A 3-day travel guide to Yancheng: explore the world of cranes and deer and admire the sea of flowers
Preface
Yancheng is a special city that combines the gentleness and tenderness of the south with the straightforwardness and heroism of the north. Its streets and alleys have a unique flavor of the world.
I am the Crane and Deer Man. I will go to Yancheng, feel Yancheng, see the beautiful golden coastline here, see the elks running freely, the cranes dancing gracefully, and feel the good air here.
Itinerary reference
DAY1: Chinese Elk Park – Dutch Flower Sea – Return to Yancheng City Hotel – Dinner
DAY 2: Red-crowned Crane Wetland Ecological Tourism Area - China Sea Salt Museum - Salt Cube - Yancheng Water Street - European-style Flower Street - Accommodation in Yancheng
DAY3: Dayang Bay Ecological Tourism Scenic Area - Return
Yanchengcheck the details
Yancheng, renowned for its salt production, is located in central Jiangsu Province, on the central eastern coast of China, on the northern flank of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration. Yandu County was established here as early as the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, boasting a history of over 2,100 years. The area boasts continuous mudflats, lush aquatic plants, and the sounds of deer and dancing cranes, creating an ideal habitat for rare birds and animals. Bordered by the sea and lake, the scenery blends seamlessly into one, creating a breathtaking backdrop for ecotourism. Yancheng specialties such as lotus root starch dumplings, Dongtai hair embroidery, Binhai willow whips, and Jianhu fireworks are renowned throughout the country. Juchang Road is a popular food street, while Jianjun Middle Road and Huanghai East Road are the main commercial thoroughfares.
Recommended months: April to October
5561 recommendations, 4339 visits
Chinese Elk Park
The world's largest elk nature reserve
When you come to Yancheng, you certainly cannot miss the Chinese elk. Today we came to the Chinese Elk Park, which is the only national 5A-level tourist attraction in the world with the theme of "wetland ecology and elk culture". It is also the world's first wild elk park with the largest area and the largest population.
The antlers of the elk are like those of a deer, the face is like that of a horse, the hooves are like those of a cow, and the tail is like that of a donkey. It is also known as the "four-legged beast". Like the giant panda, golden monkey, and South China tiger, it is a first-class protected animal in the country.
In 1987, the London Botanic Gardens donated 39 elk to the park free of charge. Over the years, they have thrived and reproduced. According to the tour guide, there are currently over 5,000 elk in the park, including over 1,000 wild ones.
The park is very large, and its highlight is the "Golden Beach Deer Singing" area, which is the habitat of wild elk. It can only be entered by sightseeing bus, and you can park by the window to have close contact with them.
You can choose to buy a sightseeing bus ticket for 15 yuan to enter the wild elk habitat. The 15 yuan bus only stays at Jintan Luming for 15 minutes. If there are many people, you can choose to charter a bus. For 200 yuan, you can take you to various attractions in the scenic area.
Of course, you have to lure them with carrots, and they'll hang around the sightseeing bus, not afraid of people at all.
Antlers are a sign of adult males. The growth of antlers indicates sexual maturity, and the growth of branches in antlers indicates physical maturity. April and May are the mating season for elk. Male deer will start hanging grass and branches on their antlers to attract female deer. There is also the annual Deer King Competition in May.
A little-known fact: antlers shed and regenerate. Elk begin growing velvet at one year old. In autumn, the velvet sheds and ossifies into horns. The first antlers are short and straight, and they shed and regenerate in late spring. We saw a large velvet this time. In autumn, the antlers ossify into horns again, and the second antlers fork, forming two pointed horns. Every year thereafter, the antlers shed and regrow with an extra fork.
Where to feed the elk?
1. Electric vehicle
When riding an electric car, you can have close contact with elk without any obstacles. The driver will randomly stop at places where elk gather, allowing tourists to watch the elk up close and take pictures. However, you cannot get off the electric car in the sightseeing area and can only watch from the car.
2. The artificial enclosure area behind the Conferred God Platform
Walking back along the path of Fengshentai, there are captive elks for tourists to watch. Here you can also get close to the elks. Carrots are 10 yuan per bag, and you can interact and take photos while feeding the elks.
Recommended transportation to the Elk Park
A. Chartering a boat: Recommended ways to play
You can drive freely within 1 hour and wander around the waters of the elk habitat, but you must follow the prescribed route: Pier 1 → Luming Bridge → Jintan Luming → Lake Heart Island → Shenlu Bridge → Pier 2, but you cannot go ashore. At this time, you may need a telephoto lens, otherwise you can only wait to encounter elk.
The small boat can accommodate 4 people and costs 100 yuan per boat; the large boat can accommodate 6-10 people and costs 200 yuan per boat.
B. Battery Tour Bus
The battery car costs 15 yuan per person, and the chartered car costs 200 yuan.
C. Walking
Scenic area entrance → Golden Beach Deer Singing → Immortal Bridge → Taigong Pavilion → Fengshen Terrace → Artificial Captive Area → Deer King Exhibition Area → Science Exhibition Center
Red-crowned Crane Wetland Ecotourism Area
If you have heard the story of a girl and the red-crowned crane, you will definitely feel it more when you come to the Yancheng Red-crowned Crane Wetland Ecological Reserve.
The girl featured in the song "A True Story" which became popular all over the country at that time died here while searching for the lost red-crowned crane. The former residence of the girl, Xu Xiujuan, is still preserved in the reserve.
The Red-crowned Crane Reserve is quite large, and you can take an electric car from the entrance to the hinterland. At this season, the red-crowned cranes are basically kept in captivity in the reserve, ranging from young birds to various species of cranes, but it is difficult to see natural wild red-crowned cranes.
Although you can't see wild red-crowned cranes, the natural scenery here is endless. It has large wetlands, reeds growing everywhere, and many wild ducks playing in groups by the lake.
Besides the story of a girl and a red-crowned crane, the red-crowned crane itself has many stories. Red-crowned cranes are monogamous and a symbol of love. They are extremely loyal to their love, and if one dies, the other will become depressed and even commit suicide.
The best time to visit is late November to early December, when you might get the chance to see flocks of wild red-crowned cranes!
The scenic area has attractions such as: African Crane Garden, Crane Viewing Pavilion, Waterfowl Lake, China Crane Garden Red-crowned Crane Breeding Center, waterside wooden boardwalk, lakeside trail, willow forest (bird watching nest), thatched grassland, and Xu Xiujuan Martyrs Cemetery.
Following the map, you can take a guided tour through the reed-lined wetlands, which offer a variety of scenery throughout the year. Along the way, you'll also encounter numerous wild birds. The wetlands are said to be home to 450 plant species, 402 bird species, 26 amphibians and reptiles, 284 fish species, and 31 mammal species.
The reserve is really large, so you need to take an electric car to tour it. Our first stop was the Red-crowned Crane Artificial Breeding Center, which is the center and focus of the crane farm.
The exhibit features domesticated red-crowned cranes, part of a long-term scientific research project at the reserve – breeding and domesticating red-crowned cranes in their wintering grounds. While the cranes here are physically identical to wild cranes, they are now strictly resident and no longer engage in seasonal migration.
Release red-crowned cranes
Every morning at 10:30, the Red-crowned Crane Breeding Center in the scenic area releases red-crowned cranes. Staff members open the door to the breeding room, and dozens of cranes take to the sky together, creating a truly spectacular sight.
The cranes will circle in the air in groups and then land on the open space in the center of the square. The staff will then feed them collectively. This is also the best time to photograph the red-crowned cranes.
Red-crowned Crane Museum
At the entrance to the scenic area stands the world's only dedicated museum dedicated to the rare red-crowned crane. The two-story exhibition hall explains the crane's species habits, current conditions, and breeding techniques, and also includes extensive information on Chinese crane culture, providing a comprehensive understanding of the crane and its culture.
Visiting Tips:
The scenic area is quite large and can be explored on foot, by bicycle, or by renting an electric scooter. As there are many wild animals in the park, please be careful not to disturb them by making loud noises, and please turn off the flash when taking photos.
Tips:
Address: Provincial Highway 331, Tinghu District, Yancheng City, turn to Danhe Line
Opening hours: 08:30-17:00
Tickets: 45/ticket
Battery car: 200 yuan/car (10 seats)
Sightseeing bicycle for two: 30 yuan/hour
Yancheng Dayang Bay
When the ten-mile cherry blossoms are in full bloom
The cherry blossom garden in Dayang Bay Scenic Area covers an area of about 500 acres, with 52 varieties of cherry blossoms and more than 50,000 cherry trees, including 16 early cherry varieties.
Every year from mid-to-late March, the Dayang Bay Scenic Area celebrates its cherry blossom festival, with early, mid, and late cherry blossoms blooming in succession. This area boasts nearly every variety of cherry blossom in China, making it a veritable cherry blossom viewing destination.
Sakura Town is like a Japanese anime scene, combining romance, fantasy, and fairy tales. You will become the heroine of a Japanese anime when you are there. It is beautiful and full of tenderness.
Pink and white cherry blossoms are blooming on the branches. Standing in the cherry blossom corridor and looking around, the cherry blossoms are coming in layers like waves, which is a feast for the eyes.
Here you can wear beautiful clothes, bring your equipment, linger and wander in the sea of cherry blossoms, leaving behind beautiful figures and romantic memories. The flowers are beautiful and the people are even more charming.
In the romantic cherry blossom corridor, under the beautiful cherry blossom trees, you can get close to the cherry blossoms and take photos without having to choose a background.
Under the cherry trees, you can also take a small train and shuttle under the cherry trees, which will feel particularly romantic.
There is also a large, wide lawn in the Sakura Town, which is filled with tents and next to a cherry blossom forest. In such a place, you can bask in the sun, breathe the fresh air, and spend an afternoon relaxing with your family and friends. It would be a happy thing if you encounter a band performing on the lawn.
Dayang Bay Scenic Area is rich in hot spring resources, with two wells. Hot Spring Well No. 1, dug from 1,500 meters underground, produces water over 60°C (19°F). I tested the water temperature and it was quite hot. Several iron baskets hung in the hot spring water, revealing that they were used to boil hot spring eggs. Rich in minerals, these eggs are incredibly nutritious.
Golden Phoebe Pavilion
This is the first courtyard house in China made of golden nanmu wood. The furniture inside and the wood on the walls are all made of golden nanmu wood. As you can imagine, this place is priceless and very expensive.
Dengying Pavilion
When you come to the Dengying Pavilion, rockery pavilions and towers in the Waterfall Square, you must climb up and look far into the distance. The entire Ocean Bay is in sight and the view is very broad.
Tips:
The Dayang Bay scenic area is very large, and it is recommended to take an electric car for sightseeing. You can also take a pleasure boat or a rowboat to cruise around the waters of Xinyang Port W Bay and Xiaoyang Lake and enjoy the wetland landscape.
China's No. 1 Tulip Flower Sea
Now you can enjoy a vast expanse of tulips without having to travel abroad. The Holland Flower Sea in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, is located in Xinfeng Town, Dafeng District, Yancheng City. The vast expanse of tulips planted here can be described as a sea. Known as China's No. 1 tulip flower sea, it is filled with a strong Dutch atmosphere and attracts many tourists to check in.
The scenic area is very large. If you want to take a good look around the scenic area and take photos, it is highly recommended that you take an electric car to tour the entire park first, and then check in when you see something you want to check in. Otherwise, it would be too tiring to walk through the entire scenic area.
There are also electric cars available for rent in the park, which can carry 2-3 people. This is more convenient. If you see something nice, you can get off the car and take pictures, and then continue to the next stop. It is very considerate.
Spring is tulip season. From March to May each year, over 3,000 acres of tulips, more than 300 varieties, and more than 30 million tulips bloom. Whether in variety, color, or shape, the tulips in the Dutch flower fields are truly exquisite.
Many people may ask, "Does the Dutch flower sea have no flowers in other seasons?" To explain, except for tulips in spring, flowers can be seen in the flower sea year-round.
In summer, roses, hydrangeas, wild roses, lavender, and crape myrtles bloom everywhere. In autumn, hundreds of lilies in a variety of colors and shapes fill the air with fragrance. In winter, pansies, crabapples, and other flowers adorn the Dutch flower fields with their proud presence.
In addition to admiring tulips, there are also a series of activities here, including the Dutch Art Festival, the Dutch Float and Boat Parade, the European Food Carnival, the "Carnival of Love" situational show, the Tulip College Student Music Festival and other series of activities.
China Haiyan Museum
The China Sea Salt Museum was named after being approved by the State Council on January 23, 2006. It is the only large-scale thematic museum approved by the State Council that comprehensively reflects the history and civilization of China's sea salt. It is located between the ancient famous artificial salt transport river - Chuanchang River in Yancheng City and the famous sea defense dike - Fangong Dike in the Song Dynasty.
The architectural design was undertaken by Mr. Cheng Taining, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and winner of the Liang Sicheng Award, the highest award in Chinese architectural design. The name of the museum, China Sea Salt Museum, was written by the famous calligrapher Mr. Shen Peng. The design concept is to comprehensively and systematically reflect and study the development history of China's sea salt, introduce and study the formation, development and latest achievements of China's sea salt culture, collect, protect and display cultural relics and materials on the history of China's sea salt, scientifically express and reproduce the rich connotation of China's sea salt culture, and construct the image of Yancheng as a historical and cultural city with high standards.
It was once a city soaked in brine. It was home to the ancient famous salt transport rivers - Chuanchang River and Fangong Dike. Above the buildings are silvery-white hexagonal salt crystals, which look very geometric from a distance and have the artistic qualities of modern architecture.
The four exhibition halls, "Salt Production from the Sea", "Salt Distribution in All Directions", "Salt Administration in Spring and Autumn", and "The Rise of the City from Sea Salt", introduce the evolution of sea salt production technology, the century-long changes in salt storage, transportation and sales, and the birth of the name Yandu.
Only by visiting the Sea Salt Museum can you understand the vicissitudes of Yancheng, the boiling of sea waves, the iron-making of brine, and the accumulation of thousands of years have given this coastal city an endless sea salt soul.
Tips:
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 09:00-17:00, closed on Mondays
Admission: Free
Address: No. 1 Kaifang Avenue, Tinghu District, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province. During the epidemic prevention and control period, you need to wear a mask and register your information.
Water Street
Walking into the water street, you will see modern antique buildings. Yancheng Water Street is adjacent to Chuanchang River and is the main scenic spot of Haiyan Historical and Cultural Area.
This attraction highlights the local cultural characteristics. Here you can watch folk skills and artistic performances, taste local snacks, and buy tourist cultural products and local famous and special small commodities.
The story of a city, a street. The mighty salt official is patrolling the streets. Outsiders avoid him and walk through the alleys of the water street. The scene recreates the prosperity of ancient times.
Salt Cube
A must-see for sightseeing
The Salt Cube is another must-see destination in Yancheng. Its main tower stands 195 meters tall. It is the largest steel-clad concrete structure in China and the only tower structure in China to feature an all-glass curtain wall. It has won the National Steel Structure Gold Award and boasts a truly unique appearance.
As a popular check-in spot, the 20-yuan sightseeing ticket also comes with a cup of coffee, which is really conscience-speaking.
The tower houses not only a television transmission center, but also a cloud-viewing platform, a bookstore, a post office, a cafe, and more. Drinking coffee high in the sky is truly a treat! On a clear day, you can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of Yancheng from the rooftop.
European-style flower street
Not far from the Salt Cube, there is a European-style flower street, which is a commercial pedestrian street in Yancheng. It has various exotic buildings, making you feel like you are in Europe.
A river runs through the European-style Flower Street, with several flower-lined arch bridges on it. On both sides of the river, there are restaurants, coffee shops, hot pot shops, Rongshu Pavilion, bars, banquet centers and various special snacks. It is worth checking out when visiting Yancheng.
Yancheng cuisine
Fish Soup Noodles
Fish soup noodles are a traditional Yancheng noodle dish, a Jiangsu cuisine dish. Noodles are the main ingredient, and the broth is thick and white, with drops of water forming beads, making it refreshing and delicious. Fish soup noodles are not only delicious, but also have good health benefits, nourishing the spleen and stomach, and replenishing and healing the intestines.
Eight Great Bowls
In addition to egg pancakes and fish soup noodles, you can't miss the Yancheng Eight Bowls.
Yancheng's "Eight Great Bowls" include braised pig fat, braised glutinous rice balls, braised clams with radish, vermicelli with shredded chicken, rising cake, taro and shrimp soup, homemade braised pork, and braised razorfish. These eight great bowls are half soup and half vegetable, with the larger bowls highlighting the boldness of northern China and the more delicate southern cuisine, half soup and half water.
Yancheng's Eight Great Bowls, known for its delicate Huaiyang cuisine, are generally sweet, a favorite in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. They emphasize the inherent flavors of the food, and are light and healthy, not overpowering or spicy, making them suitable for all ages.
Conclusion
The meaning of travel lies not only in the destination but also in the scenery along the way. Watch elk gallop freely, red-crowned cranes dance gracefully, cherry blossoms bloom magnificently in Dayang Bay, and tulips in the Dutch flower sea are full of love. Learn about Yancheng's history and culture and stroll along the quaint and charming Yancheng Water Street.
The scenery you have seen, the laughter and touching moments during the journey will all be remembered and become precious memories in the future!
