Water Charms of Jiangsu | Complete Guide to Happy Water Paradise Taizhou
This city is not very big, but it is filled with an abundance of worldly happiness.
Taizhou’s slow pace, a leisurely weekend to have morning tea, from the Three Gardens of Fengcheng River to Taizhou Old Street, from Daohe Ancient Street to Qinhu Wetland, in Taizhou you can slow down and truly appreciate the beauty of life, or explore the freshness of nature and the long history and culture here.
A summary of the three-day, two-night Taizhou travel itinerary:
13:00 Arrive in Taizhou
14:00 Three Gardens of Fengcheng River, Taizhou
16:00 Taizhou Old Street
18:00 Night Tour of Fengcheng River
9:00 Morning Tea
10:00 Wanghai Tower (Sea-Viewing Tower)
11:00 Daohe Ancient Street
13:00 Qinhu Wetland Park
18:00 Qintong Ancient Town
9:00 Qintong Ancient Town
11:00 Huangqiao Ancient Town
14:00 Return
Hours: 8:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30)
The busiest of the three gardens, just outside is Taizhou Old Street with many snacks.
Entering from the entrance and strolling through, you’ll see Laifeng Tower, Qingfeng Pavilion, Yiyuan Garden, and the Boat House. My favorite was the former residence of Kong Shangren, with a view at every step, very photogenic.
Hours: 8:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30)
Mei Garden and Tao Garden are very close; inside is the Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall, where you can learn about the life of master Mei Lanfang. It’s not large, so you’ll finish quickly.
Hours: 8:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30)
Liu Jingting Park is a bit farther away, but it’s a garden I really like. It’s free, so there are fewer people, and the environment is nice. There’s also a coffee shop called Taizhou Slow City Study Room inside. Strolling leisurely and having a cup of Taizhou Slow Coffee is very comfortable.
Hours: 8:30-17:30
Originally built in the Southern Song Dynasty and rebuilt during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it has a history of 800 years. The architecture is simple and elegant in the Song Dynasty style. From the top floor, you can overlook Fengcheng River. It is known as the “First Tower of Jianghuai.”
Hours: Open all day
Admission: Free
Taizhou’s largest ancient building complex, with not too many tourists. Walking through the antique streets lined with blue brick alleys, you can also visit the Ancient Well Museum and try some Taizhou snacks.
Taizhou Daohe Scholarly Inn
No. 118-5, North Hailing Road, Hailing District, Taizhou
Price: 200+
Great location, right in the Daohe Ancient Street area, close to Pozijie and Fengcheng River. It’s quiet in the middle of the bustle, and the hotel has a very antique atmosphere.
A hotel with ancient-style features, from the environment to the room style, everything is antique. It has several courtyards, offering great privacy. The hotel has 72 rooms with complete facilities and smart room services with a high degree of electronic intelligence. A hidden gem hotel in downtown Taizhou.
Stay in downtown Taizhou on the first night for easy travel.
Qinhu National Wetland Park
Hours: 8:30-17:00
When visiting Taizhou, you must come to Qinhu National Wetland Park. The scenery on a sunny day is stunning. Park at P3/P4 as they are closer. Enter through the south gate after buying tickets, and first go to the dock to take a boat. The shuttle boat is included in the ticket price.
After getting off the boat, there is a museum to visit. Walking out and crossing the boardwalk leads to another dock. Here you can choose to take a shuttle bus, a painted boat, charter a paddle boat, or walk.
We chose to charter a paddle boat for 240 RMB for six people, with one stop allowed to go ashore and explore.
Riding the paddle boat, listening to the boatwoman sing, with lush greenery on both sides. At the disembarkation point, you can visit the Deer Garden and the Farming Fun Park. It was a happy and leisurely day.
Hours: 8:30-17:00
Admission: 40 (combined ticket with Qinhu Wetland is 100)
The ticket mainly covers eight attractions in the ancient town.
If you don’t want to visit the attractions, you can freely tour the ancient town streets for about half an hour.
The eight paid attractions are: Former Residence of Academician, Camellia Courtyard, Distillery, Folk Customs Hall, Water Dragon Bureau, Former Residence of Gao Ershi, Wedding Customs Hall, and Green Tree Zen Temple.
The ancient town is small and can be explored in two hours. It is recommended to visit together with Qinhu Wetland. Since the ancient town attractions close at 5 PM, we first stayed a night in the ancient town after visiting Qinhu Wetland, then had morning tea at Xijiangyue the next day before continuing to explore Qintong Ancient Town.
Accommodation: Huazhu·Qinqin Inn
Address: No. 158, Luming Road, Qintong Town
Price: 200+
Accommodation in Qintong Ancient Town is limited. Recommended is Huazhu·Qinqin Inn, located right at the entrance of the ancient town, across the street from Qintong Ancient Town Scenic Area. The street at the entrance is full of snacks and very lively.
The inn’s style is also antique, with spacious rooms and a pond in the courtyard. Parking is convenient at the door.
Morning Tea: Xijiangyue
A popular local morning tea place with an antique atmosphere and authentic morning tea. It’s recommended to come early, as many dishes are gone after 9 o’clock. The crab roe buns are my favorite.
Famous dishes in Qintong include the Eight Delicacies of Qinhu. At the entrance of the ancient town, there is a restaurant called Man Kou Xiang, an old spot for local specialties. The steamed white fish is very fresh.
