I rarely use the word "shocking" to describe a place until I set foot on this land…
Before me, small bridges and flowing water gently murmur, white walls and black tiles are arranged in an orderly fashion, a boat with a swaying oar slowly moves forward, the oar strokes the water surface, making a "creak creak" sound, as if telling stories of the years gone by. This place is like a slowly unfolding real-life ink painting of Jiangnan🍃. In an instant, I suddenly understood why Emperor Qianlong traveled to Jiangnan six times and fell in love with this place three times.
📍|Yanguan, the City of Tide Music
🚗|If driving from downtown Hangzhou, it only takes 40 minutes to arrive; from Shanghai, it’s just a 2-hour drive.
🚇|Take the Hangzhou-Haining Intercity Railway to [Yanguan Station], then transfer to bus 333 to reach the scenic area directly.
🚄|If traveling by high-speed rail, arrive at [Haining West Station], then take a 30-minute taxi ride to start this dreamlike journey.
🛶Tour Route:
Start from Yanguan Tide Wall, stroll to Gongchen Gate, North Street, Royal Wharf, visit Chen Pavilion Old Residence, Sea God Temple, enter Jin Yong Academy, Confucius Temple and School, visit Wang Guowei’s former residence, head to the Tide Viewing Park, and finally visit the Music Home Museum. The entire route is full of scenery and stories.
✅Must-Visit Attractions
1️⃣Tide Viewing Park: This is the best place by the Qiantang River to watch the "One-Line Tide." The magnificent tide rushes like thousands of horses galloping, full of grandeur. However, the tide times vary daily, so you can check in advance via the mini-program "Tide is Coming" to plan your trip reasonably.
2️⃣Yanguan Tide Wall: The waterfall wall at the entrance of the scenic area opens a tide release show on the hour, lasting ten minutes. When night falls during the sunset blue hour, it looks dreamy and magical, like being in a fairyland.
3️⃣Gongchen Gate: Take a swaying oar boat slowly through this ancient city gate with a 600-year history. On the boat, the melodious sound of the pipa floats over the water, creating a relaxing feeling.
4️⃣Royal Wharf: This is where Emperor Qianlong disembarked during his southern tours, stepping onto this land to begin his Jiangnan journey.
5️⃣Sea God Temple: A palace-style building dedicated to worshipping the "Tide God," solemn and majestic. In the backyard, Emperor Qianlong’s imperial stele stands quietly, witnessing the vicissitudes of time.
6️⃣Confucius Temple and School: Red walls and black tiles make an excellent backdrop for photos; every shot looks like a masterpiece.
7️⃣City Wall Sunset: Climb to the observation deck on the 5th floor of the Lead Singer Hotel to overlook the Qiantang River tide with an incredibly broad view. Here, you can also see the stunning sunset over the infinity pool🌇, a breathtaking scene.
🎼Music Home Museum: Located on the basement floor of the Lead Singer Music Resort Hotel, it is the world’s second interactive music museum! The holographic projection technology inside offers an incredibly shocking visual effect. The 5,000㎡ large space allows you to explore to your heart’s content. When tired, take a break at the café for a cup of coffee☕️, or pick some favorite souvenirs at the gift shop—you’ll be completely captivated🤏🏻.
🏨About Accommodation
The themed music resort hotel was where Zhou Xun and Aya stayed while recording "Nice to Meet You"! The music museum is on the basement floor, and the infinity pool on the 5th floor offers an excellent view where you can enjoy the spectacular "One-Line Tide" without the crowds at the Tide Viewing Park. In the evening, sit by the pool and admire the sunset that looks like an orange sea, stunning beyond words; at night, you can listen to live music performances by the city wall. Half of the hotel rooms are family-friendly, and free shuttle service is provided, making it perfect for traveling with kids!
🫔With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, Yanguan Ancient City gains even more ancient charm. Wear Hanfu, stroll through the ancient city, and feel the charm that spans thousands of years; watch the breathtaking Qiantang tide and experience the majestic power of nature; explore the fun folk market and experience the unique charm of traditional culture. Come here and start an unforgettable Dragon Boat Festival journey!
📌Travel Tips
1️⃣The scenic area is quite large. If you are not staying overnight, you can take the shuttle bus. The shuttle bus fare is 10 yuan per trip, or 20 yuan for unlimited rides all day.
2️⃣To learn about the ancient city’s performance activities, search the mini-program "Yanguan Tide Music City" to check the day’s event schedule and specific times.
3️⃣In the Jiangnan water town, you must take a swaying oar boat once. Gently drifting between small bridges and flowing water is the proper way to experience Jiangnan!