Spring Yangzhou Travel Guide: The Right Way to Enjoy the Fireworks in March
Preface
The spring breeze blows along the ten-mile Yangzhou Road. The March wind brings the colorful flowers and green willows by the Slender West Lake. When the warmth comes, you know it is a good time to go to Yangzhou.
When it comes to Yangzhou, every visitor will have a hundred different versions of the city in their minds. But for locals, Yangzhou is a cozy hometown where they can live until old age. Here, you can enjoy skin wrapped in water in the morning and water wrapped in skin in the evening, enjoy the delicious and fragrant Huaiyang snacks, stroll along the banks of Slender West Lake in the morning, and cool off by the canal in the evening.
Although more and more tourists have infiltrated into their lives, the leisurely days are still like the flowing water in the Grand Canal, flowing endlessly and repeating over and over again.
Image source: Tuchong.com
If we trace the origins of Yangzhou's history, we can't help but find that two emperors were closely connected to it: Emperor Yang of Sui and Emperor Qianlong.
Emperor Yang of Sui's greatest contribution was connecting Yangzhou with Beijing. The Grand Canal, linking Beijing and Hangzhou, brought Yangzhou ever greater attention, making it a beloved destination. Emperor Qianlong went even further, visiting Yangzhou on each of his six trips south of the Yangtze River.
Even today, people follow in the footsteps of emperors, and every early spring, poets and scholars write poems about this leisurely and beautiful city. Yangzhou's beauty lies in its tranquility, in its ability to quietly experience life itself.
So, what should you do and how should you visit Yangzhou in March? Let this article explain.
Image source: Zhongguancun Online Forum
Attractions Quick Overview
Slender West Lake
The long embankment is painted with willows and jade beads swaying
Visit Jiangnan Skinny Girl
Located in the northern suburbs of Yangzhou, the renowned Slender West Lake is a representative garden of Yangzhou, steeped in historical and cultural significance. Gardens were first constructed along its shores during the Sui and Tang dynasties. It was during the Qing Dynasty, thanks to the six southern tours of Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong, that the lake reached its present splendor.
The gardens are breathtakingly beautiful, boasting a reputation as the most magnificent garden in the world, with only Yangzhou's West Lake being the most magnificent. Those who love nature will undoubtedly cherish the beauty of the Slender West Lake and the leisurely time spent there.
Image source: Tuchong.com
Tips:
Opening hours: 6:30-18:00;
Ticket sales hours: 7:00-17:30
18:30-22:00 (night tours open after March 20, ticket price is about 80-100 yuan, the whole journey is by boat)
Recommended play time: 2-3 hours
Ticket price: 150 yuan in peak season; 120 yuan in off-season. Discounts available.
Garden
The bamboo sways in the smoke and the flowers surround
the green and fragrant fields.
Ge Garden, built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty, was the private garden of Huang Zhiyun, then the head of the Lianghuai Salt Merchants. Its name is famous for its bamboo and rocks. Even the character "Ge" (Ge) in the garden's name is derived from the character for bamboo, which represents bamboo, reflecting the diverse bamboos found throughout the garden. The rockery within the garden is known as the "Four Seasons Rockery," and a stroll through the garden is like experiencing the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, making it a unique and distinctive feature of Yangzhou gardens.
Image source: Photo Network
Tips:
Tickets:
Peak season (March to June, September to November): 45 yuan
Off-season (January to February, July to August, December): 30 yuan
Opening Hours:
Peak season: 07:15~18:00 (March to June, September to November)
Off-season 07:15~17:00 (January-February, July-August, December)
Recommended play time: 1-1.5 hours
He Garden
The secluded residence seems to be the work of this clan elder, and the Jixiao Mountain Villa is a masterpiece of craftsmanship.
The corridors lead to the Swallow Pavilion, and the winding paths under the eaves lead into the flowers.
He Garden, also known as Jixiaozhuang, is a private garden built by He Zhifu during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. It is a representative work of late Qing garden architecture and is known as the greatest garden of the late Qing Dynasty. The garden consists of a back garden, residential courtyards, and a stone house in the southeast, all connected by corridors.
He Garden boasts four "firsts in the world" in Chinese garden art. The most distinctive architectural feature is the 1,500-meter-long double-story corridor, known as the "First Corridor in the World." This architectural feature offers the garden's extensive accessibility and a beautifully serpentine design, unique in Chinese gardens. The other four firsts include the "First Mountain in the World" at Pianshi Mountain House, a unique example of the stone-stacked masterpiece by the master painter Shi Tao, from which one can see the famous "Moon in the Water"; the stained-glass window bands, composed of lattice windows and hollow windows, known as the "First Window in the World"; and the Water Center Pavilion in He Garden, a rare water-based opera stage in China, known as the "First Pavilion in the World" for viewing opera.
Image source: Photo Network
Tips:
Tickets:
Peak season (March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December): 45 yuan;
30 yuan in off-season
Opening hours: 7:30-17:15
Recommended play time: 1-1.5 hours
Daming Temple (Pingshan Hall)
Looking back at the flowers, I wandered in the vast wilderness.
Low clouds settled over the canopy, and the cold trees hid the flags in front.
Daming Temple was first built during the Southern Dynasties, over 1,500 years ago. The renowned monk Jianzhen preached and gave ordination here before his voyage to Japan. The temple's most famous feature is the Qiling Pagoda, which houses the relics of Sakyamuni Buddha. Famous poets such as Li Bai, Bai Juyi, and Liu Yuxi have visited and composed poetry there.
There is also a magnolia tree in the front yard of the temple. Its leaves are lush and its flowers are white like jade plates in spring. It is known as "Yangzhou magnolia, unparalleled in the world".
Image source: Tuchong.com
Tips:
Tickets:
Peak season (March-June, September-November): 45 yuan
The off-season (December-February, July and August) is 30 yuan, and climbing the tower + ringing the bell is 25 yuan.
Opening hours: 8:00-17:30
Recommended play time: 1-1.5 hours
Dongguan Street
Dongguan Street is Yangzhou's most iconic historic street. Stretching from the ancient Grand Canal in the east to Guoqing Road in the west, it stretches 1,122 meters. Originally paved with long slabs of stone, Dongguan Street was once not only a hub for Yangzhou's land and water transportation but also a center for commerce, handicrafts, and religious culture.
Dongguan Street is full of specialties and delicacies: Da Qilin Pavilion Tea Shop, Simei Sauce Garden's pickles, and Xie Fuchun are all very famous and worth a try.
Image source: Photo Network
Lu's Ancient House
The Lu Family Salt Merchant Residence was the largest and most luxurious residence of a salt merchant in Yangzhou during the late Qing Dynasty, known as the "First House of Salt Merchants." The owner was the wealthy businessman Lu Shaoxu. Built during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, the residence cost over 70,000 taels of silver.
Among luxury residences, the Lu Residence boasts five "mosts": the largest land area, the widest entrance, the most rooms, the most spacious halls, and the longest construction history. The brick carvings on the lintel of the Lu family salt merchant residence are exceptionally exquisite. The gatehouse, residential buildings, Yi Garden, and library within the Lu Family Garden are among the few remaining well-preserved original structures. The library, in particular, is not only well-preserved, but also boasts a century-old wisteria trellis to its west, a rarity in Yangzhou.
Image source: Photo Network
Tips:
Tickets:
20 yuan, you can dine in the Lu's Ancient House Restaurant in the park to waive the entrance fee
Opening Hours:
8:00-18:00, with a break at noon, and visitors will start to be received at 14:00
Recommended visiting time: about 1 hour
Lu's Ancient House Restaurant:
Morning tea: 7:00-10:00, lunch: 11:30-14:00, dinner: 17:00-20:00
Hanling Garden (Han Guangling King Tomb Museum)
The Hanling Garden, often called the "Little Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum," features the wooden coffin tombs of Liu Xu, the first King of Guangling of the Western Han Dynasty, and his queen, as well as artifacts unearthed from their underground palaces. Both tombs, constructed with the imperial "Huangchangtichou" style, are among the largest Han Dynasty tombs in China, boasting a history of over 2,000 years.
The tomb contains over 800 "tichou" (a type of coffin) logs. These logs were used for the coffins of ancient emperors, with the head facing inward. Because the yellow cypress wood was used for the inner core, it was named "huangchang" (yellow chang), a special burial system enjoyed by emperors and nobles of the Western Han Dynasty. A model of this type of log is currently on display at the Yangzhou Shuangbo Museum.
Image source: Internet
Tips:
Tickets: 30 yuan for adults, 15 yuan for students and children. Discounts available.
Tour guide fee: 30 yuan for less than 10 people, 40 yuan for 11-15 people, 50 yuan for more than 16 people;
Opening hours: 8:00-17:00
Recommended play time: 1-1.5 hours
Wenchang Pavilion
Wenchang Pavilion was built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty. It served as the Kuixing Tower of the Yangzhou Prefecture School, hence the name. On festive nights, the pavilion's colorful lanterns illuminate the streets, creating a stunning sight in downtown Yangzhou.
Image source: Photo Network
Huaiyang flavor
When it comes to food, Yangzhou people are known for their particularity. There's a famous saying that locals and outsiders alike frequently cite: "In the morning, skin is covered in water, and in the evening, water is covered in skin."
This "skin wrapped in water" refers to the morning tea culture, which involves eating juicy snacks like steamed buns and dumplings, paired with a cup of Yangzhou's famous Green Yangchun tea, to get the day off to a good start. Yangzhou locals rarely have morning tea at home; instead, everyone from centenarians to children flocks to teahouses of all sizes early in the morning.
The authentic old Yangzhou teahouses usually have the word "Spring" in their names, such as Fuchun, Yechun and Gonghechun, which are collectively affectionately called the "Three Springs" by Yangzhou people.
Fuchun Teahouse
Fuchun Teahouse wasn't originally a teahouse, but rather a "flower shop." In the late Qing Dynasty, the ancient city of Yangzhou still held a tradition of "thousands of adopted daughters first taught music, and every ten miles of flower planting was considered planting the grounds of the Fuchun Teahouse." In 1885 (the 11th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu), Yangzhou native Chen Aiting rented a dozen houses and some vacant land in Deshengqiao Lane and established the "Fuchun Flower Shop," cultivating seasonal flowers and creating a variety of bonsai for the market.
Today, through the tireless efforts of several generations, Fuchun Teahouse has evolved into a unique blend of flowers, tea, dim sum, and dishes, offering a unique blend of color, fragrance, flavor, and form, while also embodying a sense of leisure, tranquility, elegance, and sophistication. It is recognized as the authentic epitome of Huaiyang cuisine. Famous figures and literary masters such as Ba Jin, Zhu Ziqing, Bing Xin, Lin Sanzhi, Wu Zuoren, Mei Lanfang, and Zhao Dan have all left their calligraphy and praises.
Image source: Internet
Image source: Internet
Yechun Tea House
Yechun Tea House mainly serves Huaiyang pastries and snacks, such as Huangqiao sesame cakes, scallion oil fire cakes, Huizhou cakes, and boiled dried bean curd strips. The ingredients are strictly selected and the production method is unique. The color, aroma, taste and shape are all important. It has a strong local flavor and is deeply loved by customers.
In natural gardens, there are many trees, water, bridges and pavilions, but not many that are cleverly combined together in a natural and interesting way.
Image source: Tuchong.com
Huaiyang cuisine
Huaiyang cuisine, one of China's four major traditional culinary styles, originated in Yangzhou and Huai'an. Using primarily seafood as its main ingredients, it is underpinned by state-of-the-art culinary techniques, prioritizing authentic flavors and colors. Its pursuit of a universal appeal allows it to appeal to both the elite and the masses without losing its elegance. Its distinctive philosophy of harmony, refinement, purity, and freshness is paramount.
Huaiyang cuisine originated in the Spring and Autumn Period, flourished during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and reached its peak during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Its meticulous selection of ingredients, meticulous preparation, and pursuit of authentic flavors have earned it the reputation of "the best cuisine in Southeast China and the most delicious in the world." The cooking process is characterized by meticulous knife skills, requiring extreme precision, and its melon carving is particularly renowned. The cooking process utilizes heat carefully, focusing on the cooking process and emphasizing freshness, resulting in a balanced flavor that is refreshing and slightly sweet.
Famous dishes include Braised Lion's Head with Crab Roe, Boiled Dried Shredded Vegetables, Three-piece Duck, Soft-shelled Eel, Crystal Braised Pork, Squirrel Mandarin Fish, and Liangxi Crispy Eel. The dishes are exquisitely prepared and elegantly presented.
Boiled Dried Shredded Vegetables
Gansi (dried tofu shreds) are cooked in large amounts of water. This seemingly simple dish is actually quite complex, a hallmark of Huaiyang cuisine. The umami flavor of the ham permeates the finely shredded tofu, creating a seamless texture without a single drop of oil or bean smell.
Image source: Internet
Yangzhou fried rice
Yangzhou fried rice, also known as Yangzhou egg fried rice, is a classic Han Chinese snack from Yangzhou, Jiangsu. Originally popular among locals, it's said to have originated from the "broken gold rice" (broken gold rice) favored by Yang Su, Duke of Yue during the Sui Dynasty.
Image source: Internet
Wensi Tofu
Wensi tofu is a traditional Jiangsu dish with a long history, originating in Yangzhou and Huai'an. Made with carefully selected ingredients and meticulously cut, it's tender, refreshing, and melts in your mouth. It also has nutritional benefits, nourishing the body, and is suitable for both the elderly and children.
Image source: Internet
Emerging check-in spots
Zhongshuge
Zhongshuge in Yangzhou is located in the beautiful Zhenyuan Garden in front of the trees by the water. While adhering to the solemn and dramatic style of the past, it also incorporates an indispensable element in the growth of this historical and cultural ancient city as the main design driving force - the bridge.
Entering the main entrance of Zhongshuge Yangzhou, you'll find the bookstore's lobby. The designer employed the concept of an arched bridge, continuing Zhongshuge's visual symbolism of a world of books. The sonorous river between the ground and the sky guides readers deeper into the vast ocean of knowledge. The bookshelves on either side, with their graceful curved structures, stretch the skyline, like bridges over a stream.
Image source: Internet
Pi Shi Street
Pi Shi Street was once known as Yangzhou's "Fur Street." Fur has been a symbol of fashion and elegance since ancient times. As a historically prosperous city, Yangzhou naturally had a strong presence in the fur trade, which eventually led to the formation of "Fur Street."
Pishi Street's pavement is paved with granite. Many of the fur traders here were from other places, resulting in the unique street food. Pishi Street has also been known as Mutton Alley, Steamer Alley, Big Sesame Alley, Small Sesame Alley, and Bellows Alley. While these alleys still exist, Pishi Street has been gradually upgraded, with a vibrant array of arty eateries and bookstores. Although the street is short, it offers a perfect opportunity for a leisurely stroll, a bite to eat, and a restful afternoon, truly a moment of leisure.
Image source: Tuchong.com
Little Pangu
Located in Dingjia Bay in the old city district (north of He Garden), Yangzhou's Xiaopangu (Little Pangu) was once the private residence of Zhou Fu, a high-ranking official during the Qing Dynasty. The garden features a lake, mountains, and beautiful rocks, one of which, known as "Nine Lions Mountain," is the park's most treasured feature. Its name derives from its resemblance to a group of lions exploring a fish.
Green Yang Hotel
In Yangzhou's old town lies the Green Yang Hotel, a century-old establishment dating back to the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. Many modern celebrities, including Chiang Kai-shek, Zhou Zuoren, Yu Dafu, and Mei Lanfang, have stayed at the hotel.
In the narrow alley, you have to look up to see the three-story hotel facade in its entirety. It features a blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles, with the main entrance in the center. Inside, a four-sided courtyard connects the sky and the ground. Wooden staircases lead up to each floor, narrow and steep. Each floor has a U-shaped corridor, all constructed entirely of wood. The second and third floors, facing the main street, each have a small balcony surrounded by green iron railings, offering views of the alley.
Precautions
1. Before visiting Yangzhou, you should check the local weather, especially in spring. Not only should you prepare rain gear, but you should also bring an extra coat to protect against the wind.
2. Yangzhou souvenirs include: Xie Fuchun incense powder, Yangzhou paper-cuts, Yangzhou three knives, Yangzhou lanterns, Yangzhou eight-carving crafts, etc.
3. Summer is the off-season for tourism in Yangzhou. Yangzhou will hold the "Summer in Yangzhou" theme event at this time, and tickets for some attractions will be discounted.
4. If you want to visit Yangzhou's major attractions, it's best to buy a combined ticket for ¥180/person, which includes: Slender West Lake Scenic Area, Daming Temple, Ge Garden, He Garden, and a scenic cruise on the Ancient Grand Canal. If you purchase tickets for these attractions separately, the prices are: Slender West Lake ¥90/person, Daming Temple ¥45/person, Ge Garden ¥40/person, He Garden ¥40/person, and the Ancient Grand Canal ¥40/person.
5. Yangzhou's three knives (kitchen knife, pedicure knife, and barber knife) are famous throughout the country. When you go to Yangzhou, you can experience "Lu Qin Foot Art" and "Su Yang Foot Care".
6. Most morning teas are over after 10 o'clock, and state-owned teahouses are almost closed after 1 o'clock in the afternoon, so friends who want to enjoy Yangzhou's famous morning tea cannot sleep in.
Conclusion
Li Bai's poem, "Fireworks in March, Yangzhou in Yangzhou," perfectly captures the beauty of spring in Yangcheng. This city is imbued with endless romance and poetry, its beauty lurking behind the weeping willows of Slender West Lake and within the mottled cobblestone streets of the old city. To discover the true flavor of Yangcheng, first experience the authentic atmosphere of local life.
Let time settle in a pot of tea, a game of chess, a basket of dim sum or a bowl of dried bean curd. In this city, slowing down is the essence; getting busy loses its charm.
