[2025 Jiaxing Attraction] Travel Guide for Yanyu (Smoke and Rain) Building (Updated Mar)

The following are some travel tips for Yanyu Tower: 👉🏻Yanyu Tower, Chengde Mountain Resort 🔷Location and background: Located on Qinglian Island, north of Ruyizhou in Chengde Mountain Resort, it was built in the 45th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign, imitating the Yanyu Tower in Nanhu, Jiaxing, Zhejiang. 🔷Architectural features: It is a two-story building with a hip roof and upper and lower corridors decorated with Su paintings. A golden plaque with a cloud dragon inscribed by Emperor Qianlong "Yanyu Tower" hangs on the front eaves. 🔷Surrounding landscape: Between the gate hall and the main hall is a neat square courtyard with a stone-carved Sumeru pedestal and a bronze deer; there are various windows on the surrounding corridor walls; there is a square pavilion hidden in the rocks at the east gate, from which you can enjoy the Qingchui Peak and Jinshan Island; there is an octagonal pavilion in the northeast corner, from which you can enjoy the scenery of Wanshu Garden; out of the west corridor gate, there is a small courtyard with white walls and gray tiles, from which you can enjoy the cruise ships on the lake up close and the mountains in the distance; there is a large rockery in the southwest of the island, and there is a "wing pavilion" on the top of the mountain, from which you can have a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery of Monk's Hat Peak, Hammer Peak Luozhao Pavilion, Qingchui Peak, etc. 🔷Tour route: From Ruyizhou, cross the Qu Bridge to the island, first visit the Gate Hall, then enter the Yanyu Tower, and then you can visit the surrounding landscapes in a clockwise direction, such as the square pavilion, octagonal pavilion, small courtyard, rockery, etc. 👉🏻Jiaxing Nanhu Yanyu Tower 🔶Location and background: It is located on the island in the middle of Nanhu Scenic Area, Nanhu District, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. It is the main building on the island and is now also a general term for the entire garden. 🔶Historical evolution: In the 28th year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1549), Zhao Ying, the prefect of Jiaxing, built the Yanyu Tower on the island in the middle of the lake. After several repairs and reconstructions, on June 25, 2001, the site of the First Congress of the Communist Party of China in Nanhu, Jiaxing (of which the Yanyu Tower is an important part) was announced by the State Council as the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. 🔶Architectural layout: The main building is about 20 meters high, with double-eaved painted buildings, red columns and bright windows, which is extraordinary. A plaque with the words "Yanyu Tower" written by Dong Biwu hangs on the front eaves of the building. There are also many famous stone carvings in the building. In front of the building is an open platform with two ancient ginkgo trees. Under the railing outside the platform is a stone inscription of "Diao'ao Ji". There is an imperial stele pavilion on the southeast side of the platform. Behind the building are rockery, flowers and trees, and to the northwest of the rockery there are pavilions and corridors connected. 🔶Surrounding attractions: Qinghui Hall, Baomei Pavilion, Jian Pavilion, etc. Qinghui Hall was built in the fourth year of Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty (1865). There are two plum blossom steles painted by Peng Yulin, a famous general in the Qing Dynasty, in Baomei Pavilion. Jian Pavilion was built by the people of Jiaxing in 1919 to commemorate the Korean independence movement. 🔶 Tour route: After getting off the ferry at the lake island, first enter Qinghui Hall to admire its architecture and related inscriptions, then visit Baomei Pavilion and Jian Pavilion, and then go to the main building of Yanyu Tower to feel its historical charm and enjoy the scenery of Nanhu Lake. Finally, stroll among the rockery and corridors behind the building to enjoy the surrounding pavilions and flower and tree landscapes. 👉🏻Lishui Wanxiang Mountain Misty Rain Tower ◼️Location and background: Located in Lishui Wanxiangshan Park, it is a famous scenic spot in the park with a long history. It was built in the early Zhenghe period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1111-1117) by Yang Jiayan, the prefect of Chuzhou. ◼️Architectural features: No detailed description of the specific architectural details has been found yet, but from historical records, it is known that it was once the best viewpoint for viewing the city of Chuzhou and the scenery on both sides of the Oujiang River. The scene of morning mist, evening rain, flying clouds and mist can be called the best scenery of the lotus city of the prefecture, which attracted many local dignitaries and literati to write poems. ◼️Surrounding scenery: Wanxiang Mountain, where the mountain is located, "overlooks the city and is close to the river...it is the highest mountain in the city", and you can overlook the surrounding city scenery and Oujiang River. ◼️Tour route: After entering Wanxiangshan Park, follow the hiking trail to Yanyu Tower. On the way up, you can enjoy the natural scenery and other attractions along the way. After arriving at Yanyu Tower, you can lean on the railing and look out into the distance, feeling its unique historical atmosphere and enjoying the surrounding beauty.

Travel in the opposite direction after the Lunar New Year and unlock the slow life of Jiangnan water towns in Jiaxing. Located at the intersection of Wu and Yue, Jiaxing is a typical Jiangnan city, the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, and the hometown of Jin Yong. Nanhu Lake is also the setting of the battle between the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan and Qiu Chuji in The Legend of the Condor Heroes. Experience the culture of Wu and Yue and Jin Yong's martial arts culture. ... 🚅Transportation Jiaxing is close to Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou. There are two train stations: Jiaxing Station and Jiaxing South Station. Jiaxing Station is located in the city center, while Jiaxing South Station is further away. However, there is a tram that goes directly to the city center. There are shared electric bikes in the city center. 🏨Accommodation Near Nanhu Lake and Yuehe Street 🏃🏻‍♀️Route Day 1: Jiaxing Museum - Huijingyuan Wharf, Nanhu Lake - Misty Rain Tower - Nanhu Tiandi - Train Station - Wuxiang Temple/Hao Gu Tower - Zicheng Ruins Park - Catholic Church - Shaonian Road - Yuehe Historical Street (all within walking distance). Day 2: 🚖Wuzhen - 🚌Tongxiang High-Speed Railway Station 🍜Food Jiaxing is famous for its zongzi (rice dumplings). Wufangzhai and Zhenzhenlaolao are two well-known stores. We recommend the salted egg yolk and pork zongzi. In summer, you can also try the local specialty, Nanhu water caltrop. ... 🚦Must-visit Attractions 1️⃣Jiaxing Museum A great place to learn about the water town culture of Jiaxing. A must-visit for tourists. 2️⃣Nanhu Lake Together with West Lake in Hangzhou and East Lake in Shaoxing, Nanhu Lake is one of the three famous lakes in Zhejiang. Main attractions include Misty Rain Tower, Xiaoyingzhou, Wuxiang Temple & Hao Gu Tower, the Red Boat of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall. Misty Rain Tower and the Red Boat are located on the island in the center of the lake. You need to take a ferry from Huijingyuan Wharf (CNY 20 for a round trip). 🌟Misty Rain Tower is named after the poem "480 temples in the Southern Dynasties, how many pavilions are in the mist and rain?" It has a rich history and culture. It is also the place where the Seven Taoist Priests of Quanzhen fought Huang Yaoshi in The Legend of the Condor Heroes. 🌟Wuxiang Temple was built in memory of Wu Zixu. Climb Hao Gu Tower for a panoramic view of Nanhu Lake and Jiaxing. Trains pass by the nearby railway from time to time. 3️⃣Nanhu Tiandi When you leave the island by ferry, the ferry will stop at Nanhu Tiandi Wharf. You can only get off here. It is an open commercial street with a "Jiaxing" wall for photos. 4️⃣Jiaxing Station Known as the "train station in the forest," it is the first fully underground train station in China. It is full of technology. The north station building is a restoration of the old building and is now open as an exhibition hall. It is both retro and high-end. 5️⃣Zicheng Ruins Park With a history of over 1,700 years, it has always been the site of the county and government offices of Jiaxing throughout the dynasties. It has witnessed every step of Jiaxing's urban development. 6️⃣Catholic Church A Gothic-style building completed in 1917, it is known as the "third church in the Far East." The lawn in front of the church is a great place for photos. 7️⃣Yuehe Historical Street Walk through Shaonian Road from the Catholic Church to reach this ancient street with the characteristics of Jiangnan water towns. The bluestone road, small bridges, and flowing water make for great photos. We recommend visiting the Zongzi Culture Museum to learn about the history of Jiaxing zongzi. You can also learn how to make zongzi, which is super fun! 9️⃣Wuzhen On the second day, we chose Wuzhen over Xitang for the ancient town tour. Tickets for Xizha in Wuzhen are CNY 150, Dongzha CNY 110, and a joint ticket is CNY 190. We only visited Xizha due to time constraints. On the way back, take bus K281 from Wuzhen Bus Station to Tongxiang High-Speed Railway Station. ... The two-day itinerary is compact and rich, allowing you to experience the natural beauty, history, culture, and modern charm of Jiaxing. It is worth a visit!

Zhejiang Yanyu Tower is located in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China. It is an ancient building with rich cultural heritage. It is located on the bank of West Lake and is famous for its unique beauty and long history. Yanyu Tower attracts a large number of tourists with its exquisite garden design and elegant architectural style, especially in the rain and fog, it looks even more picturesque. There are many cultural relics, calligraphy and paintings collected in the building, showing the charm of Jiangnan culture. This is not only an ideal place to enjoy the beautiful scenery, but also a good place to experience traditional culture. No wonder Emperor Qianlong also visited the south of the Yangtze River many times. #Zhejiang #Mainland China Attractions #New Year's Destinations 2025

For thousands of years, Nanhu Lake has attracted visitors from all over the world with its unique charm. Scholars and literati throughout history have left countless moving poems and exquisite paintings about Nanhu Lake. Today, many stone inscriptions with high cultural value are still preserved on the island. However, the reason Nanhu Lake is so famous and attracts worldwide attention is because of a major event in modern Chinese history that took place here: the continuation of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China on a boat on Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing. The final agenda was completed, and the birth of the Communist Party of China was solemnly announced to the world. The ship of the Chinese revolution set sail here. As part of the site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, Jiaxing Nanhu Lake is recorded in history and is renowned at home and abroad, becoming a revolutionary holy land that people across the country yearn for.