Zhenjiang Trip｜Really Want to Tell You the Truth

📅 1. Recommended Itinerary (3-Day Highlights)

🌟 Day 1: Immersive Cultural and Historical Tour

• Morning: Jinshan Scenic Area (Arrive at 8 AM to avoid crowds! See the “Temple Wrapped Mountain” wonder and trace the legend of Lady White Snake)

→ Tip: Climb Cishou Pagoda for a panoramic view, perfect for photos at Tower Shadow Lake📸

• Afternoon: Xijin Ferry Ancient Street (Free! Climb Zhaoguan Stone Pagoda, visit the Lifesaving Society, stroll on stone slabs through Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties)

→ Lunch: Sister Li’s Guogai Noodles (with crystal pork belly + fragrant vinegar, a must-try “Three Oddities”!)

• Evening: Night tour of Xijin Ferry light show (Free at 8 PM to see the millennium-old bridge transform into cyberpunk style) → Stay at an ancient street guesthouse (about 150 RMB per person)

🏯 Day 2: Scenic Mountain and Water Poetry Tour

• All day: Jiaoshan + Beigushan (Combined ticket 70 RMB is more cost-effective)

→ Jiaoshan: Take a boat to the island! Experience rubbing stone inscriptions in the Stele Forest, watch the mighty Yangtze River from Xijiang Tower (Golden ginkgo in autumn is super healing)

→ Beigushan: Climb Beigu Tower and recite Xin Qiji’s poems, explore Liu Bei’s marriage proposal story

→ Lunch: Yong’an Fish Restaurant (Must order Yangcao pufferfish! So fresh you’ll lick the plate)

• Evening: Artistic stroll along Jingji Road (Photograph Republic of China style buildings, enjoy a special coffee at Qixi Café)

🌿 Day 3: Off-the-Beaten-Path Nature Escape

• Option A: Quanshan Sunrise (Free! Get up at 5 AM to catch the sea of clouds, 1-hour hike to the summit) → Noon BBQ at Dantu Changsen Camping Site

• Option B: Nanshan Hiking (Breathe fresh air in the urban forest, visit Zhaoyin Temple bamboo grove) → Afternoon at Vinegar Culture Museum (DIY vinegar sachets, ticket 40 RMB)

------

🏞️ 2. Must-Visit Attractions Detailed

1. Xijin Ferry

→ Highlights: Zhaoguan Stone Pagoda (Yuan Dynasty street-crossing pagoda), Guanyin Cave (Song Dynasty ancient building), Yuntai Pavilion (overlooking the whole city)

→ Night tour: When lanterns light up, it instantly becomes a “Little Hongya Cave,” with hidden bars and handmade shops deep in the alleys

2. Jinshan Temple

→ Activities: Join monks’ morning prayers (7 AM), touch the “World’s Number One Spring” Zhongling Spring stone carving

→ Avoid: Vegetarian meals inside the temple are expensive, better to eat outside the scenic area

3. Jiaoshan Stele Forest

→ Secret: Find the “Ancestor of Large Characters” the broken stele of “Yi He Ming” (top IP in the calligraphy world!)

4. Hidden Gems

◦ Quanshan Hot Springs: Soak in real hot springs after hiking to relieve leg soreness (Weigang Hot Springs 98 RMB/person)

◦ Mi Fu Calligraphy Park: Wear Hanfu and shoot ink wash style photos, the autumn osmanthus fragrance is a perfect match

------

🍜 3. Food Map · Eat Your Way Through Zhenjiang in 24 Hours

🍜 Breakfast (6:00-10:00)

• Guogai Noodles: Sister Zhang’s Noodle Shop (pork intestine noodles + pork belly), Tao’s Noodle Shop (fish soup base so fresh it raises your eyebrows)

• Crab Roe Soup Dumplings: Huotou Shao (sip the soup first, then eat the meat!)

🐟 Main Meals (11:00-14:00)

• Zhenjiang’s Three Fish: Braised shad (no scaling!), white sauce catfish, steamed knife fish

• Local Famous Shops: Miss Zhou’s dishes (fragrant fried crab), Bi Shirong (crab roe lion’s head meatballs)

🍡 Snack Streets (After 14:00)

• Yong’an Road: Salted egg yolk shaomai, Wu’s wontons, Lin Gengxin’s favorite little phoenix stinky tofu

• Jiangda Back Street: 10 RMB grilled sweet potato skin, 20 RMB crayfish cup noodles (student paradise)

🍢 Late Night Snacks (After 20:00)

• Weiwu Road BBQ: Lei’s BBQ “Gout Set” (oysters + beer), Jinye grilled meat tendon wraps

------

🏨 4. Accommodation and Transportation Guide

🏠 Accommodation Areas

• For Art Lovers: Xijin Ferry guesthouses (about 150 RMB per person, window views of the ancient street)

• For Convenience Seekers: Dashikou business district hotels (Atour S, walking distance to Suning Plaza)

🚌 Transportation Tips

• High-speed Rail: Zhenjiang Station is close to attractions, Zhenjiang South Station is farther but has more trains

• Within the City: Taxi between attractions ≤15 RMB, use “Zhenjiang Xing” app for real-time bus info

------

⚠️ 5. Key Pitfall Avoidance Guide

1. Ticket Traps:

◦ Buy Jinshan/Jiaoshan tickets online 1 day in advance (onsite may limit entry)

◦ Xijin Ferry main street is free, Lifesaving Society/Guanyin Cave combined ticket 30 RMB but optional

2. Food Traps:

◦ “Three Oddities Set” inside scenic areas marked up 50%! Go to local old shops (like Dahua Noodle Shop)

◦ For pufferfish, choose Yong’an Fish Restaurant/Bi Shirong; small shops may use farmed fish pretending to be wild

3. Seasonal Specials:

◦ 🌸 March-April: Nanshan plum blossoms, Fushan cherry blossom garden (Jurong City)

◦ 🍁 November: Jiaoshan red maples + ginkgo (best enjoyed with osmanthus cake!)

💡 Local Secrets:

• Jingji Road baked flatbreads come out at 3 PM! Salty flatbread stuffed with pork tenderloin, a carb bomb of happiness

• For souvenirs, trust “Hengshun”: cooking wine, fragrant vinegar, and unique vinegar heart candies are must-buys