After landing at Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport, you are only a short journey away from a city where the pace of life slows to match the flow of its ancient waterways. The air here carries a sense of history that greets you the moment you step out to explore its leafy avenues and classical gardens.
Slender West Lake
This narrow, winding stretch of water is different from the broad lakes found elsewhere, as it is lined with elegant bridges and white pagodas. You can drift along the canal to see the Five Pavilion Bridge, which is a graceful connection between the natural landscape and traditional architecture.
Geyuan Garden
This private residence is famous for its creative use of rockeries to represent the four seasons. Walking through the different sections, you see how bamboo and stone are used to create distinct moods that change as you move from one courtyard to the next.
Dongguan Street
This historic thoroughfare is the best place to find the city's pulse, with its grey-brick buildings and traditional shops. You can sample local snacks or watch craftsmen at work, experiencing a part of the city that has remained a centre of commerce for over a thousand years.
Daming Temple
Located on a hill overlooking the city, this complex is home to the nine-storey Qiling Pagoda. It is a place of quiet reflection where the wooden structures and Buddhist statues provide a look into the spiritual life that has shaped the region since the Fifth Century.
Yangzhou morning tea
Taking part in the local breakfast culture is an essential ritual for any newcomer. You sit in a crowded tea house to enjoy steamed buns and local tea, a social tradition that defines the hospitality of the residents.
The Grand Canal
As the oldest segment of this massive man-made waterway, the section in Yangzhou reveals the city's identity as a former hub of the salt trade. You can walk along the banks at dusk to see how the ancient canal remains a living part of the modern landscape.