Yancheng

Yancheng is a coastal prefecture-level city in northeastern Jiangsu, China, about 33 minutes from Huai'an by high-speed train, making it one of the quickest day trips from the city. The name means salt city, a reference to the area's long history of salt production along the Yellow Sea coast. The coastline is known for its tidal flats, which form part of the Yancheng wetlands, a World Heritage-listed stretch of the Yellow Sea migratory bird habitat, and for reserves associated with the red-crowned crane and the Pere David's deer (milu). Visitors interested in nature can combine the city with the coastal wetland reserves, though these sit some distance from the centre and need a taxi, DiDi or tour. The trip itself is simple. Trains run from Huai'an East to Yancheng in about 32-33 minutes, with second-class fares around ¥39-49 (about $5.50-7); book on 12306 or Trip.com. Intercity coaches from Huai'an Central Bus Station are an alternative but slower. A one-day arc leaves Huai'an in the morning, reaches Yancheng by mid-morning and spends the first half of the day on the city's museums and old streets or heads straight out to the wetlands by car. Lunch can feature seafood and local specialities such as lake and sea produce. The afternoon is for the coast or a lakeside walk before an early evening train. The best windows are April to June, when the weather is mild, and September to November, when migratory birds begin to arrive and skies clear. Winter is cold and damp, and summer is hot. Because the wetlands are distant from the station, building the day around a single focus is more realistic than trying to cover everything.