Walking in Jiangsu | Exploring the Water Town Jiangyan, Watching the Qintong Boat Festival, Dreaming All the Way to Qinhu
Flowers bloom in March, fall in April, with a drizzle of rain. The spring in Jiangnan is fleeting, disappearing in a flash, lacking the adornment of peach blossoms and pear blossoms, making the spring of the water town less charming. For the people of Jiangnan, it is not worth regretting. Only because 'in the third moon, one goes to Yangzhou; in the fourth moon of the human world, one comes to Qintong.' As the fragrance of April fades, during the mid-spring of the human world, the water town families of Taizhou are staging a grand 'water feast'. Following the traces of the Jiangyan elk, dreaming all the way to Qinhu, exploring the ancient boat gathering folk custom, encountering the thousand-year-old Qintong Ancient Town, starting a delightful spring journey.
Throughout history, millions of poems and songs have praised Jiangnan. When mentioning the beauty of Jiangnan, people often say it lies in Suzhou and Hangzhou, but often forget the diverse scenery of Yangzhou and Taizhou. If the cuisine of Yangzhou captures your stomach, then the scenery of Taizhou can capture your heart. Auspicious Taizhou, the most beautiful is Jiangyan.
Jiangyan is a 'water city' born from water, thriving because of water, and beautiful because of water. In the Jiangnan region, poetic water towns are all the same, but within the ever-changing scenery of Jiangyan, there is the Qinhu Wetland with a seamless sky and water, the large-scale immersive nighttime cultural tour 'A Dream to Qinhu', the nationally renowned Qintong Boat Festival, and the Qintong Ancient Town with over 20,000 square meters of Ming and Qing ancient architecture... Colorful and diverse Jiangyan always has a place that fascinates you and makes you stay.
Day 1: Chengdu - Yangzhou - Jiangyan - Qinhu National Wetland Park - Night tour of Qinhu Stay: Century Yuan International Hotel (Taizhou Jiangyan Branch)
Day 2: Qintong Boat Festival - Qintong Ancient Town - Jiangyan - Yangzhou
This trip happened because I accidentally saw the information about 'Qintong Boat Festival is the best in the world', and impulsively left immediately, resulting in this two-day-one-night spring trip to Jiangyan. On the first day, at 9:43 a.m., I departed from Yangzhou Station, took the D5421 train, after a 45-minute journey, arrived at Jiangyan Station at 10:28 a.m., ticket price 26 yuan. After exiting the station, I walked 84 meters to the Jiangyan Railway Station bus stop, took bus 806 (direction of Hai'an boundary) for 7 stops, got off at Fuxi Renjia bus stop, then walked another 126 meters, arriving around 11 a.m. at the pre-booked Century Yuan International Hotel (Taizhou Jiangyan Branch).
After checking in at the hotel, at 11:30 I had a simple meal at the nearby Shaxian Snacks to fill my stomach, then returned to the hotel to rest. At 14:30, I took a pre-arranged car to Qinhu National Wetland Park for sightseeing. At 18:00, I returned to the Century Yuan International Hotel's Chinese restaurant for dinner. At 19:00, I took the car again to Qinhu National Wetland Park, took a cruise to watch the premiere of 'A Dream to Qinhu'. At 21:00, I returned to the hotel to rest.
On the second day, at 7:20 a.m., I had breakfast in the hotel restaurant, and at 8:00, I took a car directly to the Qinhu National Wetland Park cruise terminal. Then, following on-site guidance, I arrived at the viewing terrace for the Qintong Boat Festival. From 9:00 to 11:30, I watched the lively Qintong Boat Festival from the viewing terrace. At 12:00, I returned to the hotel restaurant for lunch. At 14:00, I packed my luggage and checked out, then took a car to Qintong Ancient Town. After visiting Qintong Ancient Town for 2 hours, at 16:00, I took a car back to Yangzhou.
**Home of the Elk, Rippling Qinhu**
Ten miles of Qinhu, nine dragons paying homage to the palace. Oar boats sway, grass grows and orioles fly. The scenic Qinhu Wetland, located in the Lixiahe area, one of the three major depressions in China, covers an area of 806.9 hectares. It is a national wetland park with the theme of 'water, wetland, and ecology'. The park is crisscrossed with lakes and rivers, dotted with raised fields, nurturing hundreds of species of plants and animals. It is also a habitat for red-crowned cranes and the hometown of elk.
Hearing that 'the Qinhu Wetland is as green as the sky', I knew it was true only when I set foot in the wetland. Visiting Qinhu National Wetland Park, passing through a scenic gate with a boat on top, walking straight ahead, passing the quiet garden scenery on both sides, I arrived at the cruise terminal. The moment I stepped onto the cruise gangplank, I opened the most exciting page of Qinhu, with mist and haze, ink-wash charm. Accompanied by the 'rumbling' sound of oars cutting through the water, the vast lake water pushed the fluffy aquatic plants to dance gracefully. From time to time, waterbirds sang in the reeds, and wild ducks soared beside the cruise. My originally restless heart suddenly felt relieved. When the boat reached the center of the lake, what came into view was the mottled reflection of the lake's central promenade, like a broad road leading to a pure land, making me feel refreshed and joyful.
After disembarking, I walked along the lush shady boardwalk. There was a science museum about the Qinhu Wetland. Inside, using pictures, texts, videos, and real water circulation systems, it introduced the wonderful world of humans and birds coexisting in the Qinhu Wetland. If time permits, you can follow the tour guide and slowly appreciate the mysteries of the Qinhu Wetland.
Facing the gentle breeze, willows sway, insects and birds chirp softly. Strolling through the lakeside park, every step brings a new view, experiencing the soft charm of the water town with 'forest water corridors and flower-banked creeks'. Many people come to Qinhu Wetland for the cute elk. According to records, Qinhu is the habitat of elk, and a large number of elk fossils have been unearthed here. To this day, more than 50 elk still live in this wetland, showing that the natural ecological environment of Qinhu Wetland is extremely superior.
To find the traces of elk and have a close encounter with them, you need to walk about 7.8 kilometers. Although the distance is long, the park has fresh air and picturesque scenery. Traveling with friends, immersed in the beauty, you can forget the fatigue of walking. If there are elderly companions, you can also choose to take a sightseeing car. Due to time constraints, we ultimately did not have the chance to see the elk lowering their heads to drink water and eat grass on the lush wetland. If you want to deeply experience the tranquility and peace of Qinhu Wetland, you might want to take an oar boat at the oar boat dock and experience the wonderful feeling of 'traveling in a painting'.
Lush Qinhu is like a book, where grass and tourists are the words written by the breeze. The vast Qinhu is like a painting, where water waves and migratory birds are the light traces of drizzle. During the day, Qinhu is fresh and refined, gentle and moving, intoxicating the mind. So, what is Qinhu like at night?
**A Feast of Light and Shadow in the Water City: A Dream to Qinhu**
The beauty of Qinhu does not fade with the change of seasons, nor does it dim with the fall of night. As night falls, the once quiet cruise terminal lights up with thousands of lights, and a dreamlike feast of light and shadow in the water city is about to begin.
When the mountains are silent, the water is still, and the lights come on, the cruise terminal is filled with song and dance. The long-awaited 'Night Tour of Qinhu' by the thousands of Jiangyan people has finally arrived. A light and shadow show themed 'A Dream to Qinhu' has filled the 'empty and silent' nights of Qinhu, giving travelers a novel tourism experience and adding a beautiful landscape to Jiangyan.
With the development of the times and rapid technological changes, night tours have become a necessity of travel life. Looking back, Jiangyan's single nightlife has now become dazzling because of the 'A Dream to Qinhu' cruise night tour.
Some beautiful scenery in the world is just a matter of chance. Coinciding with the launch of 'A Dream to Qinhu', we were fortunate to witness a night tour of Qinhu that can be compared to 'Water City Venice'. 'A Dream to Qinhu' starts from the Qinhu dock and passes through attractions such as 'Nine Dragons Paying Homage to the Palace', 'Medicine Buddha Pagoda', 'Liuli Zen Charm', 'General's Platform', 'Nanlou Reading', and 'New Charm of the Ancient Town'. Through water curtain projections, water light shows, water dances, and drone formations, it recreates the poignant mythological stories of Qinhu. Under the colorful lights, the gracefully standing Medicine Buddha statue on the lake and the clear Zen charm of the pagoda are visible. When the cruise circled half the pagoda, many travelers pressed their palms together in worship, praying for good fortune.
This exquisite 'visual feast' realizes the diverse tourism experience of travelers 'enjoying scenery by day, dreaming by night', allowing them to savor the beauty of Qinhu day and night, rejecting an ineffective Qinhu trip, and is absolutely stunning!
**The World's Largest Water Temple Fair: Qintong Boat Festival**
After Qingming Festival, the people of Jiangyan usher in the most grand festival of the year: Qintong Boat Festival. A region nurtures its people. The Qintong water town is spirited because of water. Similar to the tradition of dragon boat races in many places during the Dragon Boat Festival, in the Qintong area of Jiangyan, Jiangsu, an ancient folk boat gathering activity has been passed down since the Song Dynasty. In 2007, the Qintong Boat Festival was listed as one of the first batch of national intangible cultural heritages and became one of China's top ten folk festival activities, thus gaining fame.
Although I missed the blooming season of spring flowers in Jiangnan, I coincidentally encountered the world's largest water temple fair: the Qintong Boat Festival. Loss and gain β who knows if it's not a blessing? Going with the flow, I was lucky to see it!
It is said that the Qintong Boat Festival originally originated from the local people's gratitude to General Yue Fei's army for their heroic resistance against the Jin dynasty, protecting the land of Qintong. Therefore, during Qingming Festival, they spontaneously rowed boats to this place to commemorate the souls of the anti-Jin hero Yue Fei and his army. Gradually, the phenomenon of rowing boats to sweep tombs and commemorate heroic spirits during Qingming Festival emerged. Over time, this gradually evolved into the annual Qintong Boat Festival. For thousands of years, it has been passed down from generation to generation without interruption.
On a sunny morning, at the Qinhu Boat Festival dock, a grand folk boat gathering kicked off. Thousands of boats set off, hundreds of vessels compete, tens of thousands of people watch, a grand spectacle. The charm of the water town is as beautiful as a painting. Folk customs are appreciated by both the refined and the popular.
This grand water temple fair could be held on schedule not due to the effort of one person, but to thousands of ordinary Jiangyan people. According to locals, ten days before the Qintong Boat Festival, the villages participating in the boat festival begin selecting boats, pole handlers, and rowers for trial runs on water, training in 'unified calls' until they participate in the competition.
On the day of the Qintong Boat Festival, tens of thousands of people pour into the viewing terrace. After the wonderful folk performances on stage, with a loud bang, a salute shot straight into the sky, colorful smoke dispersed, and the Qintong Boat Festival competition officially began. First, sacrificial boats entered the central lake area of the boat festival stage, followed by several tribute boats representing local culture, economy, and life. Then, one after another, dragon boats rowed upstream. Finally, the local Qintong pole boats, with colorful flags fluttering, thousands of poles dancing, drums and music resounding, and cheers from the crowd.
The Qintong Boat Festival is a grand event of water, a gathering of boats, and a struggle of people. Compared with ordinary scenery, such an annual folk custom activity is more worth watching and thought-provoking.
**Qintong Ancient Town: A 'Living Thousand-Year-Old Ancient Town'**
Entering Jiangnan, there are countless water towns. For an ancient town to stand out from the stereotypical Jiangnan water towns, it must have a unique highlight that others cannot imitate. Qintong Ancient Town in Jiangyan is exactly such an 'innovative' water town. Besides the ubiquitous small bridges and flowing water, deep alleys and quiet residences, and stone-paved streets, this ancient town has over 20,000 square meters of well-preserved Ming and Qing ancient buildings, and locals live in the alleys, making it a 'living' thousand-year-old ancient town.
Strolling through this ancient town, I saw people rushing to work, people going out for a walk, people busy selling snacks... every scene and object is not deliberately arranged, but the way the ancient town originally was. There is no excessive pursuit of 'returning to antiquity'; instead, while preserving ancient buildings, it adapts to modern lifestyle. No wonder some say 'Qintong Ancient Town has lived for a thousand years'.
When visiting Qintong Ancient Town, you must see the new and old 'eight sights'. The windows and tiles in the alleys tell the story of the ancient town's past. Green bricks and black tiles, flower shadows and clear ponds. Deep and quiet alleys, telling ancient and modern tales. Every wall and corner, ancient charm lingers. A tree full of flowers, fragrance all over the garden.
The ancient town is surrounded by water, known as the 'land of fish and rice'. Therefore, walking on the streets of the ancient town, you can often see fish balls, fish cakes, and river crabs and other local flavors. Among the many delicacies of Qintong Ancient Town, the most famous is the Qinhu Eight Fresh Banquet, which is worth trying.
**Jiangyan on the Tip of the Tongue**
Jiangyan, the water town in dreams, not only has the picturesque Qinhu National Wetland Park and the lively Qintong Boat Festival, but also unforgettable tongue-pleasing cuisine.
At the hotel where I stayed, I enjoyed a sumptuous Jiangyan meal, including unique Qintong dried fish, shrimp balls, delicate pastries, and fresh steamed fish... catering to the tastes of travelers from all directions, with both Jiangyan's exclusive dishes and specialty dishes from various regions. From the exquisite plating to the satisfaction of the taste buds, everything was particularly enjoyable.
With sound and boats, we paint Jiangyan; nourishing life and blessings, we drift on Qinhu. Walking in Jiangsu, I encountered an unforgettable 'Oriental Water City Venice' trip, appreciated intangible cultural heritage folk activities, got close to nature, and enjoyed it endlessly.
**Jiangyan Transportation Overview**
1. By air: Fly from various places to Yangzhou-Taizhou International Airport, then take the Yangzhou-Taizhou Airport Jiangyan line to reach Jiangyan city.
2. By train: Nanjing, Yangzhou, Jiangdu, and Taizhou have direct trains to Jiangyan Station.
3. By bus: Yangzhou Bus Station has direct buses to Jiangyan, ticket price about 25 yuan.
**Qinhu National Wetland Park Tips**
Opening hours: 08:10-17:00 (last entry at 15:00)
Ticket: Adult ticket 72 yuan/person.
Address: No. 1 Qinhu Avenue, Qintong Town, Jiangyan District, Taizhou City
1. By bus: From Jiangyan city, take bus 818 or 816, about 50 minutes, directly to Qinhu National Wetland Park.
- From Shanghai: Take the Yanjiang Expressway forward - cross Jiangyin Bridge - from Guangjing Expressway to Ningjingyan Expressway - towards Yancheng, exit at Qintong.
- From Nanjing: Ningtong Expressway - transfer to Ningjingyan Expressway - Yancheng direction - exit at Qintong.
- From Zhejiang: From Zhejiang, take the Huning Expressway - transfer to Xicheng Expressway - cross Jiangyin Bridge - take Guangjing Expressway to Ningjingyan Expressway - towards Yancheng, exit at Qintong.
- From Zhenjiang: Cross Runyang Bridge - follow Ningtong Expressway forward, towards Nantong - then transfer to Ningjingyan Expressway, towards Yancheng - exit at Qintong.
- From Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou: Take Huning Expressway - transfer to Xicheng Expressway - cross Jiangyin Bridge - take Guangjing Expressway to Ningjingyan Expressway - towards Yancheng, exit at Qintong.
1. The scenic area is divided into east and west parts by the Qinhu Lake in the middle. The west side is the entrance area, and the east side is the main scenic area. To enter the main scenic area, you must take the regular ferry from the waiting hall in the entrance area. The ticket includes round-trip ferry, departing every 40 minutes, about 15 minutes to reach the Hudong Dock in the main scenic area. If you don't like the regular ferry, the scenic area also offers speedboats andθ±ͺε painted boats for an additional fee.
2. After getting off the ferry, you can first visit the China Qinhu Wetland Science Museum near the dock to get a preliminary understanding of the ecological environment of Qinhu Wetland. Then there are two ways to explore:
A. The easier way is to take a boat. Walk 450 meters east from Hudong Dock to the Wetland Experience Garden boat dock. Electric boat 25 yuan/person, 9:45-16:15 (subject to seasonal changes), departing every 20 minutes or when full; rowing boat charter 180 yuan/boat, maximum 6 people. The scenery seen along the winding waterways is completely different from the open lake view seen earlier on the regular ferry.
B. Walk along the circular route, enter from Wetland Experience Garden, exit from Waterfowl Garden, about 7.5 kilometers. Initially, you see various wetland plants; after going deeper, there are animals to see and amusement projects. In the Elk Viewing Garden, you can see elk; in the Crocodile Hall, you can see Chinese alligators. Visitors with children can go to the Adventure Park to try the 'brave man's path' composed of chain bridges, rope net bridges, etc., or pay to ride horses at the racetrack. At the Waterfowl Garden at the end of the circular route, you can see waterfowl such as swans. This circular route only occupies the northern half of the eastern area; the southern half is the Elk Experience Area, with fewer elk than the northern Elk Viewing Garden, so the south is not necessary.
Turn left from the entrance and walk on the wooden boardwalk for 15-20 minutes to reach the Ancient Shousheng Temple and Medicine Buddha Pagoda, requiring an additional ticket of 30 yuan. The scenery along the way is also very good. The entrance area also has a military sports park with real CS games.
1. The peak season for Qinhu National Wetland Park is April to May. Tourists often combine it with a visit to Xinghua's rapeseed flowers. Especially during Qingming Festival, the Xinghua rapeseed flowers are in full bloom, plus the wetland park itself has the Qintong Boat Festival, so there are many tourists. It can take 1-2 hours to queue from the parking lot to board the ferry. There are also many people during May Day and National Day holidays. Be mentally prepared.
2. At the entrance, you can rent an electronic guide device, deposit 20 yuan, deposit 100 yuan; you can also hire a tour guide, normally 120 yuan for a group of less than 20 people, 150 yuan for 20 or more people (including 20). Guide fees may increase on holidays.
3. The wetland ecology is still well preserved, with many insects. It is recommended to wear long pants, and girls should avoid wearing short skirts.
**'A Dream to Qinhu' Night Tour Tips**
Opening hours: After 18:00
Ticket: Since 'A Dream to Qinhu' has just been launched recently, please contact the scenic area for specific ticket prices.
Address: Cruise Terminal, Qinhu National Wetland Park
Transportation: Take the scenic area cruise for the night tour and watch the immersive 'A Dream to Qinhu' performance.
1. It is windy on the night cruise, so it is recommended to wear warm clothes.
2. The night tour takes a long time, so it is recommended to have dinner before going.
**Qinhu Boat Festival Tips**
Opening hours: The day after Qingming Festival (specific time can refer to notices at Qinhu National Wetland Park)
Ticket: You need to purchase a ticket for Qinhu National Wetland Park, adult ticket 72 yuan/person. Viewing stand tickets can be inquired from the scenic area officials.
Address: No. 1 Qinhu Avenue, Qintong Town, Jiangyan District, Taizhou City (next to the cruise terminal of Qinhu National Wetland Park)
Transportation: Open all year round 08:10-17:00 (last entry 15:00);
1. From the day after Qingming to around May Day is the Qintong Boat Festival, with performances every weekend. At this time, the Qinhu Lake is filled with boats, thousands of dragon boats compete, and performers on flower boats sing and dance, creating a lively atmosphere. The best place to watch the performances is in the entrance area, at the Boat Festival Viewing Plaza next to the waiting hall.
2. Mobile phone charging: The visitor center is equipped with charging sockets for mobile phone charging. Fee: Free.
3. Luggage storage: The visitor center provides luggage storage service. Fee: Free. Special note: Storage time is until the end of the day of ticket use.
**Qintong Ancient Town Tips**
Opening hours: 08:10-17:00 (last entry at 16:00)
Ticket: Adult ticket 100 yuan/person; 30 yuan/person from major travel agencies in Suzhou; 32 yuan/person online.
Address: Qintong Town, Jiangyan District, Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province
1. By bus: After arriving in Taizhou Jiangyan from your departure point, you can take the local Jiangyan Qintong tourism special line: Taizhou West Station - Xibakou - Taizhou East Station - Wentai Market - Minxing Middle School - Suchen Middle School - Qintong Ancient Town - Qintong Station.
- From Shanghai to Qintong Ancient Town: Huning Expressway - Xicheng Expressway (towards Jiangyin) - cross Jiangyin Bridge, then take Ningjingyan Expressway (towards Yancheng) - pass Jingjiang, Guangling, Taixing - after Jiangyan, exit at Qintong, Shengao interchange, arrive at Qinhu Scenic Area. Follow the road north from the scenic area according to signs to reach the thousand-year-old ancient town Qintong.
- From Nanjing to Qintong Ancient Town: Nanjing - Ningtong Expressway - Ningjingyan Expressway - turn left after 51.3km - Jiangtai Road - Fuqian Road - Qintong Ancient Town.
Food recommendations: Qinhu Eight Immortals Banquet, Qinhu Eight Fresh includes local specialties like river crab, shrimp balls, fish cakes, and softshell turtle. Snacks: Jinsong preserved eggs, Huangqiao sesame cakes, Zhongzhuang drunken crab, hot dried shreds, Qintong fish cakes, fried stinky tofu, five-ingredient dried shreds, fish soup noodles, Jiangyan crispy cake, farmer buckwheat soup cake, Chaihu cicada wing cake, Xuanbao small wontons, large oven cakes, etc.
1. Qintong Ancient Town Service Center offers free stroller rental service. Service time: Monday to Sunday 08:00-17:30. Requires a deposit of 500 yuan (cash only). (Note: Return the stroller to the rental point at the end of the day.)
2. The ancient town has many stone-paved roads, so it is recommended that women do not wear high heels, especially stilettos, as it is inconvenient to walk.
3. Summer weather is hot with strong UV rays, so bring a parasol and take sun protection measures.
