Yancheng Water Street | 800 meters waterway, Yancheng's Eight Big Bowls, Fan Gongdi, Yanzong Temple

Yancheng Water Street is located in the central area of Yancheng City, and the mother river of Yancheng, Chuan Chang River, flows past it. The streets are full of green water, and the buildings are simple and elegant. Historical records show: "Water Street, located at the west gate of the ancient city. Salt merchants dock their boats along the street, rich merchants gather, shops are lined up, the lights are bright and the wine is green, it is also known as Huainan." The entire Water Street has a waterway more than 800 meters long, winding and twisting, connecting all the landscapes. Pavilions, towers, flower windows, lanterns, green bricks and brown tiles, all show the ancient elegance. Yancheng Water Street is divided into three major areas: the mansion gate, the sky water square, and the post water restaurant. There are special attractions such as Shuiyun Pavilion, Piaozhou Opera Garden, and Hanmo Pavilion. One by one, there are good scenery and fun, and there are also delicious food. Yancheng's Eight Big Bowls are very famous, including "Stewed Earth Biao, Big Chicken Hugging Small Chicken, Braised Glutinous Rice Balls, Braised Clams, Raised Cakes, Taro Shrimp Soup, Braised Pork, Braised Knife Fish" and other authentic banquet dishes. And each dish has different meanings and allusions. In 1021 AD, Fan Zhongyan, an outstanding thinker, politician, military strategist, educator, and litterateur of the Northern Song Dynasty, was transferred to the salt warehouse in Xixi (now Dongtai City). During his tenure, he strongly advocated the reconstruction of the Hanhai Dam, allowing the people to live and work in peace and contentment, known as "Fan Gongdi". Yancheng is named after salt and thrives because of salt. The origin of "boiling the sea for salt" can be traced back to the Yan Emperor period. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the sea salt production in the coastal areas of Wu, Yue, and Chu had initially taken shape. The Salt Merchant Guild Hall can be regarded as the core of Water Street. It is the largest group of concentrated buildings in the entire Water Street scenic area, with flying eaves and corners, ancient and quaint. The group of sculptures in front of the door also vividly reproduces the prosperity of the salt industry and the gathering of merchants at that time. Yanzong Temple is a temple dedicated to the Salt God, composed of three main halls. The main hall in the middle worships the ancestors of salt production, Shu Sha, the ancestors of salt management, Jiao Ge, and the ancestors of salt management, Guan Zhong. The eastern hall worships the Great Saint of Salt Plate, and the western hall worships the Salt Lady. 📍Detailed address: Yancheng Water Street: No. 3, Kaifang Avenue, Tinghu District, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province Tickets: Free admission