Zhenjiang Travel Guide 2026 — Jinshan, Jiaoshan, Beigu & Xijin Ferry

Q: Where should I eat?

The Three Wonders — crystal meat in Zhenjiang vinegar, 'wonderful noodles' in broth, and the river crab in autumn. The old restaurants of Xijin Ferry and Zhongshan Road are the classics.

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

Zhenjiang Bucket Listthe little things that make Zhenjiang unforgettable

Hear the legend of Jinshan

The temple where the White Snake flooded the mountain to save her love — the Jinshan Temple and its pagoda rise straight from the Yangtze shore.

Walk the forest island of Jiaoshan

A river island of mist, pines and inscriptions — the "mountain of floating jade" where the temple hides in the trees.

Stand where the Three Kingdoms turned

Beigu Mountain's Ganlu Temple and the "Test-the-Sword Stone" — where Sun Quan lost his sister to Liu Bei and the empire's fate shifted.

Find the Xijin Ferry old street

The stone lanes where emperors and merchants landed for a thousand years — lanterns, tea houses and the "crossing together" archways.

Eat the Three Wonders of Zhenjiang

Vinegar-soaked crystal meat, sauced "wonderful" noodles and the river crab — the snacks the locals swear by.

Cross to Yangzhou by ferry

The classic river crossing — 20 minutes by boat to the willow city of the Five-Pavilion Bridge.

Top Highlightswhat Zhenjiang does best

No.1
Jinshan TempleThe temple of the White Snake legend — halls and the Ci Shou pagoda rising from the river plain, one of China's most famous Buddhist sites.
No.2
Jiaoshan & its inscriptionsThe river island of pines and 400 steles — "the mountain of floating jade", reached by a short ferry with the pagoda above the trees.
No.3
Beigu MountainThe Three-Kingdoms citadel — the Ganlu Temple "crowns the mountain" and the cliff walks look straight down the Yangtze.
No.4
Xijin Ferry old streetThe stone lane of a thousand years of crossings — archways, teahouses and lanterns under the western hill.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Zhenjiang

How much are the Three Mountains tickets?

The combined Three-Mountains ticket is ¥120 peak / ¥90 low and covers Jinshan, Jiaoshan and Beigu. Jinshan alone is about ¥65 peak / ¥50 low; Jiaoshan includes its ferry.

Is one day enough for Zhenjiang?

Yes for the essentials — Jinshan in the morning, Jiaoshan or Beigu in the afternoon, and Xijin Ferry at dusk. Two days let you add the old town, the river cruise and a crossing to Yangzhou.

What is the legend of Jinshan?

The White Snake legend: the snake Bai Suzhen floods the mountain to win back her husband from the monk Fahai — one of China's four great folktales, told across the temple today.

Where should I eat?

The Three Wonders — crystal meat in Zhenjiang vinegar, "wonderful noodles" in broth, and the river crab in autumn. The old restaurants of Xijin Ferry and Zhongshan Road are the classics.

How do I reach Zhenjiang?

Zhenjiang and Zhenjiang South sit on the Shanghai–Nanjing high-speed line — about 50 min from Nanjing, 1 h 40 from Shanghai. The ferry to Yangzhou takes 20 minutes.

When is the best time?

Spring mist and autumn red leaves suit the mountains best; the river views are finest in October–November when the haze lifts.

Sample Itinerariesthe three mountains and the old ferry

Zhenjiang Classic 1-Day Tour

Jinshan in the morning, Jiaoshan after lunch, and Xijin Ferry at lantern time — the complete river city in a day. View the plan →

Day 1

Jinshan Temple – Jiaoshan – Xijin Ferry old street – Yangtze riverfront

Zhenjiang & Yangzhou 2-Day Tour

The Three Mountains, then the ferry across the Yangtze to Slender West Lake and the gardens of Yangzhou. View the plan →

Day 1

Jinshan – Beigu – Xijin Ferry

Day 2

Ferry to Yangzhou – Slender West Lake – Ge Garden – Dongguan Street

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

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

The temple of the White Snake legend, built where the mountain rises from the Yangtze floodplain — its Ci Shou Pagoda and halls hide in the trees. Allow time for the legend trail and the "water-submerged mountain" viewpoint.

RMB 50 low / 65 peak · 07:30–17:00 · Temple · 2 h · 2 h

View details →

Jiaoshan (Jiao Shan)

The pine-forested river island of "floating jade" — reached by a short ferry, with the Wanfo Pagoda, 400 steles and the temple hidden in the woods. The quietest of the Three Mountains.

Included in combined ticket (with ferry) · 08:00–16:30 · Island · 2.5 h · 2.5 h

View details →

Beigu Mountain (Bei Gu Shan)

The Three-Kingdoms citadel where Sun Quan's schemes met their match — the Ganlu Temple "crowns" the peak and the cliff paths look straight down the Yangtze. Free to climb after the temple gate.

Included in combined ticket · 08:00–17:00 · Mountain & temple · 2 h · 2 h

View details →

Xijin Ferry Old Street

The thousand-year landing of emperors, poets and merchants — stone arches, teahouses and lantern-lit lanes under the western hill, now the city's most-loved old quarter.

Free · Open all day · Historic street · 1.5 h · 1.5 h

View details →

Nanshan Scenic Area

The green hills south of the city — bamboo groves, the Lianhua Cave and the trails the poets of Zhenjiang walked, quieter than the riverside mountains.

Free–¥20 by zone · 08:00–17:00 · Park · 2 h · 2 h

View details →

More in the region on the Jiangsu attractions page.

Activities & Festivalsriver crossings, steles and old-street tea

Yangtze river cruise

Evening cruises run past the lit temples and the bridge — about an hour, ¥60–100, with the best views at dusk.

Jiaoshan stele hunt

The island's 400 inscriptions include the "Great Words" of Mi Fu and the famous Cranes' Inscription — a quiet treasure hunt among the pines.

Xijin Ferry teahouses

The old street's tea houses serve smoked tea with the river snacks — the local way to watch the lanterns come on.

Crossing to Yangzhou

The historic ferry still runs across the Yangtze (20 minutes, ¥10–20) — pair it with a day of Slender West Lake and fried rice.

Where to Stayriver views and old-street inns

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

Riverfront hotels

Hotels along the Yangtze waterfront with temple and bridge views — the classic Zhenjiang base, from about ¥350.

Book: Jiangsu hotels · or email [email protected]

Xijin Ferry guesthouses

Boutique stays inside the old street — lanterns, teahouses and stone lanes at the door, from about ¥280.

Book: Jiangsu hotels · or email [email protected]

City-centre hotels

Mid-range options near Zhongshan Road and the railway stations — convenient and quiet, from about ¥250.

Book: Jiangsu hotels · or email [email protected]

Jinshan-area hotels

A handful of hotels near the temple gate — easy for an early start at the mountain, from about ¥300.

Book: Jiangsu hotels · or email [email protected]

Food & Restaurantsthe three wonders of the river city

Crystal meat with Zhenjiang vinegar

The city's signature cold dish — pressed pork in the famous black vinegar that has brewed here since 1840.

"Wonderful" noodles

The morning bowl — wheat noodles in soy broth with eel, lard and scallions, served at the old noodle houses of Zhongshan Road.

River crab (in season)

The Yangtze hairy crab, steamed in autumn and dipped in Zhenjiang vinegar — the local feast.

Boiled dry silk

Silken tofu threads in broth, the Zhenjiang take on the Huaiyang classic.

Guo's vegetarian feast

The temple kitchens of Jinshan serve a celebrated vegetarian banquet of tofu and river greens.

Shopping & Souvenirsvinegar, steles and river crafts

Zhenjiang vinegar

The famous black rice vinegar — buy bottled vintages from the Hengshun works or the old-street shops.

Stele rubbings

Rubbings from the Jiaoshan inscriptions — Mi Fu's calligraphy makes the prized souvenir.

River pearls & shells

Yangtze pearl and shell crafts from the riverfront stalls.

Lacquer & bamboo ware

The city's lacquer boxes and bamboo fans from the craft shops of Xijin Ferry.

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

Getting There & Aroundhigh-speed rail, ferry and the river bridges

Zhenjiang and Zhenjiang South sit on the Shanghai–Nanjing high-speed line — 50 min from Nanjing, 1 h 40 from Shanghai, 4.5 h from Beijing.

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The historic Yangtze ferry to Yangzhou runs every 20 minutes (about ¥10–20) — the classic river crossing, still the cheapest link between the two cities.

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Coaches link Zhenjiang with Nanjing, Changzhou and the Jiangsu cities; the main coach station is beside the railway station.

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By taxi

Taxis start at ¥9; the Three Mountains and Xijin Ferry all sit within a ¥10–20 ride of the centre.

By bike

The old city is flat and compact — shared bikes cover the riverfront, the temple hill and the ferry street easily.

By car

The G2, G40 and the Runyang Bridge approaches reach the river exits; the temple and ferry lots charge ¥10–20.

Day Trips From ZhenjiangYangzhou, Nanjing and the river

Yangzhou across the river (1 day)

Ferry to the willow city — Slender West Lake, the gardens and morning tea, 20 minutes by boat.

Nanjing One Day (1 day)

The ancient capital's mausoleums, city wall and Qinhuai nights — about 50 minutes by high-speed rail.

Changzhou Dinosaur Park (1 day)

The China Dinosaur Park and Tianning Pagoda, 30 minutes east by train — a family day from Zhenjiang.

Jurong Mao Mountain (1 day)

The Taoist mountain of the Mao family — temples, trails and the "first blessed ground" of the lower Yangtze.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

1 · Buy the combined ticket

If you plan two of the Three Mountains, the ¥120 combined ticket saves money and skips the separate gates.

2 · Jiaoshan ferry early

The island ferry queues by mid-morning in season — take the first boats and walk the pines before the crowds.

3 · Xijin Ferry at dusk

The old street is quiet by day and golden at lantern time — time your visit for the hour before dark.

4 · Vinegar is the souvenir

Zhenjiang's black vinegar is a national brand — the aged bottles from the old shops make the best gifts.

5 · River mists in spring

Morning mist can hide the temples until 09:00 — plan mountain visits for the clearer afternoons of April.

Background & Historytemples, steles and the Yangtze crossing

Geography & climate

Zhenjiang sits where the Grand Canal meets the Yangtze, at the southern gate of the river's lower reaches. Subtropical and misty — the classic visits are spring and autumn when the river haze lifts.

History & culture

A ferry town for over two thousand years, Zhenjiang was the crossing where emperors, merchants and armies moved between north and south. Its temples, steles and the Xijin lanes preserve the memory of every age from the Three Kingdoms to the Qing.

The White Snake & the Three Kingdoms

Two of China's great stories meet here — the flood of Jinshan in the folktale of the White Snake, and the marriage alliance of Sun Quan's sister that Beigu's Ganlu Temple still narrates.

Plan Your Zhenjiang 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 Zhenjiang trip lives on the site.

Zhenjiang Travel Guide — the City of Rivers and Mountains

Zhenjiang Bucket Listthe little things that make Zhenjiang unforgettable

Hear the legend of Jinshan

Walk the forest island of Jiaoshan

Stand where the Three Kingdoms turned

Find the Xijin Ferry old street

Eat the Three Wonders of Zhenjiang

Cross to Yangzhou by ferry

Top Highlightswhat Zhenjiang does best

Jinshan Temple

Jiaoshan & its inscriptions

Beigu Mountain

Xijin Ferry old street

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Zhenjiang

How much are the Three Mountains tickets?

Is one day enough for Zhenjiang?

What is the legend of Jinshan?

Where should I eat?

How do I reach Zhenjiang?

When is the best time?

Sample Itinerariesthe three mountains and the old ferry

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Activities & Festivalsriver crossings, steles and old-street tea

Yangtze river cruise

Jiaoshan stele hunt

Xijin Ferry teahouses

Crossing to Yangzhou

Where to Stayriver views and old-street inns

Riverfront hotels

Xijin Ferry guesthouses

City-centre hotels

Jinshan-area hotels

Food & Restaurantsthe three wonders of the river city

Crystal meat with Zhenjiang vinegar

"Wonderful" noodles

River crab (in season)

Boiled dry silk

Guo's vegetarian feast

Shopping & Souvenirsvinegar, steles and river crafts

Zhenjiang vinegar

Stele rubbings

River pearls & shells

Lacquer & bamboo ware

Getting There & Aroundhigh-speed rail, ferry and the river bridges

Zhenjiang and Zhenjiang South sit on the Shanghai–Nanjing high-speed line — 50 min from Nanjing, 1 h 40 from Shanghai, 4.5 h from Beijing.

The historic Yangtze ferry to Yangzhou runs every 20 minutes (about ¥10–20) — the classic river crossing, still the cheapest link between the two cities.

Coaches link Zhenjiang with Nanjing, Changzhou and the Jiangsu cities; the main coach station is beside the railway station.

By taxi

By bike

By car

Day Trips From ZhenjiangYangzhou, Nanjing and the river

Travel Tipsthings to remember

1 · Buy the combined ticket

2 · Jiaoshan ferry early

3 · Xijin Ferry at dusk

4 · Vinegar is the souvenir

5 · River mists in spring

Background & Historytemples, steles and the Yangtze crossing

Geography & climate

History & culture

The White Snake & the Three Kingdoms

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