Name: Yangzhou

Chinese Name: 扬州

Province: Jiangsu

Status: Prefecture-level city

Population: 1,125,200

Area: 6,634 km²

Yangzhou is a charming and vibrant city in Jiangsu province. Crisscrossed by tree-lined avenues and waterways, the city is primarily navigated by bicycles and two-wheeled vehicles, accentuating its appeal as a quintessential Chinese city.

History

Since ancient times, Yangzhou has been a premier economic and cultural hub as well as a vital port for foreign trade and commerce along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Under Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty (604–617), Yangzhou served as the capital of southern China. The city was known as Jiangdu until the end of the Sui Dynasty.

Located just 70 km from Nanjing, Yangzhou was indeed a major commercial center for salt trade.

Today

Yangzhou makes for a delightful stopover following visits to major cities such as Nanjing and Suzhou.

Its wide avenues, tree-lined gardens, and modern architecture create a captivating atmosphere in a city that has developed thoughtfully. Calm and relatively clean, it's a pleasure to explore by bicycle or motorbike. You'll enjoy wandering on foot through the streets or along the river.

The most visited sites are Slender West Lake, as well as the city's historic residences such as Wang Residence and Daming Temple. Yangzhou, renowned for its distinctively styled gardens, offers the perfect opportunity to stroll through verdant spaces and enjoy the tranquility of nature.

Slender West Lake Park is the city's premier scenic attraction, and rightfully so. Bordered by willows, small pavilions and gardens, the lake bears striking resemblance to West Lake in Hangzhou. Flowering gardens are adorned with small ponds crossed by charming bridges. The winding pathways around the lake lead to several kiosks and pavilions where you can rest in peaceful solitude. Continue to Daming Temple, a Buddhist center of significance for centuries, for a glimpse into history.

Other gardens worth exploring include the Ge Garden and the He Garden, both exceptionally well-maintained.

Climate

Yangzhou experiences a subtropical monsoon climate with shifting, humid winds. Winters are quite long, cold and damp. Summers are short, hot and rainy.

The average annual temperature in Yangzhou is 15°C. The average temperature in the warmest month, July, reaches 27.6°C, while the coldest month, January, averages 1.7°C.

Rainy season extends from mid-June to late July. The best time to visit Yangzhou is April, May, September and October.

Air

Since 2012, Yangzhou has had its own airport located in Jiangdu District. Flights operate from major cities across China: Guangzhou, Chengdu, Beijing, Harbin, Haikou, Xi'an, Xiamen, Tianjin, and others.

Flights to Taipei and Bangkok are also regularly available.

Train

The relatively modern railway station (2003) sits on the major Shanghai line and is served by trains from Beijing and Guangzhou. It's also possible to reach Yangzhou from Nanjing, Zhenjiang and Wuxi.

Bus

The long-distance bus station is connected to Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou. Buses from Nanjing and Zhenjiang arrive at the West Bus Station.

Public buses are reliable and affordable, though most cease operations around 6 p.m.

Taxis are a good option for evening travel.

It's also possible to rent bicycles or travel by tuk-tuk.

What to Do in Yangzhou?

• Spend a day among nature at Slender West Lake Park.
• Pause for a moment at Daming Temple.
• Visit the beautiful Ge and He Gardens.
• Wander on foot or by bicycle through the tree-lined avenues and browse local shops for some shopping.