Hidden Gem in Jiangnan! Yaohu Town: A Millennium of Ceramic Culture Meets Dreamy Water Show

Yaohu Town Located within the Yixing Yangxian Ecotourism Resort, this emerging attraction covers about 20,000 acres with an investment of 13 billion RMB. Centered around the theme "Birds and Ceramics," it offers a unique blend of "natural ecology + cultural experience." Ticket Prices: Adult 60 RMB/person, Discounted 30 RMB/person Opening Hours: 09:00-22:00 (last entry at 21:00) Transportation: - Self-driving: Navigate to "Yaohu Town," only 2 km from the highway exit - High-speed rail: 30-minute taxi ride from Yixing Station - Parking: Multiple free parking lots available in the scenic area Core Attractions Detailed Daytime Experiences Cloud Train: A 6.2 km track with a 50-minute loop passing through viaducts, tunnels, lakes, bamboo forests, and tea fields, like stepping into a Studio Ghibli animation world. One-way ticket 30 RMB, operating hours 9:00-20:00. Birds in Flight: An ecological project with a 300 million RMB investment, featuring 258 birds flying together. The red-backed shrike soars like a streak across the sky, and the white storks dance gracefully like celestial beings, creating a breathtaking scene. Dragon Kiln Street: A must-visit for the dragon kiln and ceramic museum. Watch the dragon kiln opening performance to learn about Yixing clay culture. Every Saturday at 10:30, there is an ancient kiln worship ceremony where visitors can participate in lighting the fire and praying for blessings. Free Valley: A dreamy blue crystal creek scattered with "gems," flower boats, and hot air balloons, making it a perfect photo spot. Exciting Night Performances Dragon Soaring Water Show & Fireworks: From 20:00 to 20:20, inspired by the traditional Chinese zodiac dragon, this show uses modern water features to create a spectacular audio-visual feast of water screens, lights, and fire. On Fridays and Saturdays, there is an additional "Phoenix Flying" fireworks show. Specialty Street Experiences Jingxi Street: The lakeside boardwalk is a photo hotspot, full of Jiangnan water town atmosphere. White walls and black tiles line the lake, forming a flowing Jiangnan ink painting. Mingling Street: A food hub where you can stroll and taste local specialties. Cultural Highlights Yaohu Town brings millennium-old Yixing clay culture out of display cases through three major IPs: the dragon kiln opening ceremony, the millennium kiln fire tribute live show, and the Dragon Soaring Water Show fireworks, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in ceramic culture. There is also a Yixing clay handcraft experience for 200 RMB/person, including firing and mailing. Accommodation Recommendations Yaohu Grand Hotel Located in the center of the scenic area, it has 675 rooms with a distinctive ceramic culture design themed around the kiln. Guests enjoy multiple free entries to the scenic area and free shuttle service. Kiln Factory Resort Hotel A newly opened kiln-themed hotel with spacious rooms of about 70 square meters or more, featuring balconies and free shuttle service to and from the scenic area. Travel Tips Best Visiting Time: It is recommended to enter in the afternoon to enjoy both the daytime natural scenery and cultural activities as well as the evening water show and fireworks. Off-Peak Strategy: Weekends from 10:00 to 15:00 are peak hours. It is advisable to enter before 9:00 or after 16:00 for night visits. Gear Suggestions: Non-slip shoes (the bluestone paths can be slippery after rain), power bank, and a tripod for photographing fireworks.