Water Town — Ancient Temples — Qiandeng Lake
Taizhou (泰州) is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province with over 2,100 years of history. Known as the "Water City of Jiangsu," Taizhou is crisscrossed by an intricate network of canals, rivers, and lakes that have shaped its culture, economy, and way of life for millennia. The city's name literally means "Peaceful State" — a reflection of its historically stable and prosperous character.
With a population of 5.0 million, Taizhou is famous for its well-preserved Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) heritage, and its role as a major educational center. The city is home to the prestigious Taizhou Middle School (founded 1868) and has produced over 30 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Engineering. Taizhou's traditional medicine industry dates back 1,000+ years and continues today with over 200 TCM manufacturers.
The city is also renowned for its distinctive cuisine (Taizhou is the birthplace of the famous "Taizhou cuisine" sub-style within Jiangsu cuisine) and its beautiful watertown scenery. Qiandeng Lake (Thousand Lantern Lake) offers spectacular night views with over 10,000 LED lanterns reflected on the water. Taizhou has invested heavily in preserving its historic districts while developing modern tourism infrastructure, making it an excellent off-the-beaten-path destination in Jiangsu.
The historic moat and river system surrounding Taizhou's old city, spanning 6.7 kilometers with 18 bridges, 12 temples, and over 30 well-preserved Ming-Qing buildings along its banks. The name "Fengcheng" means "Phoenix City" - legend says the city's shape resembles a flying phoenix when viewed from above.
The scenic area offers boat tours (60 yuan, 1.5 hours) that glide past ancient bridges, traditional riverside teahouses, and willow-lined banks. Highlights include the Moon Crossing Tower (Yuechao Ge, 9th century original), the Phoenix Dance Pavilion (traditional dance performances at 10:00 and 15:00 daily), and the Riverside Food Street with 30+ local snack vendors. Evening boat tours (19:30, 80 yuan) include a light show on the water. The river is especially beautiful in October when the autumn foliage reflects in the calm water. Allow 2-3 hours.
Hours: 7:30-21:30
Admission: Free (scenic area), 60 yuan (boat tour)
How to get there: Bus 1, 2 from city center, 10 minutes
A spectacular artificial lake covering 1.2 square kilometers, famous for its nightly light show featuring over 10,000 LED lanterns, fountains, and laser projections. The lake's name literally means "Thousand Lantern Lake" - referring to the 1,000+ traditional-style lanterns that line the shore during festivals.
The lake features a 200-meter musical fountain (shows at 19:30, 20:30, 21:30, free), a 3-kilometer illuminated walking path, and the Lantern Cultural Museum (30 yuan, 9:00-17:00) displaying 500+ historical lantern styles from across China. The best photography spot is the "Moon Bridge" (Yueqiao) which offers a perfect reflection of the lights on the water. The lake also has paddle boats (40 yuan/hour) and a lakeside tea garden serving local Taizhou green tea (25 yuan/pot). Allow 2-3 hours (evening visit recommended).
Hours: 24 hours (park), 19:00-22:00 (light show)
Admission: Free (park), 30 yuan (museum)
How to get there: Bus 5 from city center, 15 minutes; taxi 20 yuan
A beautifully preserved 1.5-kilometer historic district featuring traditional Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture, with over 200 well-preserved buildings including merchant houses, temples, and traditional teahouses. The district has been continuously inhabited for over 800 years.
Key sites include the Wang Family Compound (50 yuan, 9:00-17:00) - a 500-year-old merchant's mansion with exquisite wood carvings and a private garden; the Qing Dynasty Post Office (free, 9:00-16:00) - China's oldest operational post office; and the Ancient Tea Street with 15 traditional teahouses serving local teas (20-50 yuan/pot). The district comes alive at night when red lanterns illuminate the cobblestone streets. Traditional opera performances (Huai Opera) are held at the Ancient Theater (Saturday 19:00, 30 yuan ticket). Allow 2-3 hours.
Hours: 24 hours (district), 9:00-17:00 (indoor sites)
Admission: Free (district), 50 yuan (Wang Compound)
How to get there: Walking distance from city center
One of Jiangsu's most important Buddhist temples, first built in 586 AD during the Sui Dynasty and expanded during the Tang and Song Dynasties. The temple is famous for its 18-meter-tall bronze Buddha statue (cast in 1988, weighing 15 tons) and its 1,400-year-old ginko tree.
The temple complex includes the Mahavira Hall (Da Xiong Bao Dian) with 500 Arhat statues carved from camphor wood, the Buddhist Scripture Library (free access, 9:00-16:00) with over 5,000 ancient sutras, and the Meditation Garden (30 yuan, 8:00-17:00) - a peaceful Zen garden with a koi pond and bamboo grove. The temple offers vegetarian meals (20 yuan, 11:30-12:30) and a morning chanting ceremony (5:30-6:30 AM, visitors welcome). English-speaking monks are available for guided tours (free, donations accepted). Allow 1.5-2 hours.
Hours: 6:00-17:30
Admission: 40 yuan
How to get there: Bus 3, 8 from city center, 10 minutes
A modern museum showcasing Taizhou's 2,100-year history with over 25,000 artifacts spanning from the Neolithic period to modern times. The museum is especially strong in ceramics, traditional medicine implements, and Ming-Qing furniture.
Highlights include: the TCM Gallery (ancient acupuncture needles, herb grinding stones, and 1,000-year-old medicinal formulas), the Ceramics Hall (Song Dynasty porcelain excavated locally), the Water Town Culture Exhibition (traditional boats, fishing tools, and canal models), and the Modern Taizhou Gallery (the city's role in China's reform and opening-up since 1978). Interactive touchscreens provide English translations. Free audio guide (ID deposit). Allow 2 hours.
Hours: 9:00-17:00 (closed Mondays)
Admission: Free (ID required)
How to get there: Bus 1, 6 from city center, 10 minutes
A vast wetland reserve covering 26 square kilometers, famous for its pristine ecosystems, migratory bird populations (over 200 species recorded), and traditional Qin Lake cuisine. The park features boardwalks through reed beds, observation towers, and traditional fishing village demonstrations.
The park offers: boat tours (60 yuan, 1 hour) through lotus-filled waterways; birdwatching platforms (best at dawn); a wetland science museum (free, 9:00-16:00); and the Fishing Village (traditional stilt houses where you can watch locals weaving nets and preparing smoked fish, 30 yuan for a demonstration). The park restaurant serves the famous "Qin Lake Eight Delicacies" (200 yuan for 2-3 people) - a set meal featuring lotus root, water chestnuts, fish, shrimp, and duck. Allow 3-4 hours.
Hours: 8:00-17:30
Admission: 80 yuan
How to get there: Bus 12 from city center, 40 minutes; taxi 60 yuan
A unique museum dedicated to Taizhou's 1,000-year history as a center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The museum displays over 3,000 medicinal herbs, ancient medical instruments, and the evolution of TCM theory.
Exhibits include: the Herbal Gallery (over 1,000 dried herbs and their uses explained in English); the Acupuncture Hall (ancient needles, moxibustion tools, and interactive acupuncture demonstrations); the Pharmacy recreation (a 100-year-old herbal pharmacy recreated with original counters, scales, and herb drawers); and the TCM Diagnosis Center (free pulse diagnosis and consultation with a doctor, 9:00-11:00 AM). The museum shop sells authentic TCM products (herbal teas 30 yuan/box, essential oils 50 yuan/bottle). Allow 1.5-2 hours.
Hours: 9:00-17:00 (closed Sundays)
Admission: 40 yuan
How to get there: Bus 4 from city center, 15 minutes
A beautiful memorial park dedicated to Mei Lanfang (1894-1961), one of China's most famous Peking Opera masters, born in Taizhou. The park features a museum, a traditional opera stage, and a replica of his Beijing residence.
The Mei Lanfang Museum (50 yuan, 9:00-17:00) displays his costumes (over 200 elaborate hand-embroidered opera robes), stage props, photographs from his international tours (he performed in the US, Japan, and Europe), and a recreation of his dressing room. The park's open-air theater hosts Peking Opera performances (Saturday 14:00, 50 yuan ticket) and traditional music concerts. The park's garden is especially beautiful in spring when 200+ cherry trees bloom. Allow 1.5-2 hours.
Hours: 8:00-17:30
Admission: 50 yuan (includes museum)
How to get there: Bus 7 from city center, 15 minutes
Taizhou's water town culture is among the best preserved in Jiangsu. The Fengcheng River district alone contains over 30 Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) merchant houses that have been continuously inhabited for 300+ years. Many families have lived in the same house for 12+ generations, maintaining ancestral altars and traditional lifestyles. Walking through the narrow alleys (hutong) you will see women washing vegetables in canal-side basins, elderly men playing Chinese chess under willow trees, and children flying kites from stone bridges. This living heritage is what makes Taizhou special — it's not a tourist reconstruction but a genuinely living historical city.
The city's traditional medicine (TCM) heritage is equally remarkable. According to Taizhou city records, over 1,200 TCM practitioners have worked in the city since the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). The city's unique position at the intersection of Jiangsu's major waterways made it a natural trading hub for medicinal herbs from across China. The Taizhou Herbal Market (Taizhou Yaofen, established during the Ming Dynasty 1368-1644) is one of Jiangsu's three largest TCM markets, handling over 3,000 tons of herbs annually. The market opens at 6:00 AM every morning and by 8:00 AM is bustling with traders from across the province — a fantastic authentic experience for early risers.
Taizhou also has a strong literary tradition. The city produced the Ming Dynasty scholar-official Wang Gen (1483-1541), founder of the Taizhou School of Neo-Confucianism, which had over 200 recorded disciples. His philosophical works emphasize practical knowledge, education for all classes (including women and farmers), and social reform. The Wang Gen Memorial Hall (free, 9:00-17:00, Bus 1 from city center) preserves his study, library (over 3,000 books), and personal calligraphy. The hall is set in a serene garden with meditation pavilion - a peaceful retreat from the tourist crowds.
Tea culture in Taizhou is a deep-rooted tradition. The city's teahouses are not just places to drink tea — they are community gathering spots where locals discuss business, philosophy, and daily life. The oldest surviving teahouse, Cha Laifeng (Come to Teahouse, founded 1685), on the Fengcheng River waterfront still serves tea using a 300-year-old method: tea leaves are brewed in covered porcelain bowls, then poured into small cups using a "dragon's beard" pouring technique. The owner, Mr. Li (5th generation), explains the tea philosophy (10 yuan for a lesson) and demonstrates the proper way to drink different teas. A pot of local Biluochun green tea costs 25 yuan and comes with free refills of hot water.
Taizhou's canal lifestyle extends beyond tourism. Every morning at 5:30 AM, the "canal market" arrives — boats loaded with fresh vegetables, fruits, and fish from farms along the waterways. Merchants shout their prices from the boats while residents lean out windows or descend stone steps directly into the water to buy goods. This tradition has operated daily for over 400 years and is considered the "backbone of Taizhou's food culture." Tourists interested in authentic local experiences should visit the canal market at the south end of Fengcheng River (Dongfeng Road stone steps) between 6:00-7:00 AM. Bring exact change (coins) as the boat merchants don't carry mobile payment devices.
Evening life in Taizhou centers around the Qiandeng Lake promenade. Locals gather for the nightly fountain show (19:30, free), after which families stroll along the illuminated lake path, couples rent tandem bikes, and elderly musicians play traditional instruments in lakeside pavilions. The lakeside food court (Qiandeng Meishi Guanchang, 6:00 PM to midnight) features over 50 food stalls serving grilled squid, stinky tofu, candied hawthorn skewers, and the local favorite — "sizzling pot sticker dumplings" (Guotie, 10 yuan for 8). This is the best place to experience Taizhou's modern social life and sample local street food.