[2025 Xinghua Attraction] Travel Guide for Zheng Banqiao Memorial Hall (Updated Jun)

I've always wanted to check out the rapeseed flowers in the paddy fields of Xinghua, Taizhou, so I took the chance to visit Taizhou and nearby Changzhou for a five-day spring tour in Jiangnan. Day 1: Beijing - Changzhou, Museum, Qingguo Lane The Wenpu Hotel in Changzhou is amazing, with a great location. The building itself is a scenic spot, and the facilities and management are excellent. The breakfast even includes local snacks. Nearby is the old-chain Yinsi Noodle Restaurant, where the sweet and sour pork ribs have a strong Jiangnan flavor. At the Changzhou Museum, the town’s treasure, a Southern Song Dynasty vermilion lacquered makeup box, was surprisingly not on display, so I bought a fridge magnet as a consolation. However, other artifacts in the museum are also worth seeing. Qingguo Lane, known as the first lane of Jiangnan literati, has many attractions inside. The shops are lively, offering shrimp cakes, sesame cakes, tofu pudding, hairtail fish wontons, and a variety of snacks. You can easily spend half a day wandering here. Day 2: Tianning Temple, Dongpo Garden, Baolin Zen Temple, Banshan Bookstore At Hongmei Garden and Tianning Temple, unfortunately, the red plum blossoms had already withered, but Tianning Temple was bustling with incense offerings. Walking along the river to Dongpo Garden, the purple bauhinia flowers were in full bloom by the roadside. Dongpo Garden is built on an urban oasis, with a quiet and elegant garden. After 2 p.m., many famous restaurants were closed, so I went to a very small private kitchen. The sweet and sour fish was delicious, and they even had dishes like stir-fried garlic sprouts with broad beans. At Baolin Zen Temple, I hoped to catch the late cherry blossoms but was too late, so I just took a photo of a large pineapple. The popular Banshan Bookstore was really mediocre, just a wall of books, not worth a special visit. Most books were sealed and not allowed to be read, which was baffling. Day 3: Taizhou Qiao Garden, Plum Garden, Old Street Driving to Taizhou, Qiao Garden, praised by Chen Congzhou as "the first garden on the left of the Huai River," is a hidden gem in the garden world. It is low-key and luxurious, with every glance like an unfolding painting. Plum Garden was built to commemorate the art master Mei Lanfang. I ate at an old Taizhou cuisine intangible cultural heritage restaurant, trying white sauce pufferfish and crab roe tofu, which were not too impressive. Strolled around the old street, right next to Taoyuan, but there was nothing particularly new to see. The old tea house Haitangchun was less crowded in the afternoon, so I had an early evening tea there. The buns were exquisite, the fish soup noodles fresh, and the fried stinky tofu tasty. Day 4: Xinghua Duotian Rapeseed Flowers, Water Forest A day tour in Xinghua: you can buy a combined ticket for the paddy field rapeseed flowers and the Li Zhong Water Forest, which includes boat and bamboo raft rides, making it quite cost-effective. The rapeseed flowers are very photogenic, and the water forest is even more beautiful, like entering a fairyland. In Xinghua city, I visited the former residence of Zheng Banqiao, a very small courtyard next to the Zhuangyuan Square. I ate at a local restaurant with home-style meatballs, eel, and tiger shark, all very fresh. It is said that Xinghua’s morning tea is also delicious. Day 5: Taizhou Morning Tea, Taizhou Museum, Liuyuan I went to Huibinlou for morning tea, recommended by the hotel staff. It was not crowded, the environment was comfortable, and it felt a bit like Cantonese morning tea. The buns were bigger than those at Haitangchun, and the lotus root starch balls were very distinctive. A tour of Taizhou Museum showed the tomb of the Ming Dynasty couple Xu Fan and his wife, exhibiting two complete mummies that are lifelike. Finally, I took a walk in Liuyuan opposite the hotel, which houses the Liu Jingtian Storytelling and Talk Museum, focusing on collecting various materials in this field, which was quite interesting. In the evening, I took the train back to Beijing. In five days, I checked off two Jiangnan cities, enjoying full spring gardens, rural scenery, regional culture, local cuisine, and fresh fish, truly a joyful experience. April 2025

🌸【Xinghua | Water Village May Roaming Guide】500+ per capita Play around with the sea of ​​golden flowers and the ancient charm of thousands of years! 🚣♀️ ✨Opening Blow✨ Who says there is only Wuzhen and Xitang in the south of the Yangtze River? This niche treasure hidden in Taizhou - Xinghua is the wildest Jiangnan in May! 3000+ water fields are paved into a golden maze, the sea of ​​rapeseed flowers is more magical than Venice, and you can stay in the starry sky B&B on the edge of the reeds. As the hometown of the author of "The Legend of Shui Yung", even the air here is filled with the fragrance of Zheng Banqiao's ink~ (📸The nine-square grid is ready, come and copy your homework!) 🌞DAY1: Break into Hayao Miyazaki’s oil painting world ☀️Morning Light 7:00 | Thousands of Scenic Area Light Chasing Tips Tickets $120 | Opens at 7:30 to grab the C seat! Take the celebrity train ($30) through the golden tunnel and climb the 360° observation tower to take a picture of God's perspective. Remember to bring a reflector, the reflection on the water is breathtakingly beautiful ~ (💡Tips: Wear a light-colored dress for more pictures!) 🌞10:00｜Li Zhongshui forest forest breathing Tickets $80 | Riding a wooden raft ($50/person) through the thousand-year-old metasequoia forest, cat rubbing at the Tree Hole Cafe is super healing! Glass Canyon (Additional $30) Overlooking the green wild fairy trail, encounter white herons flying super smart ~ (🍵 Hidden gameplay: There is a century-old tea house at the exit of the scenic spot, drink a cup of Mingqian tea to relieve your thirst!) 🌙 18:00 | Sand Valley Ancient Town sleepless night Free | The old streets of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in the twilight are like overturned honey jars! Must-eat sand ditch fish balls (Q bouncy burst juice💦) and lotus root clamps (crispy on the outside and tender on the inside), sitting in the riverside teahouse listening to the reviews, the evening breeze carries the fragrance of jasmine ~ 🏡 Accommodation Recommendation | Yun Duo B&B Push the window to see the water cedar! The 1500+/night lake view room has its own terrace, the bathtub is sprinkled with rose petals, and you can fall asleep listening to the frogs at night (🌙 There is also a small night light at the bedside, super courteous) 🌞DAY2: Unlock the post-00s private gameplay 🌅8:30|Melon picking operation in Xuyu Village Free | Donate to the watermelon shed to choose "fat", the ready-picked unicorn melon is sweeter than first love! You can also catch bunnies at the next farm ($10/time), your childhood DNA is moving ~ (🍉Egg: There are ready-made ice powder at the outlet, mint flavor sprinkled with red syrup is so good!) 🌇 14:00 | East Lo Village Art Party Free | Cosplay in the rapeseed field! Rent a Hanfu ($60/2 hours) to take pictures of ancient-style blockbusters, participate in craft workshops to knead clay figurines, camp by the lake in the evening to watch the sunset, and have guitar playing and singing at the bonfire party ~ (🎆 Must-see: 19:00 water fireworks show!) 🌃20:00 | Shopping and eating in Jindongmen Old Street Free | Take a lantern and take a night tour of the thousand-year-old street! Must-buy lotus powder dumplings by the Haichi River (melts in the mouth ❄️), there are sugar painting artists at the entrance of Zheng Banqiao's former residence, buy a phoenix shaped and take home ~ (📦Souvenir: Wanxing Dadian's sesame oil dried silk is super fragrant!) 🚗Transportation TIPS: ✔️ Self-driving is the coolest! Navigating the "Thousands of Scenic Areas", there is an oversized parking lot at the Xinghua South Exit of the Hushan Expressway ✔️ High-speed rail to Taizhou Station + taxi (80 dollars), but to reserve 1 hour during rush hour ✔️ Bus 10 roads / tour 1 road between scenic spots, but May Day forced to doubt life! Direct Didi Carpooling is recommended ($15 per person). 💣 Pit Avoidance Warning: ❗️ Don't eat "water village style meal" in scenic spots! At the same price point, go to the city area to eat crab roe soup buns more fragrant ❗️ Sisters wearing little white shoes, hurry up! There is so much moss in the canyon that I doubt my life ❗️Bring an empty wallet! The whole street is full of snacks and you can't stop coming... 🍜Food Radar: 1️⃣ Ironing dry thread: knife work is great! The golden combination of ginger + shrimp + soy sauce, the aroma explodes when mixed💥 2️⃣ Crab yolk bun: bite through the dough before sipping the soup! The crab roe is grainy + the soup is fresh and sweet, even eating 5 of them is not greasy👌 3️⃣ Sand ditch big fish ball: bigger than a fist! The fish meat is beaten for 3 hours, and it's all gelatinous when you bite it (🤤 it's great with ginger vinegar sauce). 4️⃣ Grilled river fish with rice grass: such freshness as river pork! The rice straw soaks up the fish soup, and it's so fresh that you can't help but flutter your eyebrows 5️⃣ Xing Hua Onion: Cut to thinner than hair! Mixing tofu/scrambled eggs can enhance the fragrance. I bought two cans at the supermarket and hoarded them 💰 Consumption List (2 Days 1 Night): ▪️Breakfast: Grass egg cake 10 dollars + fish soup noodles 15 dollars = 25 dollars ▪️Lunch: Sand Valley Fish Ball Set $68 (includes fish soup/fish balls/grass) ▪️Afternoon tea: lotus root dumplings 15 dollars + youth dumplings 10 dollars = 25 dollars ▪️Dinner: Banqiao Banquet 100 dollars per person (must order yellow stewed turtle!) ▪️Snack: $8 for oil dumplings + $6 for cool powder + $10 for sugar painting = $24 💸Total: about 200 dollars/day (poor travel version) 🌈Final highlights: There are no crowds of tourists here, only the rustling of the fields in the wind; There are no celebrity filter posing, just the smoke and fire of old tea drinkers gossiping; There are no cookie-cutter shops in ancient towns, only the century-old skills of intangible cultural heritage craftsmen The revitalization of May is a love letter to all those fleeing the city💌 👉🏻 Like and collect this guide, next holiday let yourself fall into this golden swamp! Draw 3 cute little ones in the comment area to get Xinghua specialty fuku bags

Here's the ultimate Xinghua travel guide: Recommended Attractions • Qianduo Scenic Area: One of the world's four largest flower seas. From mid-March to the end of April, over 4,600 acres of rapeseed flowers bloom in vibrant splendor. Take a boat trip through the sea of flowers or climb the observation tower for a panoramic view. In 2025, a new nighttime bamboo raft tour will be added, offering a dreamy perspective of the flower fields at dusk. Capture the morning mist over the flowers with a drone at 6:30 am. The second-floor terrace of the "Fusheng Tea House" on the east side of the scenic area is the best spot for capturing the golden sunset. • Lizhong Water Forest Park: The largest artificial wetland ecological forest in East China, known as the "Jiuzhaigou of Central Jiangsu" and a "bird paradise of East China." In 2025, the ecological trail will be extended to 8 km, and a misting system will be added, operating daily at 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Take a wooden raft down the waterways. A 70-200mm telephoto lens is recommended for capturing photos of egrets among the trees. • Jindongmen Ancient Street: Known as the "No. 1 Ming and Qing Dynasty Ancient Street in Central Jiangsu," this street boasts over a thousand years of history. It retains the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Visit the former residence of Zheng Banqiao, Zhao Haixian's Western-style house, the Cheng Family Mansion, and Zhuangyuan Square. • Shijiaqiao Scenic Area: The birthplace of Shi Nai'an, author of *Water Margin*. Visit Shi Nai'an's former residence and the Shi family ancestral hall, and immerse yourself in the culture of *Water Margin*. Recommended Food • Xinghua Morning Tea: Specialties include shredded dried tofu, crab roe buns, and pine nut shumai. • Shagou Fish Balls: Fresh, tender, and bouncy, with an excellent taste. • Shagou Lotus Root Sandwiches: Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, a perfect blend of lotus root and meat flavors. • Smoked and Roasted Delights: Pig's head, goose wings, spiced dried tofu, and tea eggs—fragrant but not greasy. Accommodation Recommendations • Budget: Duotian Manju Youth Hostel, renovated from an old granary, with a rooftop terrace overlooking the flower fields. • Mid-range: Yunduo Guesthouse, a glass house suspended over the river, equipped with a smart lighting system. • High-end: Shuiyuetang Boat House Hotel, each room with a private hot spring pool and fishing gear. Transportation Guide • By car: Take the "Xinghua South" exit of the Shanghai-Shaanxi Expressway. Parking lot P4 at Qianduo Scenic Area is only 300m from the viewing platform. • By high-speed rail: Take the train to Taizhou Station and transfer to a bus directly to Xinghua Qianduo Scenic Area. Alternatively, arrive at Xinghua Station and take the "Flower Field Express" tourist bus. Itinerary • Two days, one night: Visit the Qianduo rapeseed flower sea in the morning of the first day, go to Wu Jindang Park (Waterway No. 1) in the afternoon, and stroll through Jindongmen Ancient Street in the evening. Visit Lizhong Water Forest Park on the second day. • Three days, two nights: After arriving in Xinghua on the first day, explore Jindongmen Ancient Street and visit Zheng Banqiao's former residence. In the afternoon, visit the Xinghua Museum. On the second day, explore Qianduo Scenic Area, experience the intangible cultural heritage of bamboo weaving, and take a night tour of Bazijiao Bridge. On the third day, go birdwatching at Lizhong Water Forest Park, then go cycling in the Wu Jindang wetland, and savor the Zhongzhuang Drunken Crab feast. Travel Tips • The queues for the boat tour at Qianduo Scenic Area are long on weekends. It is recommended to purchase fast-track tickets in advance on the "Xinghua Tourism" mini-program. • Drones are prohibited in Lizhong Water Forest Park. • If traveling in spring, take sun protection and mosquito repellent measures. If traveling in winter, dress warmly.

You don’t have to go to Suzhou or Hangzhou to enjoy the spring in the south of the Yangtze River. You can come to the treasure town of Taizhou Xinghua for a visit🚶 There are not only thousands of acres of cauliflower and water forests here🌲 There are also quaint streets and special delicacies🍜 Suzhou can be reached within 3 hours by car, and round trip is possible on weekends Get up early and have a Xinghua morning tea to feel the atmosphere of the city This is the ideal slow life in spring 🍵 - 🗺️Xinghua slow-paced one-day tour route: Xinghua Morning Tea➠Qianduo Water Rapeseed Field➠Jindongmen Old Street➠Lizhong Water Forest Park - 📸️ Worth visiting Xinghua in spring: ✅Qianduo Water Rapeseed Field Ten thousand acres of cauliflower fields are like a golden field🌼 The river is like a path crisscrossing the flower fields, so magnificent that it is speechless🥹 Taking a rowboat through it is like walking into a flowery maze. The rich aroma of cauliflower hits you in the face, and you can feel the romance of spring in person🍃 ✅Jindongmen Old Street The old streets from the Ming and Qing dynasties that have been completely preserved Every brick and tile contains traces of the history of the water city Xinghua🕰️ There are many historical buildings in the old street: 📍Former Residence of Zheng Banqiao 📍Zhao Haixian Mansion 📍Chengjia Da Sima Mansion 📍Zhuangyuanfang It is very suitable for a leisurely stroll, taking your family to understand the profound culture and history of Xinghua📽️ ✅Lizhong Water Forest Amid the rippling blue waves, the green trees are shady, and the purple February orchids fill the gaps in the forest🌲 The boat sailed through it, as if in a fairyland, with water birds dancing and Metasequoia trees standing in rows🦢 It is quiet and full of vitality, and the workers are relaxed both physically and mentally🥹

The former residence has side rooms to the south and the main house to the north, commonly known as "Zheng's Great Hall". Masters Zhao Puchu and Liu Haisu respectively wrote the plaques "Zheng Banqiao's Former Residence" and "Banqiao's Former Residence" for the entrance hall. Upon entering the entrance hall, you will see a screen wall. Turn left and you will suddenly enter the courtyard. The courtyard is lush and fragrant with old bamboo and new bamboo shoots, and potted orchids and banana plants are dotted around. The moss hints at the age of the former residence.

Zheng Banqiao, a painter and writer of the Qing Dynasty, a writer of Xinghua, Jiangsu. Kangxi Xiucai, Yongzheng ten years of people, Qianlong first year of scholars. The county magistrate of Minxian County has a remarkable political performance. After living in Yangzhou, he made a living by selling paintings and was an important representative of the Eight Monsters of Yangzhou. Zheng Banqiao's former residence, located in the east of Xinghua City, Jiangsu Province, is a very small attraction, so there are not many people. The courtyard is not very large, but it is very delicate, the building is simple, the wall is covered with tiles, and it is a quiet place. Visiting Zheng Banqiao's former residence focuses on the culture. From the gardens and buildings, you can feel the cultural heritage here. Although the courtyard is not as good as Su Xichang, you can imagine how Zheng Banqiao smelled the chickens and danced poetry books here. Going further, it is a slightly larger courtyard. The green bamboo in the courtyard is in a hurry and warm. There is a bamboo forest behind the house. The back garden has flower windows and waters, and the scenery is pleasant. There are celebrity inscriptions on the back garden promenade. This is the "Ya room" written by Zheng Banqiao in "The room is not big, the flowers are not much". It is said to be a former residence, more like a small garden, the room is a study, by the window, you can see the bamboo shadows in the garden. There are pavilions and lotus gardens in the garden, which are elegant and quiet. I also met the old gentleman who plays Zheng Banqiao. It looks a bit far from it. This is also a must-see for Xinghua Old Town. If you don't have time to visit other places, at least check it out.