip is added on top of the flag fall. ### Boats and Ferries Car ferries run between Guazhou Ferry Terminal in Yangzhou and Zhenjiang, and they also carry pedestrians. Take a bus from Yangzhou West Bus Station to reach the terminal. The ferry fare is ¥3 per person, and the crossing to Zhenjiang takes about 10 minutes. - **Railway Station** — ## Eat & drink Yangzhou cuisine, part of the Huaiyang culinary tradition, is renowned far and wide, so be sure to sample authentic Yangzhou flavours when you visit. ### Yangzhou Pickles Yangzhou pickled vegetables have a long history and are well known across the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region. They are prized for their fresh, sweet and crisp flavour, and are one of the signature foods of Yangzhou. They make a great gift to take home. - **Fuchun Teahouse** — A great place for morning tea. Signature dishes include hot dried tofu shreds, shrimp and Fuchun steamed buns. (No. 35 Desheng Bridge Street, 0514-87233326) - **Xiaojuelin Vegetarian Restaurant** — A well-known old restaurant. Its vegetarian dishes are tasty, generously portioned and good value. The best dishes include bean curd skin soup, stir-fried 'pork liver', vegetarian 'large intestine', crispy rice crust, sweet and sour wheat gluten, and fragrant, crispy twisted dough sticks. (No. 298 Guangling Road, Guangling District, 0514-87221179) ## Nightlife ### Recommended Night Tours Yechun Teahouse is one of the best places to enjoy the night views. Located inside Yechun Garden beside the outer moat, it is right next to the Imperial Wharf, the starting point of the Qianlong water tour route, where you can take a boat to Slender West Lake. Sitting by the window at night and looking out at the scenery reflected in the lake and framed by green willows is quiet and elegant. Yangzhou is known as the 'Moon City of China', and famous lines of poetry such as 'Thousands of lanterns in the night market light up the blue clouds' vividly describe the beauty of Yangzhou after dark. On holidays and during festivals, Slender West Lake, He Garden and other scenic spots often host evening tours. - **Jiankanghai Bathhouse Plaza** — Apart from the Qionghua flower, Yangzhou is famous for its 'Three Knives' (the haircut scissors, foot-care knife and kitchen knife). Soaking in a bath here and then having your feet cared for is a real treat. (No. 450-8 Guoqing Road, 0514-87359568) ## Shopping Jade and lacquerware are известные as the two specialties of Yangzhou, making them excellent souvenirs. Yangzhou's busiest shopping street is Wenchang Road, which has many large shopping centres such as Wanjiafu, Jinying International and Baisheng Commercial Building. Wenhe Road and Guoqing Road are also major shopping streets. ## Where to stay - **Yangzhou Changle Inn** — A hotel converted from an old Ming and Qing dynasty house with a great location. The Garden of Master of Nets (Ge Yuan) is a short walk away, and you can easily visit the Xie Fuchun shop and the Wang Family Residence on the way. Fuchun Teahouse is also very close. (No. 357 Dongguan Street, Guangling District, 0514-87993333/87807986) - **Home Inn Express (Slender West Lake Branch)** — Beside Slender West Lake, with attentive service and a pleasant environment. (No. 15 Niansi Bridge Road, Yangzhou, 0514-87317222) ## Things to see - **Wenchang Pavilion** (★★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/wenchang-pavilion - **Geyuan Garden** (★★★★★): Admission ¥45 in peak season; ¥30 in off-season; Opening hours 7：30—17：00; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/geyuan-garden - **Heyuan Garden** (★★★★★): Admission ¥45 in peak season; ¥30 in off-season; Opening hours 7：00—17：00; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/heyuan-garden - **Slender West Lake** (★★★★): Admission ¥100; Opening hours 6：00—18：00; Time needed 3–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/slender-west-lake - **Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou Memorial Hall** (★★★★): Admission ¥24; Opening hours 8：30—17：00; Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/eight-eccentrics-of-yangzhou-memorial-hall - **Yangzhou Dongguan Street** (★★★): Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yangzhou-dongguan-street - **Yangzhou Historic Residences** (★★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yangzhou-historic-residences - **Daming Temple** (★★★★): Admission Off-season ¥30; peak season ¥45; pagoda climb plus bell-striking ¥25; Opening hours 8：00—16：30; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/daming-temple - **Zhu Ziqing Former Residence** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 9：00—17：00; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/zhu-ziqing-former-residence - **Yangzhou Grand Canal** (★★★): Admission Free (boat ticket ¥80); Opening hours 14:00–21:00 (boat tours available); Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yangzhou-grand-canal ## Day trips & beyond - **Thousand Islands Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission ¥50 (boat ticket + ¥100 admission); Opening hours 8：00—17：00; Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/thousand-islands-rapeseed-flower-scenic-area - **Tianning Temple** (★★★): Admission ¥20; combined ticket including the pagoda ¥80; Opening hours 7:00–17:00 (Tianning Pagoda: 8:30–17:00); Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tianning-temple --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 1089–1105. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.