Taizhou Travel Guide

A historic canal city in central Jiangsu, known for its wetlands, Peking Opera heritage, and spring rape flower seas.

About

Taizhou (Taizhou), located in central Jiangsu Province along the northern bank of the Yangtze River, is a city rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. With a history spanning over 2,100 years, it was an important transit point on the Grand Canal and a prosperous center of salt trading during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The city is perhaps most famous as the birthplace of Mei Lanfang, China's greatest Peking Opera performer. Taizhou's cultural heritage also includes traditional Jiangsu-style gardens, ancient streets, and a thriving food scene rooted in the Huaiyang culinary tradition.

Nature lovers are drawn to the magnificent Qin Lake Wetland Park and the extraordinary Xinghua rape flower fields, where thousands of small earthen platforms create a labyrinth of golden blooms every spring. The city's canal network and waterways have earned it the nickname "Water City of Jiangsu."

Today's Taizhou balances its historical legacy with modern development, emerging as a hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing, shipbuilding, and new energy industries.

Top Attractions

🏔️ Nature

Qin Lake National Wetland Park

Qin Lake National Wetland Park is one of the largest freshwater wetland parks in Jiangsu, covering 26 square kilometers of lakes, marshes, and waterways. Visitors can take boat rides through lush lotus ponds, observe migratory birds, and walk along wooden boardwalks spanning the wetlands. The park is especially beautiful in spring when flowers bloom and in autumn when reeds turn golden.

★★★★ 4.7

🕐 08:00-17:30

🎫 100 yuan

🌳 Park

Phoenix River Scenic Area

The Phoenix River is Taizhou's ancient moat, now transformed into a picturesque waterfront cultural corridor. The scenic area encompasses over 80 hectares of waterways, traditional gardens, and historic buildings. Highlights include the Wanghai Tower, Taizhou Confucian Temple, and evening light shows along the river. A boat cruise at dusk offers the best views of old and new Taizhou.

★★★★ 4.5

🕐 Open all day

🎫 Free

🎭 Museum

Mei Lanfang Memorial

This elegant memorial museum honors Mei Lanfang (1894-1961), one of China's most celebrated Peking Opera artists who specialized in female roles (dan). Born in Taizhou, Mei Lanfang toured the world and introduced Peking Opera to international audiences. The memorial features a traditional Jiangsu-style garden, exhibition halls displaying his costumes, photographs, and recordings, as well as a small performance stage.

★★★★ 4.4

🕐 08:30-17:00

🎫 30 yuan

🌳 Park

Qiao Garden

Qiao Garden is a classical Jiangsu-style garden originally built during the Ming Dynasty. Covering just 1.5 hectares, it masterfully employs traditional Chinese garden techniques — rockeries, ponds, pavilions, and winding corridors — to create an illusion of boundless space. Once a private retreat for wealthy merchants, it now serves as a peaceful oasis in the heart of Taizhou's old town.

★★★★ 4.3

🕐 08:00-17:00

🎫 20 yuan

🏔️ Nature

Xinghua Rape Flower Sea

Located in Xinghua, a county-level city under Taizhou, this extraordinary landscape features thousands of small raised platforms (duo) surrounded by waterways, planted entirely with rapeseed flowers. During March and April, the entire area turns into a golden sea stretching as far as the eye can see. Visitors can navigate the canals by boat and climb observation towers for panoramic views. It is considered one of China's most spectacular spring scenes.

★★★★ 4.8

🕐 07:30-18:00

🎫 100 yuan

🏛️ Landmark

Taizhou Old Street

Taizhou Old Street is a restored historic street near the Phoenix River, lined with Ming and Qing Dynasty-style architecture. The street is a lively hub of local food stalls, tea houses, souvenir shops, and traditional craft workshops. It is the best place in Taizhou to sample local snacks and experience the city's everyday culture.

★★★★ 4.2

🕐 Open all day

🎫 Free

Food & Culture

Discover the culinary treasures of Taizhou, from traditional street food to imperial cuisine.

Taizhou Shredded Tofu

A delicate dish of paper-thin dried tofu shreds served cold with shredded ginger, pickled vegetables, and a drizzle of sesame oil and soy sauce. The texture is silky and the flavor is light yet deeply savory. A classic appetizer that showcases the refinement of Jiangsu cuisine.

Jingjiang Crab Soup Dumplings

Jingjiang's legendary soup dumplings are filled with a rich broth made from hairy crab roe and pork. Each dumpling is a delicate pouch of paper-thin dough holding steaming hot soup. The proper way to eat them is to first nibble a small hole, slurp the broth, then devour the rest with ginger-vinegar dip.

Qin Lake Eight Delicacies

A signature dish from the Qin Lake region featuring eight fresh aquatic ingredients — fish, shrimp, crab, eel, clams, turtles, lotus roots, and water chestnuts — prepared in a rich broth. Each ingredient retains its distinct flavor while contributing to a harmonious whole. It is the culinary pride of the lake area.

Xinghua Fish Balls

Xinghua-style fish balls are made from freshly caught freshwater fish, deboned and pounded into a smooth paste, then gently poached. The result is incredibly tender, springy, and pure white fish balls that float in a light broth. A comforting and elegant dish that highlights the quality of local aquatic products.

Huangqiao Baked Cake

A famous baked flatbread from Huangqiao town, made from wheat dough filled with minced pork, scallions, or red bean paste, then baked in a clay oven until golden and crispy. These savory-sweet cakes have a history dating back over 300 years and were once used as rations during military campaigns in the mid-20th century.

Scalded Tofu Shreds

Unlike the cold version, scalded tofu shreds are blanched in boiling water and served warm with a light sauce of soy sauce, sesame oil, and fresh ginger. The warm preparation brings out a different texture — softer and more absorbent. A beloved local breakfast staple often enjoyed with a pot of tea.

Getting Around

🚄

High-Speed Rail

Taizhou Railway Station serves the Lianzhen High-Speed Railway, with connections to Nanjing (1 hour), Shanghai (2 hours), and Beijing (4.5 hours).

🚌

Bus Network

Public buses cover the city and connect major attractions. Taxis and ride-hailing apps like Didi are widely available.

🚕

Taxi & Rideshare

Available throughout the city

🚗 Complete Transport Guide →

Best Time to Visit

🌸

Spring

Mar - May

★★★★★

The best season. Temperatures range from 10-25°C. The Xinghua rape flower sea peaks in late March to April, and the Qin Lake wetlands come alive with blooming flowers.

Rape flower season
Mild weather
Lush greenery

☀️

Summer

Jun - Aug

★★★☆☆

Hot and humid with temperatures reaching 35°C and frequent rain. Good for wetland tours and enjoying lotus blossoms, but be prepared for heat and humidity.

Lotus season
Qin Lake boat tours
Lively evening markets

🍂

Autumn

Sep - Nov

★★★★★

Pleasant and crisp, 10-25°C with lower humidity. The reeds at Qin Lake turn golden, and it is the best time for eating hairy crab. Clear skies and comfortable temperatures make outdoor activities ideal.

Crab season
Golden reeds at Qin Lake
Comfortable temperatures

❄️

Winter

Dec - Feb

★★☆☆☆

Cold and damp with temperatures between 0-8°C. Snowfall is rare but possible. Fewer tourists and lower prices. The gardens and old streets have a quiet, serene atmosphere.