Explore Zhangjiagang with 5000 RMB: A 3-day, 2-night Jiangnan Water Town + Food + Culture Complete Guide

✔️ Cycling on Shuangshan Island + Fresh River Delicacies ✔️ Jiyang Lake Night View + Garden Check-in ✔️ Sha Zhou You Huang Cultural Park Tipsy Experience ✔️ Easy to enjoy within budget 📅 Day 1: Slow Life on Shuangshan Island + Fresh River Feast 🚗 Transportation: Self-drive/taxi to Shuangshan Island Ferry Terminal (Ferry 20 RMB/person round trip) 🏨 Accommodation: Shuangshan Island Homestay (about 400 RMB/night, recommend riverside room) 🌉 Morning: Cycling around Shuangshan Island Bike rental: Bicycle 30 RMB/day, electric bike 80 RMB/day Recommended activities: ✅ Reed marsh photo spots (beautiful in autumn) ✅ Golf experience (practice range 50 RMB/person) ✅ Crossing the Yangtze River Battle Memorial Hall (free, red tourism check-in) 🐟 Lunch: Old Wharf Fresh River Restaurant Must-order dishes: Knife fish wonton, pufferfish with rice seedlings, shad fish Per person: 150 RMB (fresh river delicacies are a bit pricey but worth it!) 🌇 Afternoon: Island slow life Free activities: Walk along the riverbank, strawberry picking (seasonal) Evening: Watch the Yangtze River sunset from the homestay terrace 🍲 Dinner: Homestay farmhouse dishes Recommended: Braised river eel, taro braised pork Per person: 80 RMB 💰 Today's expenses: About 1100 RMB (including accommodation + meals + transportation) 📅 Day 2: City Cultural Check-in + Jiyang Lake Night View 🚢 Transportation: Return to city (taxi about 50 RMB) 🏨 Accommodation: Boutique hotel in city (about 350 RMB/night, recommend near pedestrian street) 🏯 Morning: Sha Zhou You Huang Cultural Park Ticket: 60 RMB (includes yellow wine tasting) Recommended activities: ✅ Yellow Wine Museum (learn about century-old brewing techniques) ✅ Wine cellar tasting (free tasting of 5-year aged wine) ✅ Popular bear wall photo spot 🍜 Lunch: Pedestrian street snacks Recommended: Tuo Lu Bing (baked flatbread), crab tofu, duck blood vermicelli Per person: 40 RMB 🌿 Afternoon: Tianzhuang Ancient Town + Phoenix Mountain Tianzhuang Ancient Town: Free, Ming and Qing dynasty stone slab roads + Top Scholar’s Mansion (ticket 20 RMB) Phoenix Mountain: Free hiking, panoramic view of Zhangjiagang 🌃 Dinner: Jiyang Lake Music Fountain Night View Recommended restaurant: Lake View Fish Village (100 RMB per person) Fountain show time: 19:30-20:00 (free) 💰 Today's expenses: About 900 RMB (including accommodation + meals + tickets) 📅 Day 3: Xiangshan Scenic Spot + Return Trip 🚗 Transportation: Taxi to Xiangshan Scenic Area (about 30 RMB) ⛰️ Morning: Xiangshan Scenic Area Ticket: 60 RMB Recommended activities: ✅ Xiangshan Temple (Tang Dynasty ancient temple) ✅ Meiling Flower Viewing (plum blossoms are stunning in winter) ✅ Glass plank road (additional 50 RMB) 🍵 Lunch: Scenic area vegetarian restaurant Recommended: Vegetarian chicken, mushroom soup Per person: 50 RMB 🛍️ Afternoon: Shopping and return Recommended purchases: Sha Zhou You Huang yellow wine, Phoenix honey peaches (seasonal) Cost: Souvenirs about 500 RMB 💰 Today's expenses: About 800 RMB (including meals + tickets + shopping) 💡 Money-saving tips: Ferry on Shuangshan Island is free after 5 PM, plan your trips accordingly. Free admission to Sha Zhou You Huang Cultural Park with purchases over 200 RMB. Buy Xiangshan Scenic Area tickets online 1 hour in advance to save 10 RMB. 📝 Total budget (for 2 people): ✅ Transportation: 600 RMB (taxi + ferry) ✅ Accommodation: 750 RMB (2 nights) ✅ Meals: 1200 RMB (6 full meals) ✅ Tickets + experiences: 800 RMB ✅ Shopping: 1650 RMB (yellow wine + specialties) 💰 Total: 5000 RMB (2500 RMB per person, deep Jiangnan experience!) 🌟 Suitable for: Family trips, culture lovers, foodies 📸 Best seasons: March-April (plum blossoms), September-November (fresh river delicacies at their best)