[2025 Changzhou ] Travel Guide for Changzhou Library (Updated Jun)

General Introduction Changzhou Cultural Plaza is a landmark architectural complex in the Xinbei District. It consists of 6 arch-shaped buildings, covering a total area of 490,000 square meters, integrating a library, art museum, art and culture center, and commercial blocks. The surreal geometric lines and interlaced light and shadows create a futuristic "city photo frame" during the day, and transform into a dazzling and magical dome at night. Every shot is a blockbuster! The best part is that it's free! Must-See Highlights Architectural Photography Goals Recommended angles: Shoot upwards from under the "cross dome" in the center of the square, where the gaps in the architecture and the sky form a natural frame; use the reflection of the sunken square's water surface for symmetrical composition, and place your phone close to the ground to capture an "Inception" effect (refer to the reflection techniques on webpage 3)! Time selection: It is recommended to go in the early morning or evening to avoid the overhead light at noon. The night scene lights turn on at 19:00, filling the scene with a blue-purple sci-fi vibe! Free Cultural Experience New Changzhou Library: 5G coverage + 1.2 million books, with many picture books in the parent-child area, making it kid-friendly! Changzhou Art Museum: Permanent free exhibitions, recently featuring the "Wetland Elf" ecological exhibition, with interactive light and shadow installations. Hidden Gems Wild Concerts: Open-air music festivals are often held in the square during holidays. Enjoy free live music! Commercial Blocks: There are light food and coffee shops on the first floor below ground, but the prices are relatively high. It is recommended to bring your own water cup, as there is direct drinking water in the building! Heads up: There is a lot of foot traffic on weekends, so it is recommended to take photos on weekdays; the square is windy, so wear a windproof jacket! Ticket Prices & Opening Hours The square is open for free all day. The art museum/library is open from 9:00–17:00 (closed on Mondays). Additional tickets are required for special exhibitions or market events. Personal Experience* The architectural design is better than Shanghai's popular spots! The library's parent-child area has a complete collection of children's books, making it easy to entertain kids. However, the restaurants in the commercial area are not cost-effective. A bowl of noodles costs CNY 48, which is really expensive. The signs in the underground parking lot are confusing, and it took 20 minutes to find the car! Transportation (From Shanghai) High-speed train: Shanghai Hongqiao → Changzhou Station (1 hr/CNY 74.5). Transfer to Metro Line 1 to Citizen Square Station Exit 2, and walk for 5 minutes to arrive! 2️⃣ Self-driving: Navigate to "Changzhou Cultural Plaza Parking Lot", CNY 5/hr. Parking spaces are limited on weekends, so it is recommended to arrive early!

It was a relaxing day in Changzhou. I went straight to Hongmei Park after getting off the train. It's not far from the station, so I walked there. The park is quiet and the air is nice. I took a few photos. I took a photo of the reflection of Tianning Temple Pagoda in the water. The water looks nice, and winter is a great time for photos. I wandered around and went into Tianning Temple. It's just a temple, nothing special. You have to pay to go up the pagoda, but I didn't feel like climbing, so I just looked at it. Then I went to Qingguo Lane. The old houses there have a Jiangnan style, with white walls and black tiles. But it was a bit quiet, with many places closed and not many tourists. I just took some photos and looked around. I heard there was a shrimp cake stall, but I got lost and couldn't find it. I don't know if that was lucky or not. Then I went to Banshan Bookstore to find a quiet place to relax. On the way, I saw a Changzhou cake shop. The environment was average, but it looked authentic. I went in and had some fried noodles with eel, which were delicious. I also got an egg pancake to go. It was simple and satisfying, like a home-cooked meal. After eating, I went to Banshan Bookstore. It was quiet, with many people reading. I stayed there for a long time and finally had time to read. I had heard of Han Kang's "The Vegetarian" before, and today I finally read it. It was good. The bookstore is a great place to read. Then I realized I had brought a power bank but no charging cable. How silly! I went to Wuyue Plaza to get one and charged my phone. After that, I went to Changzhou Museum. No reservation is needed. I spent about an hour there. Most of the exhibits are about the history of Changzhou, which was interesting. Finally, I went to Changzhou Library. The second floor is a study area, with many students reading. It was quiet, a good place for book lovers. Overall, Changzhou is a quiet place with no busy attractions. It's a great place to wander around. If you don't go to the Dinosaur Park, one day is a bit tight. Two days would be more comfortable, and you can enjoy the slow pace of the city.

Sunday afternoon in Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.