A Day Trip to Taizhou

Yangzhou and Taizhou are like siblings, so why not visit Taizhou when Yangzhou is bustling with visitors? When Yangzhou was crowded, I quietly made my way to Taizhou and discovered firsthand that it truly is an underrated treasure of a city, rich in heritage and culture, and home to delicious morning tea. Day Trip Itinerary: Huibin Building morning tea - Imperial Examination Museum - City God Temple - Qiao Garden - Shui Dong Street - Zhuangqiao Wontons - Xiao Zhengxing - Mei Garden - Tao Garden - Nanshan Temple - Wanghai Tower - Old Goose Soup - Old Street - Morning Tea Museum - Night Cruise on Fengcheng River Food Recommendations: 1️⃣ Huibin Building/Haitang Chun: Both are known for morning tea with consistent quality. I visited Huibin Building and ordered a lot, all of which were full of flavor. Recommended: Crab roe buns, fish soup wontons, pigeon rice buns 2️⃣ Zhuangqiao Wontons: I was already full, but after one bite of noodles, I could eat a little bit more! Recommended: Small wontons, dry mixed noodles 3️⃣ Xiao Zhengxing Braised Deli: Sesame buns in the morning, braised dishes in the afternoon, no disappointments. Recommended: Dragon and Tiger Fight sesame buns, old goose 4️⃣ Shui Dong Street: Snacks, vintage clothing, and more. I really liked a wall that said 'The future belongs to the youth, and hope is placed upon the youth' - it's very photogenic. Recommended shops: No Boundary Vintage Store with many figurines. Secret Garden, bayberry ice glutinous rice balls, a refreshing treat for a hot summer day. 5️⃣ Old Street: A Y-shaped street with many snack bars and restaurants, recommended for a night stroll with lights as bright as day, bustling with activity. 6️⃣ Liu's Old Goose Soup: The old goose soup is delicious, with tender and firm meat. Attraction Recommendations: 1️⃣ Imperial Examination Museum: Opposite Huibin Building, with an admission fee of 24, it features real-life ancient examination halls and explains the origin and development of the imperial examination system. 2️⃣ City God Temple: Next to Zhuangqiao Wontons, it enshrines various deities. 3️⃣ Qiao Garden: Known as 'the finest garden to the south of the Yangtze River,' its bamboo groves offer a sense of deep tranquility, with rockeries and winding paths leading to unexpected beauty. 4️⃣ Mei Garden: Through a forest from the City God Temple, you'll find the Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall - Mei Garden, which provides a detailed account of the master's life, including his treatment for colds and his beard growth, offering insight into the spirit of a Peking opera master. 5️⃣ Tao Garden: Next to Old Street and close to Fengcheng River, it's named after Kong Shangren's 'The Peach Blossom Fan,' which was written here. The garden is full of spring beauty, and you can lightly step across the river on stones and lie on the lawn, gazing at the distant riverbank, truly reluctant to leave. 6️⃣ Nanshan Temple: A ten-minute walk from Wanghai Tower, the temple is majestic, yet not crowded on holidays. The main hall features a double-eaved roof and golden nanmu pillars, reflecting mid-Ming Dynasty style, while the roof employs Tang Dynasty architectural techniques. Double-eaved roofs are typically used for imperial palaces, indicating a very high standard. 7️⃣ Wanghai Tower: Known as 'the premier tower of the Jianghuai region,' it has four floors with an elevator. The second floor near Fengcheng River is very photogenic. From the top, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the scenery. The exhibition hall on the left side displays increasingly rare traditional crafts, which is quite poignant as the rapid development of the times washes away these street crafts. 8️⃣ Morning Tea Museum: Located in the middle of Old Street, it tells the history of the development of morning tea. 9️⃣ Night Cruise on Fengcheng River: Tickets are 57, navigate to the Ancient Salt Transport Canal Plaza, and go forward from the parking lot to the visitor center. On holidays, it's best to arrive two hours early.