Yangzhou Slow Life Complete Guide

Explore Yangzhou for 7 days and 6 nights with 8,000 RMB｜Stay by Slender West Lake The lake’s thin mist lingers, willow branches gently brush the window frame. Old Yangzhou locals say: "In the morning, skin wraps water; at night, water wraps skin" — Only then do I understand what it means to truly live. In 7 days and 6 nights, with less than 8,000 RMB, I stayed in a boutique guesthouse transformed from a century-old garden by Slender West Lake, with a window view of Wuting Bridge; Had morning tea for 7 consecutive days, from Fuchun, Yechun to Quyuan, never repeating a meal; Took a night tour of the ancient canal, listened to Yangzhou folk tunes, and got drunk on pipa music until dawn; Visited all the old-brand bathhouses: “Xiangyuan” for scrubbing, “Shuibaopi” for foot soaking, experiencing the true meaning of “In the morning, skin wraps water; at night, water wraps skin.” Spend about 50 RMB per person to savor exquisite Huaiyang cuisine, With 8,000 RMB, pack up Yangzhou’s “slow life, tea, gardens, and baths” all in one trip 🍵🌸🛁 💰 Budget Breakdown (per person｜cheaper for two travelers) | Item | Budget | |------|--------| | Round-trip transportation (high-speed train/flight) | ¥1600 (Direct access from major cities to Yangzhou Station/Taizhou Airport) | | Accommodation (6 nights in garden guesthouse) | ¥2400 (¥400/night, by Slender West Lake) | | Local transportation (bus + taxi) | ¥300 | | Food (morning tea + meals + snacks) | ¥1800 (¥250/day, 14 meals!) | | Tickets + experiences (Slender West Lake, Ge Garden, He Garden, folk tunes, baths) | ¥1400 | | Shopping + emergency reserve | ¥500 | | Total | ≈ ¥7800 | ✅ Note: If traveling with a companion, sharing accommodation and taxi costs, the per-person budget can be controlled under 6,000 RMB, and with 8,000 RMB you can visit more gardens and buy lacquerware souvenirs! 🗓️ Daily Detailed Itinerary (Recommended travel from March to May or September to November｜Spring willows and autumn moon are most pleasant) Day 1: Arrive in Yangzhou｜First encounter with Slender West Lake × First morning tea experience 📍 Itinerary: Arrive at Yangzhou Station → Taxi to Slender West Lake guesthouse → Check-in → Visit Yechun Teahouse Afternoon: Check in at a garden guesthouse by Slender West Lake (¥380-450, such as “Changle Inn” or “He Garden · Qiyun”) Century-old house renovation, carved windows, bluestone courtyard, lanterns light up at night Evening: Walk to Yechun Teahouse (Yumantou branch) Must order: Hot dried tofu strips, crab roe soup dumplings, jade shumai, Kuilongzhu tea Night: Stroll along Slender West Lake, enjoy the night view of Wuting Bridge Late-night snack: A bowl of “Yang Ba Guai” stewed chicken noodle soup 📌 Tip: Morning tea starts at 5 PM for dinner, don’t go at “breakfast” time! Day 2: Slender West Lake walking tour｜From “Changdi Spring Willows” to “Twenty-four Bridges” 📍 Itinerary: Full day immersed in garden aesthetics 7:00 AM: Enter Slender West Lake as soon as it opens (ticket ¥100) Avoid crowds, enjoy the morning tranquility Route: Changdi Spring Willows → Xuyuan → Little Jinshan → Fishing Platform → Wuting Bridge → White Pagoda → Twenty-four Bridges Must photograph: Wuting Bridge reflection (morning light) Twenty-four Bridges’ “twenty-four pillars” (Du Mu’s poetic scene) Noon: Eat Huaiyang cuisine at lakeside Xiangyinglou: Lion’s Head meatballs, braised dried tofu strips Afternoon: Take a boat tour from Lianhua Bridge to Xichuntai (¥40) Evening: Soak at Xiangyuan Bathhouse (¥98, includes scrubbing + foot soak) 📌 Local secret: The west gate of Slender West Lake is less crowded, perfect for photos! Day 3: Ge Garden × Dongguan Street local life 📍 Itinerary: Salt merchant mansion + thousand-year-old street Morning: Visit Ge Garden (ticket ¥45) One of China’s four famous gardens, known for “four-season rockeries” Must see: Spring mountain stone bamboo shoots, summer mountain waterfall, autumn mountain red leaves, winter mountain Xuan stone Noon: Have a simple meal at Qingyuan Teahouse inside the garden Afternoon: Stroll Dongguan Street (free) Check in: Xie Fuchun perfume powder shop, Sanhe Simei pickles, Luyang wontons Must eat: Lotus root starch balls, Huangqiao sesame cakes, tofu pudding Evening: Listen to Dongguan Street folk tunes (¥30/person) Songs: “Yangzhou Folk Tune,” “Jasmine Flower” 📌 Tip: Xie Fuchun offers DIY sachets, starting at ¥28, great gifts! Day 4: He Garden × Ancient Canal night tour 📍 Itinerary: Late Qing Dynasty’s top garden + water town Jiangnan Morning: Tour He Garden (ticket ¥40) “Prototype of China’s overpass” with multi-level corridors, perfect for photos Must visit: Yuxiu Building, Water Heart Pavilion, Pianshi Mountain House (a Shitao masterpiece) Noon: Eat creative Huaiyang cuisine at “Simple Tea and Plain Food” Recommended: Slow-cooked radish, Lotus Pond Three Treasures Afternoon: Return to guesthouse for rest, experience “skin wraps water” culture Evening: Night cruise on Ancient Canal (boat ¥60) Lights reflect on water, listen to boatwomen sing folk songs End point: Dongguan Ancient Ferry, continue exploring the night market 📸 Photo spots: He Garden corridor reflection, canal night lights, folk tune singer’s profile Day 5: Morning tea triple challenge × Lacquerware Museum × Ultimate Shuibaopi experience 📍 Itinerary: Taste buds + craftsmanship + body therapy Morning: Start the “morning tea triple” challenge: 1. Fuchun Teahouse (main branch): drink Kuilongzhu tea, eat Kuilongzhu buns 2. Quyuan Teahouse (Slender West Lake branch): waterside private room, great for photos 3. Yiyuan Restaurant: local favorite, great value Afternoon: Visit Yangzhou Lacquerware Museum (free) See thousand-year-old craftsmanship, custom small items (from ¥198) Evening: Ultimate bath experience at Shuibaopi Bath City (¥128) Scrubbing + pedicure + foot massage + sauna, full 3 hours Yangzhou saying: “In the morning, skin wraps water; at night, water wraps skin” — perfectly fulfilled 📌 Tip: Fuchun morning tea queues start after 9 AM, recommend arriving at 7:30! Day 6: Daming Temple × Pingshan Hall × Wenchang Pavilion night view 📍 Itinerary: Climb high for a broad view, feel the scholar’s spirit Morning: Climb Daming Temple (ticket ¥45) Starting point of Jianzhen’s eastward voyage, climb Qiling Pagoda for city views Noon: Eat vegetarian at Xiangjichu inside the temple Afternoon: Walk to Pingshan Hall (built by Ouyang Xiu) “Pingshan railing leans on clear sky,” feel Song Dynasty elegance Evening: Return to Dongguan Street for souvenirs: Xie Fuchun duck egg powder, Sanhe Simei pickles, lotus root starch balls (vacuum packed) Night: Photograph Wenchang Pavilion night view (Yangzhou landmark) 📌 Locals say: Pingshan Hall is most beautiful in autumn when osmanthus blooms! Day 7: Farewell Yangzhou｜Last morning tea + Take home a pack of “Kuilongzhu” Morning: Return to Yechun or Fuchun for the last morning tea Order a pot of tea, sip slowly like an old Yangzhou local Check out: Guesthouse owners often give homemade tea bags or small lacquerware Head to Yangzhou Station/Airport, end the 7-day “slow life” journey 📌 Avoid scams: “Free guiding” at scenic entrances is a trap, don’t trust it! 🍜 Yangzhou must-eat food list (50-80 RMB per person to eat full) | Type | Recommended | Must order | |------|-------------|------------| | Morning tea | Fuchun, Yechun, Quyuan | Soup dumplings, hot dried tofu strips, Kuilongzhu tea | | Main meals | Lion’s Head meatballs, braised dried tofu strips | Simple Tea and Plain Food, Yiyuan Restaurant | | Snacks | Lotus root starch balls, Huangqiao sesame cakes | Most authentic from Dongguan Street vendors | | Late-night snacks | Old hen chicken noodle soup, wontons | Yang Ba Guai, Luyang wontons | 📌 Tip: Huaiyang cuisine is light; add soy sauce if you prefer stronger flavors! 🏡 Accommodation recommendations (high cost-performance + good location) 1. Slender West Lake/Dongguan Street guesthouses (¥380-450) Garden style, near attractions, experience old Yangzhou life 2. Chain hotels (e.g., All Seasons, Atour, around ¥300) Good value, suitable for budget travelers 3. City hotels (near Wenchang Pavilion) Convenient transportation, good for transfers 📸 Top 5 photo spots | Location | Style | Best time to shoot | |----------|-------|--------------------| | Wuting Bridge reflection | Ink-wash Jiangnan | 6:00 AM | | Ge Garden four-season rockeries | Garden wonder | Morning light | | He Garden multi-level corridor | Late Qing charm | 3:00 PM soft light | | Ancient Canal night boat | Lantern glow | After 7:30 PM | | Morning tea steamer close-up | Daily life | 7:30-8:30 AM | ✅ Summary: Why explore Yangzhou this way? ✔️ Visual shock (gardens, canals, bridge reflections) ✔️ Taste enjoyment (morning tea, Huaiyang cuisine, folk tunes) ✔️ Body therapy (baths, scrubbing, foot massage) ✔️ Cultural depth (salt merchants, scholars, intangible heritage) ✔️ Cost-effective (8,000 RMB for a “noble slow life”) 📌 Final word: Don’t say Yangzhou is just about “morning tea” anymore! In this 2,500-year-old ancient city, You can sip tea by Wuting Bridge at dawn, Listen to folk tunes on the ancient canal at night, And soak in the steam of a bathhouse, Suddenly...