March 2024 Zhejiang and Jiangsu Self-Drive Travel Guide (Part 3): Yangzhou and Zhenjiang, Jiangsu

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Continuing from "March 2024 Zhejiang and Jiangsu Self-Drive Travel Guide (Part 2): Yixing Bamboo Sea, Jiangsu, and Xinghua Qianduo Scenic Area, Taizhou"

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Slender West Lake - Five-Pavilion Bridge

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - "Three Mountains Scenic Area" - Jinshan - Jinshan Temple

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - Xijindu Historical and Cultural District - Xijin Concert Hall

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - "Three Mountains Scenic Area" - Jiaoshan

Jiangsu - Taizhou - Xinghua - Qianduo Scenic Area - Observation Deck

Jiangsu - Taizhou - Xinghua - Qianduo Scenic Area - Rape Flower Fields

Zhejiang - Hangzhou - Chun'an - Thousand Island Lake - Meifeng Island - Overlooking Thousand Island Lake

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yixing - Yixing Bamboo Sea

In recent years, "In March, go down to Yangzhou" has become a poetic destination that travel enthusiasts must reach. This self-drive trip to Zhejiang and Jiangsu was timed for the beautiful season of blooming spring flowers; on the other hand, we specifically set the main destination as Yangzhou. We arranged a few days to wander and explore there, dancing with Yangzhou's history, culture, and beauty, experiencing the unique charm of "In March, go down to Yangzhou," and reaping a harvest of beauty and emotion. It also made up for the regret of having visited Yangzhou more than once but never during the poetic days of March when the flowers bloom.

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - China Grand Canal Museum

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - Xijindu Historical and Cultural District

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - "Three Mountains Scenic Area" - Beigushan

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - "Three Mountains Scenic Area" - Jinshan - Jinshan Temple

Jiangsu - Taizhou - Xinghua - Qianduo Scenic Area - Rape Flower Fields

Jiangsu - Taizhou - Xinghua - Qianduo Town - Dongwang Village - Sunset

Zhejiang - Hangzhou - Chun'an - Thousand Island Lake - Moonlight Island

Zhejiang - Hangzhou - Chun'an - Thousand Island Lake - Sunset Glow

D7-D10 (March 28 to March 31). Visited the China Grand Canal Museum, Canal Three Bends Scenic Area, Slender West Lake, Daming Temple, Jianzhen Library Cherry Blossom Avenue, He Garden, Ge Garden, Dongguan Street Historical District, Dongguan Ancient Ferry (Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal), Pishi Street, and Zhu Ziqing's Former Residence in Yangzhou. In Zhenjiang, visited Xijindu Historical and Cultural District, Zhenjiang Museum, Jingkou Square, and the Three Mountains (Jinshan, Jiaoshan, Beigushan) Scenic Area and other attractions.

Sixth Stop: Yangzhou, Jiangsu (D7-D9, March 28 to March 30)

Yangzhou is an ancient historical and cultural city located in central Jiangsu Province, at the intersection of the Yangtze River and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. The famous Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal runs through the city from north to south, earning it the reputation of "China's First City of the Grand Canal." Yangzhou is also a renowned tourist destination, long known as a gathering place for cultural figures and a bustling city of scenic beauty, with numerous historical sites and elegant gardens. Yangzhou's "Slender West Lake" has a long history and is favored by garden experts of all generations. Along the ten-li-long lake shores, the scenic area features "Two embankments with flowers and willows all by the water, a row of pavilions and towers stretching to the mountains." Yangzhou also boasts the ancient Daming Temple, the He Garden known as "City Forest," the Ge Garden famous for its "Four Seasons Rockery," and the palace ruins left by emperors such as Emperor Yang of Sui, Emperor Kangxi, and Emperor Qianlong. The scenic spots are countless, truly a gem of Jiangnan.

1. Yangzhou is a famous tourist city with many scenic spots worth visiting, but even just wandering around takes a few days.

2. In recent years, Yangzhou tourism has become extremely popular. Especially invited by the poem "In March, go down to Yangzhou," the tourism here is incredibly hot every March and April, with attractions overcrowded and accommodations tight. Be sure to arrange and book in advance according to your itinerary.

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Slender West Lake

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Daming Temple - Qiling Tower

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Jianzhen Library Cherry Blossom Avenue

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Dongguan Street Historical and Cultural District

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Dongguan Ancient Ferry - By the Grand Canal

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Ge Garden

China Grand Canal Museum is located on Kaifa East Road, not far from downtown Yangzhou, covering 200 mu with a total building area of about 80,000 square meters. It is a local modern comprehensive museum integrating cultural relic protection, scientific research and exhibition, and leisure experience. The museum's architectural design is very distinctive, magnificent and grand. The museum mainly introduces the Grand Canal and serves as an encyclopedia of China's Grand Canal.

1. The China Grand Canal Museum is a new popular attraction in Yangzhou. The number of visitors each day is extraordinary, so advance reservations are required.

2. The Canal Three Bends Scenic Area and the Grand Canal Museum are connected. At this season, many cherry blossoms here are in full bloom and very beautiful, so you can visit them together.

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - China Grand Canal Museum

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Canal Three Bends Scenic Area

Slender West Lake is a narrow winding river. Here, you can walk along the river to enjoy the natural scenery, or step into the pavilions and towers to savor the poems and paintings of literati through the ages. You can also take a boat and feel the leisurely mood of Emperor Qianlong when he toured the lake. The entire Slender West Lake scenic area is vast, a famous lake garden with beautiful natural landscapes. In spring, green willows form shade, accompanied by camellias, pomegranates, azaleas, peaches and other flowering trees, attracting tourists from all over for outings and flower viewing. For thousands of years, countless literati have lingered here, composing poems and painting, leaving behind many works and stories, and also building many scenic architecture adapted to local conditions. Five-Pavilion Bridge is the landmark of Slender West Lake, with a history of over two hundred years. This area was also visited by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty when he toured the south. The architectural scenes seen today, such as Great Rainbow Bridge, Diaoyutai, White Pagoda, and Xichun Terrace, all have inseparable anecdotes with Emperor Qianlong.

1. Slender West Lake is a must-visit popular attraction in Yangzhou. The scenic area is very large, so allow more time for visiting.

2. Enter from the south gate of Slender West Lake, tour all the way to the north gate, then visit Daming Temple and Jianzhen Library Cherry Blossom Avenue. This way, you can visit three attractions in a row without backtracking, taking about one day.

3. From late March to early April each year, it is the full bloom period for cherry blossoms on Jianzhen Library Cherry Blossom Avenue. This is a free non-scenic-spot attraction. During the blooming period, crowds of visitors come to admire the flowers.

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Slender West Lake

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Slender West Lake - Five-Pavilion Bridge and White Pagoda

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Slender West Lake

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Daming Temple - Jianzhen Memorial Hall

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Daming Temple - Qiling Tower

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Daming Temple - Overlooking Slender West Lake from Qiling Tower

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Jianzhen Library Cherry Blossom Avenue

He Garden is known as "the finest garden of the late Qing Dynasty." The architecture in the garden combines Chinese and Western styles, connected by covered walkways, with a layered layout. It consists of three main parts: Jixiao Mountain Villa, Pianshi Mountain House, and Western-style buildings. He Garden is not large; visitors can reach any part of the garden via the covered walkways. There are two gates: the east gate and the south gate. Visitors enter and exit through the east gate; the south gate is not open to the public.

Ge Garden is planted with numerous green bamboos. Because the bamboo leaf shape resembles the character "个" (ge), it is named Ge Garden. Ge Garden can be divided into three areas: the northern bamboo viewing area, the central garden, and the southern residential area. Compared to other famous gardens, the essence of Ge Garden lies in the rockery stacking art themed on the four seasons, using different stones to create scenes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The four seasons rockeries each have their own characteristics, and every spot is filled with ingenious ideas. Spring, summer, autumn, winter cycle endlessly, incorporating mountains, rivers, the sun, moon, and stars into this one realm, creating a tranquil spiritual space.

1. These two gardens in Yangzhou have their own characteristics: He Garden is exquisite, Ge Garden is expansive. If you have time and interest, visiting both is certainly worthwhile. If time is limited, choose one to explore.

2. If possible, try to avoid visiting on weekends and holidays. There are especially many visitors on weekends and holidays, making the small garden spaces very crowded and seriously affecting the experience.

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - He Garden

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Ge Garden

Dongguan Street Historical District is located in the center of Yangzhou. The main street is paved with stone slabs. Walking along, you can often see salt merchant courtyards with blue bricks and gray tiles. The concentration of food and local specialty trinkets adds to the joy of shopping for tourists, making it worthy of being called "a representative historical old street in Yangzhou." Dongguan Street runs east to the ancient canal and west to Guoqing Road. Its eastern end, Dongguan Ancient Ferry, was a bustling dock in Yangzhou during the Tang Dynasty. The dock led to the development of the commercial street, Dongguan Street. Today, Dongguan Street still maintains its Ming and Qing Dynasty appearance.

1. Dongguan Street, the East Gate Ruins, Dongguan Ancient Ferry, and the China Grand Canal are all connected, so you can arrange time to visit them together.

2. If interested, you should visit Dongguan Street or Pishi Street in the evening. When night falls, these two pedestrian streets are crowded with people, bustling and lively. Strolling on the stone-paved roads and trying the wide variety of local snacks is a great way to experience local life.

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Dongguan Street Historical and Cultural District - East Gate Ruins

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Dongguan Street

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Dongguan Ancient Ferry

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - By the Grand Canal

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Pishi Street

Jiangsu - Yangzhou - Zhu Ziqing's Former Residence

Seventh Stop: Zhenjiang, Jiangsu (D10, March 31)

Zhenjiang's Xijindu, also known as Xijindu Historical and Cultural District, is located in the northwest of downtown Zhenjiang. Here, there is a cluster of old houses with a strong historical atmosphere, and the famous Xijindu Ancient Street is situated here. Xijindu has been a ferry dock since the Three Kingdoms period. Later, as the riverbank gradually moved northward, the ferry was long gone, leaving only Xijindu Ancient Street perched on the mountainside of Yuntai Mountain. It is the area in Zhenjiang with the most numerous, concentrated, and best-preserved cultural relics, and also the "cultural lineage" of the historical and cultural city of Zhenjiang. Tips:

1. There is a large underground parking lot opposite the Xijindu scenic area, with convenient access and reasonable fees, making it an ideal parking spot for the area.

2. Zhenjiang Museum, located in Xijindu Historical and Cultural District, has rich and detailed collections worth spending time to visit.

The "Three Mountains" scenic area in Zhenjiang—Jinshan, Jiaoshan, and Beigushan—features rolling green hills, combining beauty, grandeur, and steepness. Ancient trees hide in the mountains, and historical sites dot the landscape. They either stand in the Yangtze River or overlook the riverbank, each with its unique charm, together forming this 5A-level tourist resort. The natural landscapes are uniquely crafted, and historical sites are scattered like stars. The famous Jinshan Temple is the main attraction of Jinshan, and what draws most attention to Jinshan Temple are the many folk tales, such as the legend of Lady White Snake flooding the Golden Mountain, which supposedly happened here.

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - Xijindu Historical and Cultural District

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - Xijindu Historical and Cultural District - Zhenjiang Museum

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - "Three Mountains Scenic Area" - Jiaoshan

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - "Three Mountains Scenic Area" - Jiaoshan - Ancient Fort

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - "Three Mountains Scenic Area" - Jiaoshan

1. Zhenjiang is a national historical and cultural city with beautiful scenery and numerous historical sites. Although not as famous as Yangzhou, it is worth staying for 2 or 3 days to wander around and learn about Zhenjiang's history and culture, experiencing the unique charm of this city. We only had one day to visit, and although we managed to cover the main attractions, it felt quite rushed.

2. Attractions such as Xijindu and the "Three Mountains" scenic area are located in or near the city center, making them very convenient to visit.

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - "Three Mountains Scenic Area" - Jinshan - Jinshan Temple

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - "Three Mountains Scenic Area" - Beigushan

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - "Three Mountains Scenic Area" - Jinshan

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - "Three Mountains Scenic Area" - Beigushan

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - "Three Mountains Scenic Area" - Beigushan - Ganlu Temple

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - "Three Mountains Scenic Area" - Beigushan - Beigu Tower

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - Jinshan Scenic Area - Jinshan - Jinshan Temple

Jiangsu - Zhenjiang - "Three Mountains Scenic Area" - Jinshan - Jinshan Temple

D11-D12 (April 1 to April 2)

Left Zhenjiang, returned to Shantou via Nanping, Fujian, successfully concluding the 12-day Zhejiang and Jiangsu self-drive tour.