Yangzhou 2-Day Walking Guide | Immersive Experience of the Ultimate Romance in "Misty Jiangnan"

—Stay in a Chinese-style courtyard, feast on dim sum delights, and be mesmerized by the breathtaking beauty of Slender West Lake in summer!

📍 Highlights

✅ 2 days to explore the best: Slender West Lake + Ge Garden + He Garden + Grand Canal Museum—discover world heritage and canal culture in one go!

✅ Locals' hidden route: Avoid crowded tourist spots and uncover secret gardens and ancient streets.

✅ Live in a Jiangnan painting: Stay in a century-old courtyard B&B, wake up to garden views, and listen to raindrops on banana leaves at night—embrace the essence of "Yangzhou Slow"!

📅 Day 1: Stroll Through Ancient Streets and Poetic Gardens

🌞 Morning: Old Town Walk · Feel the Local Vibe

- 08:30 **Siwangting**, one of Yangzhou’s landmarks. Capture the red walls and green trees from the second floor of Beixiao Street, soaking in the old-town charm amid cicada songs.
- 09:30 **Yanfu West Road**: Willow trees and plane trees intertwine along the river, with small bridges and white-walled houses reflected in the water—every shot is a Jiangnan ink painting.

🌿 Afternoon: Gardens and Ancient Streets Collide

- 11:00 **Ye Chun Flower Garden**: A free garden by the moat, featuring rainbow bridges, pavilions, and waterside terraces. Perfect for Hanfu photos, as if stepping into *The Peony Pavilion*.
- 13:00 **Little Qinhuai River**: More serene than Suzhou’s Pingjiang Road, with rocks, flowers, and occasional Pingtan melodies—instantly transport into a painting.

🌙 Evening to Night: Bustle and Tranquility of Dongguan Street

- 15:00 **Dongguan Street**: A 1,000-year-old canal commercial street. Visit Xie Fuchun Cosmetics Shop and Changle Inn, and try fresh lotus root balls and Huangqiao sesame cakes.
- 17:00 **Ge Garden**: One of China’s Four Great Gardens. Admire the bamboo shadows and four-season rockeries (¥43 entry; arrive early to avoid crowds).
- 19:00 **Pishi Street**: A hub for artists, with cafés, handicraft shops, and 24h bookstores. Even more charming when lanterns light up at night.

📅 Day 2: Summer Feast at Slender West Lake & Time Travel at the Grand Canal Museum

🌅 Morning: Dim Sum + Slender West Lake

- 07:00 **Fuchun Teahouse (Desheng Bridge Branch)**: The pinnacle of Yangzhou dim sum! Must-try: crab roe soup dumplings, three-dice buns, and layered oil cakes (¥60/person for a feast).
- 08:30 **Slender West Lake**: Opens at 6 AM—beat the crowds! Enter from the south gate, snap the Five-Pavilion Bridge and Fishing Terrace (framing the white pagoda), and marvel at summer lotus ponds. Wear a qipao for stunning photos.

🌞 Afternoon: Culture Meets Nature

- 11:30 **Daming Temple**: Climb Qiling Pagoda for a panoramic view of Slender West Lake. Visit the Jianzhen Memorial Hall (¥45 ticket includes pagoda access).
- 14:00 **Grand Canal Museum**: Free! Start with the 5D canal experience in Hall 1, immerse in ancient streets in Hall 3, and capture sunset views from the rooftop garden.

🍜 Must-Try Food List

- **Dim Sum**: Ye Chun Teahouse (emerald shaomai), Garden Teahouse (bamboo shoot and pork potstickers), Jiangjiaqiao Dumpling Noodle Shop (shrimp roe wontons).
- **Snacks**: Simple Meals (lotus root balls), Zhao’s Stuffed Tangyuan on Dongguan Street, Xiaojuelin Vegetarian Restaurant (vegetarian "goose").
- **Dinner**: Yangzhou Banquet (lion’s head meatballs), Dachaohuai (wooden bucket fish soup), Lion’s Building (Wensi tofu soup).

🏨 Stay: **Reconstruction·Bing’ouguan**

- Why: Inside Dongguan Street, 5-min walk to Ge Garden and He Garden. A century-old Chinese courtyard with modern amenities—garden views and rain-on-banana-leaves nights.
- Room: "Four Waters Courtyard Room" with a stargazing terrace and private hot spring.
- Price: ~¥1,000/night (breakfast included; pet-friendly family rooms available).

💡 Pro Tips

1️⃣ **Save on tickets**: Slender West Lake + Ge Garden + He Garden combo ticket (¥170, saves ¥40!).
2️⃣ **Transport**: Walk within Dongguan Street; rent e-bikes for longer trips (¥2/15 mins)—skip the tricycles!
3️⃣ **Avoid scams**: Be cautious with "Yangzhou old goose" on Dongguan Street; go for "Unforgettable Old Goose." Arrive before 7 AM for dim sum to skip lines.
4️⃣ **Outfits**: Hanfu/qipao + oil-paper umbrella = instant garden/street photo magic!

📸 Top Photo Spots

- Slender West Lake Fishing Terrace (framing Five-Pavilion Bridge)
- He Garden’s Waterheart Pavilion (light and shadow play)
- Grand Canal Museum rooftop garden (canal sunset)
- Pishi Street’s "Yangzhou" mural (artsy street shots)

Yangzhou—a city made for daydreaming.

Two days not enough? Stay a month. Listen to temple bells, savor seasonal flavors.

📍 Bookmark this guide. This summer, I’ll be waiting for you in Yangzhou! 🌿