Central Jiangsu

Yangzhou, Taizhou and Nantong, between the Yangtze and the Huai: canal cities, Huaiyang morning tea and water-town flower fields, ideal for a slow-paced cultural trip.

Central Jiangsu is one of the three official regions of Jiangsu, located north of the Yangtze and south of the Huai River. It includes three prefecture-level cities, Yangzhou, Taizhou and Nantong, with counties and county-level cities such as Xinghua, Gaoyou and Rugao falling under their respective cities. This is where Huaiyang culture meets river-and-sea culture. Yangzhou is a canal city; the Slender West Lake, Geyuan Garden, He Garden, Daming Temple and Dongguan Street make up a refined garden city, and a Huaiyang morning tea in the early hours is almost a must; Gaoyou has the Yucheng Post Station and lake views. Taizhou's old town has the Fengcheng River and the Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall, and the Qianduo rapeseed fields in Xinghua, under its administration, bloom around Qingming, creating a unique water-borne flower landscape, while the Qinhu Wetland is best seen by boat. Nantong's old town is encircled by the Haohe River, Langshan Hill offers distant views of the Yangtze, the Nantong Museum is a representative of China's early museums, and Shuihui Garden in Rugao is a famed traditional garden. A classic itinerary is two days in Yangzhou plus one day in Xinghua, Taizhou and one day in Nantong, for three to five days in total. For transport, Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport and Nantong Xingdong International Airport serve major cities across China, and railways such as the Lianyungang–Huai'an–Yangzhou–Zhenjiang, Nanjing–Qidong, Yancheng–Nantong and Shanghai–Suzhou–Nantong lines connect the three cities with Nanjing and Shanghai, while Yangtze bridges and river crossings make self-driving very convenient. Spring and autumn are best; summers are muggy and rainy, so take rain gear during the plum-rain season; during the rapeseed flower festival and the "misty third month" season, Yangzhou and Xinghua are busy with visitors, so book accommodation in advance.

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