From a thousand-year-old ancient street to a trendy night market, this travel photography guide holds the city’s secret

Jinhua One-Day Stroll: From a Thousand-Year-Old Ancient Street to a Trendy Night Market, This Travel Photography Guide Holds the City’s Secret Who would have thought! After spending 24 hours in Jinhua, my phone album was instantly filled with photos—the bluestone slabs of the ancient street, the lively atmosphere of the night market, the neon lights by the river... every shot is perfect for posting on social media and going viral! This personally tested "Day Ancient Night Trend" travel photography route is praised even by locals for being fun, with hidden check-in spots and accommodation tips👇 🌅 Morning: Step into the morning rhythm of the thousand-year-old ancient street The first stop after waking up must be Guzicheng. As the most well-preserved historical and cultural district in Zhejiang, the morning sunlight slants over the blue bricks and black tiles, casting long shadows of the Wanfo Pagoda. Standing in front of the Drum Tower to take a side silhouette photo saves you the need for a vintage filter. Don’t miss the old-brand breakfast stall at the alley entrance—freshly baked sesame flatbread stuffed with fried dough sticks paired with a bowl of salty soy milk. The crispy bite sound alone can be the background audio for your vlog. Turn from the Drum Tower into Jiufang Alley and instantly enter a small world of intangible cultural heritage. At the "Guwu Kiln Fire" workshop, you can experience traditional tie-dyeing. Choose a piece of white cloth and hand-dye it into a unique scarf. Hold your finished product under the red lanterns at the alley entrance for photos, creating a full atmosphere. Photography tip: Before 9 a.m., Jiufang Alley is least crowded. When sunlight filters through the horse-head wall gaps, shooting dynamic walking portraits creates a very storytelling vibe. 🌞 Afternoon: Double healing of local life and culture After exploring the ancient street, dive into Lanxi Gate Market to feel the local hustle and bustle. Find an old-brand Tangxi hand-pulled noodle shop and sit down. The chewy noodles soaked in rich bone broth, topped with plenty of pickled mustard greens and shredded pork, are a carb lover’s delight. Slurp a hot bite and you’ll be ecstatic. The aroma from the Jinhua crisp cake stall in the market corner is irresistible. Freshly baked crisp cakes wrapped in sesame fragrance, capturing the busy baker’s figure is a perfect slice of life shot. After eating, head to Wuzhou Park to digest. The riverside walkway is perfect for shooting soothing scenes. Sit on a bench letting the river breeze tousle your hair, with the shimmering Wujing River and modern buildings on the opposite bank behind you. The composition of ancient and modern is stunning. If time allows, walk to the Jinhua Museum. The Wuzhou kiln exhibition inside is top quality. Shoot with side backlighting in front of the celadon display case for an instant upscale feel. The afternoon finale is the China Wuju Theater, a Jinhua landmark shaped like a spreading colorful butterfly. The pure white streamlined lines are especially lively under the afternoon sun. Walk around to the theater’s side where the glass curtain wall perfectly reflects the colorful lights of the Rainbow Bridge across the river. Use the sky as a backdrop for a panoramic shot—the collision of architecture and light is naturally sophisticated. Don’t miss the opera props exhibition hall on the first floor. The gilded phoenix crowns, embroidered capes, and carved weapons are exquisitely detailed. Stand beside the display case and shoot close-ups of the props to capture the fusion of opera charm and modern architecture. 🌃 Evening: Unlock the trendier, livelier night mode As the sunset dyes the Wujing River red, the Jingu Night Market starts to buzz. After 5 p.m., stalls gradually open. The crispy rice cakes brushed with secret sauce explode with aroma when bitten, cheese turkey noodles and grilled cold noodles stretch cheese strands half a meter long. Holding snacks under flickering neon signs for selfies, the lively atmosphere practically bursts from the screen. Personally recommend the Northeast-style iron plate chicken rack—the sweet and sour taste after vinegar spray is super refreshing. Close-up shots of the chef flipping the chicken are very appetizing. After the night market, head straight to the Wujing River night cruise dock. Board a boat to watch the lights come on along both banks. The bridges at the confluence of three rivers light up in sequence with colorful lights. Take out your phone and switch to night mode to shoot the river view; the reflections on the water add natural bokeh. When the boat slows down near the floating bridge, snap a photo of a person with the floating bridge lights—a cinematic atmosphere worthy of a movie poster. Don’t leave after the night cruise! The nightlife in Sanjiangli is just beginning. In the new Chinese-style "Three Streets, Nine Alleys, Eleven Lanes," the artisan market’s handmade jewelry glimmers softly, folk songs drift from the live house, and walking to the riverside viewing platform offers stunning night views of the Wanfo Pagoda and Sanjiangli neon lights together. Occasionally, you might catch an intangible cultural heritage Nuo opera performance—the masks glowing in firelight are mysterious. Quickly snap some unique check-in photos. 🏨 Accommodation tips: Make your home in the scenery Exhausted after a day of exploring? Choosing the right accommodation directly boosts your travel happiness! Highly recommend Hilton Hampton by Hilton Sanjiangli Hotel, with an unbelievably perfect location—5 minutes’ walk to Sanjiangli Night Market, 10 minutes to Guzicheng. No need for a taxi after night tours; you can stroll back in slippers. Highlight the rooms! Floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows face the confluence of three rivers. At night, you can watch the river light show lying in bed. Choose a premium king room to overlook the Wanfo Pagoda at night. Take a photo of "lying in bed watching the night view," and the comment section will be full of requests for the address. The Serta dual-patented mattress in the room is incredibly comfortable; all the day’s fatigue disappears once you lie down. There’s also a movable desk and wireless charging, so no worries about running out of power while editing travel photos. Breakfast is a surprise too. Freshly made Jinhua crisp cakes and soy milk with fried dough sticks recreate the ancient street flavors. The buffet is full of both Chinese and Western dishes. Shoot a "breakfast vlog" while eating, caption it "Taste all of Jinhua at the hotel" for great attention. When checking out, the front desk even gives crisp cake souvenirs—attention to detail is top-notch. Accommodation bonus: The breakfast hall on the 6th floor is a hidden photo spot. At dusk, you can shoot panoramic views of the sunset over the Wujing River, paired with the hotel’s new Chinese-style architecture—100% chance of great shots. Jinhua’s romance is hidden in the morning mist of the ancient street, the lively night market, and the floor-to-ceiling windows of the river view rooms. This 24-hour travel photography guide is enough for you to unlock the city’s tenderness and passion. Next time I come, I’ll pack two more boxes of the crisp cakes for breakfast!