Yangzhou Travel Guide 2026 — Slender West Lake, Gardens & Morning Tea

Q: When is the best time to visit?

The classic visit is March–April — 'fireworks in March' when the willows and blooms are out. Autumn (Oct–Nov) is also lovely; summer is hot and humid, winter quiet and grey.

What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Yangzhou Bucket Listthe little things that make Yangzhou unforgettable

Cruise Slender West Lake

The "Thirty-Six West Lakes" of China are all shadowed by this one — 4 km of willows, bridges and garden terraces, best seen from the water.

Photograph the Five-Pavilion Bridge

The city's emblem — five pavilions on one bridge, its fifteen arches reflected in the lake like a string of moons.

Take morning tea like an emperor

The Yangzhou breakfast — tea, steamed buns, dried bean threads and savoury soup dumplings at the old teahouses of the Fuchun and Yechun.

Walk the Four-Season rockeries of Ge Garden

The salt merchants' garden of bamboo and rock — a walk that passes spring, summer, autumn and winter in one circuit.

Cross the double corridors of He Garden

The "garden of a thousand rooms" — the longest double corridors in old China and the scholar's study of the last Qing garden masterpiece.

Eat Yangzhou fried rice

The world's best-known Chinese rice dish was born here — egg, shrimp, ham and peas in a wok at the city's Huaiyang kitchens.

Top Highlightswhat Yangzhou does best

No.1
Slender West LakeThe willow-fringed lake of the poets — one long water garden of bridges, terraces and islets, crowned by the Five-Pavilion Bridge.
No.2
Ge Garden (Ge Yuan)The salt merchants' "garden of bamboo" — the Four-Season Rockeries of yellow, grey and white Taihu stone, a walk through a year in half an hour.
No.3
He Garden (He Yuan)The "First Garden of the Late Qing" — its double corridors thread a thousand rooms around the water pavilion, one of China's most complete scholar-gardens.
No.4
Lake boats & the old streetsBoats beneath the Five-Pavilion Bridge and the lantern-lit lanes of Dongguan Street — the classic Yangzhou afternoon and evening.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Yangzhou

Are the Yangzhou tickets expensive?

Slender West Lake is ¥150 peak (Mar–Nov) / ¥120 low; Ge Garden and He Garden ¥45 peak / ¥30 low; Daming Temple ¥45 peak / ¥30 low. Many sights including the Dongguan Street and the old lanes are free.

When is the best time to visit?

The classic visit is March–April — "fireworks in March" when the willows and blooms are out. Autumn (Oct–Nov) is also lovely; summer is hot and humid, winter quiet and grey.

How many days do I need?

Two days cover the essentials — Slender West Lake plus the two gardens on day one, Daming Temple and the old streets on day two. A third day reaches Zhenjiang's Three Mountains by ferry or train.

Where is the best morning tea?

The famous old teahouses are Fuchun (deshi building, Dongguan Street) and Yechun (Yecheng Lane) — go before 08:00 for the full spread; weekends queue early.

How do I reach Yangzhou?

Yangzhou East is on the Shanghai–Nanjing high-speed line (about 1 h 20 from Nanjing, 2 h from Shanghai); Yangzhou Taizhou Airport serves domestic routes. The ferry across to Zhenjiang is a classic river crossing.

Is Yangzhou easy to walk?

Yes — the old city is compact and flat: the lake, gardens and Dongguan Street all sit within a 3 km circuit, best done on foot or by shared bikes.

Sample Itinerariesthe lake, the gardens and the morning teahouses

Yangzhou Classic 2-Day Tour

Slender West Lake and the gardens on day one, Daming Temple, Dongguan Street and morning tea on day two. View the plan →

Day 1

Slender West Lake – Five-Pavilion Bridge – Ge Garden – Dongguan Street night

Day 2

Morning tea at Fuchun – Daming Temple – He Garden – Grand Canal

Yangzhou 1-Day Essentials

The full Yangzhou day — lake cruise, both gardens and the old streets, tuned for a quick stopover. View the plan →

Day 1

Morning tea – Slender West Lake – Ge Garden – He Garden – Dongguan Street evening

All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Yangzhou itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Slender West Lake (Shou Xihu)

The 4 km lake garden of the poets — willows, bridges, terraces and the Five-Pavilion Bridge, laid out along one elegant water line. The boat cruise from the south gate is the classic way to read the lake.

RMB 120 low / 150 peak · 06:30–21:00 (summer) · 07:00–19:00 (winter) · Lake garden · 3 h · 3 h

View details →

Ge Garden (Ge Yuan)

The salt merchant Huang Zhiyun's garden of bamboo and rock — the Four-Season Rockeries in spring-green, summer-grey, autumn-yellow and winter-white stone, one of the finest garden walks in China.

RMB 30 low / 45 peak · 07:15–17:30 · Garden · 1.5 h · 1.5 h

View details →

He Garden (He Yuan)

The "First Garden of the Late Qing" — the longest double corridors in old China thread a thousand rooms, halls and the water pavilion where the drama troupe once performed.

RMB 30 low / 45 peak · 08:00–17:30 · Garden · 1.5 h · 1.5 h

View details →

Daming Temple

The temple of the monk Jianzhen, who sailed to Japan in the 8th century — with the Qiling Pagoda above the lake and the Memorial Hall in his honour.

RMB 30 low / 45 peak · 08:00–17:00 · Temple · 1.5 h · 1.5 h

View details →

Dongguan Street & the Grand Canal

The thousand-year salt merchants' street — stone lanes, old shops and the canal dock where the emperors' boats turned. Free to wander, with tea houses and craft shops all along.

Free · Open all day · Old street · 2 h · 2 h

View details →

More in the region on the Jiangsu attractions page.

Activities & Festivalstea, boats and garden music

Morning tea at the old teahouses

The Yangzhou breakfast ritual — green tea, steamed buns, "dried silk" bean threads and seafood soup dumplings at Fuchun or Yechun, from about ¥50 per person.

Slender West Lake boat cruise

The painted boats glide beneath the Five-Pavilion Bridge — about 40 minutes, ¥50–80, with the willows and terraces unfolding in order.

Huaiyang cooking class

Learn fried rice, lion's head meatballs and knife-shaved "dried silk" at the city's cooking schools — a hands-on taste of the imperial kitchen.

Dongguan Street lantern nights

The old street glows after dark — snacks, teahouse storytelling and the canal bridges at their most photogenic.

Where to Staygarden hotels and old-street guesthouses

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Jiangsu hotels directory.

Old-city courtyard hotels

Restored merchant houses and garden hotels in the lanes around Ge Garden and the lake — the atmospheric Yangzhou stay, from about ¥400.

Book: Jiangsu hotels · or email [email protected]

Slender West Lake hotels

Hotels facing the lake's south and west gates — morning strolls to the bridges, from about ¥450.

Book: Jiangsu hotels · or email [email protected]

Dongguan Street guesthouses

Small inns inside the old street — lanterns at the window and teahouses at the door, from about ¥250.

Book: Jiangsu hotels · or email [email protected]

Railway-area chain hotels

Convenient mid-range options near Yangzhou East station for high-speed travellers, from about ¥250.

Book: Jiangsu hotels · or email [email protected]

Food & Restaurantsthe imperial kitchen of Huaiyang cuisine

Yangzhou fried rice

The world's most famous rice dish — wok-fried with egg, shrimp, ham, peas and spring onion, at its best in the old-city restaurants.

Lion's head meatballs

Slow-braised pork meatballs the size of a fist — "the lion's head" of Huaiyang cuisine, meltingly tender.

Dried silk bean threads

A block of pressed tofu sliced into thousands of threads and served in broth — the knife-work showpiece of the Yangzhou table.

Five-Ding baozi

The five-ingredient steamed bun — chicken, pork, shrimp, bamboo shoot and sea cucumber — a teahouse signature.

Wensi tofu soup

The famous "Wensi" soup of thread-thin tofu in clear broth — a Jiangnan delicacy served in the old kitchens.

Shopping & Souvenirspapercuts, lacquer and the salt merchants' wares

Yangzhou papercuts

The delicate papercut tradition of the city — flowers, opera scenes and the Five-Pavilion Bridge, from the old-street studios.

Lacquer & jade ware

The salt-city crafts — carved lacquer, jade ornaments and the "hundred-baby" fans, sold at the craft houses of Dongguan Street.

Qiong flower & gardenia products

The city flower's scented oils and preserves — a fragrant souvenir unique to Yangzhou.

Huaiyang sauce & tea

Local soy sauces, duck eggs and Biluo Chun-style teas from the old market lanes.

Full local-product guides live on the Jiangsu specialties page.

Getting There & Aroundhigh-speed rail, ferries and the flat old city

Yangzhou East station links Nanjing (about 1 h 20), Shanghai (about 2 h) and Beijing (about 5 h) on the high-speed network.

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Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport (about 45 km) serves domestic routes; Nanjing Lukou and Shanghai Hongqiao are the main gateways from abroad.

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The historic Yangzhou–Zhenjiang ferry crosses the Yangtze in 20 minutes; coaches link the two cities hourly (about 1 h via bridge).

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/G3lnbKl2fogBuUx4wAEcjM8bnab

By bike

The old city is flat and compact — shared bikes and e-bikes are the best way between the lake, gardens and streets.

By taxi

Taxis start at ¥9; most sights sit within a ¥15–25 ride of the centre.

By car

Drive the G2 or G40 to the Yangzhou exits; the lake south gate has pay lots, but the old street is pedestrian-only.

Day Trips From Yangzhouacross the river to Zhenjiang

Zhenjiang Three Mountains (1 day)

Jinshan, Jiaoshan and Beigu Mountain across the Yangtze — temples, pagodas and the legends of the White Snake.

Nanjing One Day (1 day)

Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, the Qinhuai River and the purple-plane avenues — an hour by high-speed rail.

Gaoyou Lake Country (1 day)

The lake town of the poet Wang Zengqi — duck, lotus and the quiet reed marshes north of Yangzhou.

Slender West Lake Dawn & Daming Temple (half day)

A half-day loop — the lake at first light, then the Qiling Pagoda and Jianzhen's temple on the hill.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

1 · Morning tea needs a queue

The famous teahouses fill by 08:00 — arrive at 07:30 on weekdays or book a private room for weekends.

2 · Lake boat before the groups

Take the cruise within the first hour of opening; the painted boats queue badly after 10:00 in spring.

3 · Walk the gardens in order

Ge Garden's rockeries read best clockwise (spring–summer–autumn–winter); He Garden's corridors reward a slow loop.

4 · March is the month

"Fireworks in March" is literal — April crowds peak around the Qingming holiday; late March is the sweet spot.

5 · Carry ID for discounts

Students and seniors get half price at the paid sights with Chinese ID or passport — ask at the ticket window.

Background & Historythe city of emperors, poets and salt

Geography & climate

Yangzhou lies where the Grand Canal meets the Yangtze — the pivot of the salt and rice trade for a thousand years. Mild with wet springs, the classic visit in March and the golden weeks of autumn.

History & culture

The salt merchants of the Qing made Yangzhou one of China's richest cities, funding gardens, opera and the examination elite. Emperor Qianlong's southern tours anchored here — "the emperor came south, and Yangzhou was the flower of Jiangnan".

Poetry of the canals

"Down to Yangzhou in the misty month of March" wrote Li Bai; the city's poets, from Du Mu to Wang Zengqi, gave the lake and streets their lasting imagery of willow, moon and the boats under the Five-Pavilion Bridge.

Plan Your Yangzhou Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Yangzhou trip lives on the site.

Yangzhou Travel Guide — the Garden City of Huaiyang

Yangzhou Bucket Listthe little things that make Yangzhou unforgettable

Cruise Slender West Lake

Photograph the Five-Pavilion Bridge

Take morning tea like an emperor

Walk the Four-Season rockeries of Ge Garden

Cross the double corridors of He Garden

Eat Yangzhou fried rice

Top Highlightswhat Yangzhou does best

Slender West Lake

Ge Garden (Ge Yuan)

He Garden (He Yuan)

Lake boats & the old streets

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Yangzhou

Are the Yangzhou tickets expensive?

When is the best time to visit?

How many days do I need?

Where is the best morning tea?

How do I reach Yangzhou?

Is Yangzhou easy to walk?

Sample Itinerariesthe lake, the gardens and the morning teahouses

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Activities & Festivalstea, boats and garden music

Morning tea at the old teahouses

Slender West Lake boat cruise

Huaiyang cooking class

Dongguan Street lantern nights

Where to Staygarden hotels and old-street guesthouses

Old-city courtyard hotels

Slender West Lake hotels

Dongguan Street guesthouses

Railway-area chain hotels

Food & Restaurantsthe imperial kitchen of Huaiyang cuisine

Yangzhou fried rice

Lion's head meatballs

Dried silk bean threads

Five-Ding baozi

Wensi tofu soup

Shopping & Souvenirspapercuts, lacquer and the salt merchants' wares

Yangzhou papercuts

Lacquer & jade ware

Qiong flower & gardenia products

Huaiyang sauce & tea

Getting There & Aroundhigh-speed rail, ferries and the flat old city

Yangzhou East station links Nanjing (about 1 h 20), Shanghai (about 2 h) and Beijing (about 5 h) on the high-speed network.

Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport (about 45 km) serves domestic routes; Nanjing Lukou and Shanghai Hongqiao are the main gateways from abroad.

The historic Yangzhou–Zhenjiang ferry crosses the Yangtze in 20 minutes; coaches link the two cities hourly (about 1 h via bridge).

By bike

By taxi

By car

Day Trips From Yangzhouacross the river to Zhenjiang

Travel Tipsthings to remember

1 · Morning tea needs a queue

2 · Lake boat before the groups

3 · Walk the gardens in order

4 · March is the month

5 · Carry ID for discounts

Background & Historythe city of emperors, poets and salt

Geography & climate

History & culture

Poetry of the canals

Plan Your Yangzhou Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place