Slender West Lake (瘦西湖)
A narrow, willow-lined lake garden in the northwest of the old city, laid out by salt merchants and Qing emperors and the city's best-known scenic area.
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About Yangzhou
Yangzhou sits where the Grand Canal meets the Yangtze River, about 100 km east of Nanjing and 250 km west of Shanghai. A prosperous salt-merchant city under the Ming and Qing, it kept a wealth of gardens, teahouses and canal lanes: Slender West Lake (瘦西湖), Geyuan Garden (个园), He Garden (何园) and the Dongguan Street (东关街) quarter. The city is compact, and the old quarter, lake and temples are all reachable by taxi or Didi in 10-25 minutes. Huaiyang cuisine, one of the Eight Great Cuisines, is the draw for food travellers. Alipay and WeChat Pay work for foreign visitors once linked to an overseas card.
- Capital
- Nanjing (provincial capital of Jiangsu)
- Largest city
- Yangzhou (prefecture-level city)
- Population
- ~4.6 million (prefecture-level city, 2020 census)
- Languages
- Mandarin Chinese, Yangzhou dialect (Jianghuai Mandarin)
- Currency
- Chinese Yuan (CNY, ¥)
- Time zone
- China Standard Time (UTC+8)
Explore Yangzhou by topic
Jump straight to the experience you're planning.
Best places to visit in Yangzhou
The 16 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.
Daming Temple (大明寺)
A Buddhist temple on Shugang hill founded in the 5th century, where the monk Jianzhen taught before sailing to Japan, with Pingshan Hall and long views.
Geyuan Garden (个园)
A Qing salt-merchant garden famed for its four rockery 'seasons' around a bamboo grove, one of China's four great historic gardens.
He Garden (何园)
The Qing-era Jixiao Mountain Villa of the diplomat He Zhidao, notable for its two-storey covered corridor and its mix of Chinese and Western architecture.
Dongguan Street (东关街)
A restored 1.1 km stone-paved street of Ming and Qing shops, tea houses and snack stalls running from the Dongguan Gate to the Grand Canal.
China Grand Canal Museum (中国大运河博物馆)
A national museum opened in 2021 beside the Three Bends section of the canal, telling the history of the 2,500-year-old Grand Canal.
Recommended itineraries
Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.
5-Day Yangzhou Explorer
- Day 1Arrive in Yangzhou, explore city center
- Day 2Visit top attractions and museums
- Day 3Day trip to nearby highlights
- Day 4Local markets and hidden gems
- Day 5Final sightseeing, departure
7-Day Classic Yangzhou
- Days 1-2Yangzhou city highlights
- Days 3-4Regional exploration
- Days 5-6Cultural immersion and local experiences
- Day 7Return and departure
14-Day Ultimate Yangzhou
- Days 1-3Yangzhou comprehensive city tour
- Days 4-6Northern region exploration
- Days 7-9Eastern highlights
- Days 10-12Southern attractions
- Days 13-14Return to Yangzhou, departure
Where to stay in Yangzhou
Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.
Budget CNY 270 (~$38)
Hostels, budget hotels, and guesthouses offer affordable stays without sacrificing experience.
Mid-range CNY 700 (~$99)
Boutique hotels and well-located accommodations provide comfort and convenience at reasonable prices.
Luxury CNY 1,800+ (~$254+)
World-class resorts and premium hotels deliver unforgettable experiences.
Shangri-La Yangzhou
Five-star Shangri-La hotel with a garden setting, a Huaiyang and Cantonese restaurant (Shang Palace), a buffet restaurant (Cafe Xiu), a pool and a spa. Located at West Wenchang Road, Hanjiang; rates around CNY 900-1,800 (~$127-254).
Check rates on Booking.comCrowne Plaza Yangzhou
IHG upscale hotel on Wenchang Road in the central business district. Located at East Wenchang Road, Guangling; rates around CNY 550-1,100 (~$77-155).
Check rates on Booking.comYangzhou Jinling Hotel
Upscale hotel of the Jinling Hotels group on West Wenchang Road. Located at West Wenchang Road; rates around CNY 450-900 (~$63-127).
Check rates on Booking.comSlender West Lake Hot Spring Resort
Resort hotel with hot-spring bathing beside the east gate of Slender West Lake. Located at Changchun Road, Slender West Lake; rates around CNY 500-1,000 (~$70-141).
Check rates on Booking.comWhere to eat in Yangzhou
Cafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.
Fuchun Teahouse (富春茶社)
Yangzhou's most famous teahouse, founded in 1885, serving dim sum, dasi ganzhi and crab-roe soup dumplings.
Yechun Teahouse, Yumatou Branch (冶春茶社 御马头店)
Garden teahouse near the Wenchang Pavilion area known for Huaiyang pastries, thin noodles and dumplings.
Cai Gen Xiang Xiao Guan (菜根香小馆)
Michelin Bib Gourmand Huaiyang kitchen known for salted goose, soft-pocket eel and lion's head meatballs.
Hu Yuan Mei Shi
No-frills Michelin-listed Huaiyang home-style restaurant serving affordable classics for over 20 years.
Shuang Dong (Wenchang Middle Road)
Popular Michelin Bib Gourmand Huaiyang restaurant with a wide menu of well-made local dishes.
Shiweitian (食为天)
Long-standing local favourite known for its crab-meat lion's head meatball.
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Getting around Yangzhou
Yangzhou sits on the Yangtze River and Grand Canal and is linked by high-speed rail to Nanjing (about 50-70 minutes), Zhenjiang (about 25 minutes) and Shanghai Hongqiao (about 2 hours). The city has no metro as of this guide; local travel is by bus, taxi, Didi and bike.
Budget breakdown
Daily spend by tier in CNY, broken out by category.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | CNY 130 (~$18) | CNY 350 (~$49) | CNY 1,100 (~$155) |
| Food (per day) | CNY 70 (~$10) | CNY 170 (~$24) | CNY 400 (~$56) |
| Transportation | CNY 25 (~$3.50) | CNY 60 (~$8.50) | CNY 120 (~$17) |
| Activities | CNY 45 (~$6) | CNY 120 (~$17) | CNY 180 (~$25) |
| Daily total | CNY 270 (~$38) | CNY 700 (~$99) | CNY 1,800+ (~$254+) |
Best time to visit Yangzhou
Weather through the year in Yangzhou
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C.
Yangzhou has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. Spring and autumn are most comfortable; summers are hot and humid with plum rain in June-July, and winters are cold and damp.
Willows and spring flowers peak along Slender West Lake in April; autumn colour arrives in late October to November.
Essential travel tips
- Buy tickets for Slender West Lake and the gardens on WeChat or Trip.com with a passport number
- Use Didi between sights; the old city is walkable, but the lake is a 10-20 minute ride
- Visit Slender West Lake in April for willows and blossom and arrive at opening time
- Link an international card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before arriving
- Book high-speed trains on Trip.com or 12306 and keep the passport on hand
Safety information
Yangzhou is a safe, orderly Yangtze River Delta city; violent crime against visitors is rare and streets are busy until late.
Keep phones and wallets zipped when travelling on crowded buses and at Dongguan Street at weekends.
Install Alipay (TourCard) or WeChat Pay and Didi before arrival; link a foreign card.
Carry your passport; hotels and trains require it.
Use official taxis or Didi; refuse unlicensed car offers at stations.
Drink bottled or boiled water; eat freshly cooked food.
Electric scooters and bikes use pavements; look both ways.
Save emergency numbers 110, 120, 119 and the Chinese-script address of the hotel.
Register at the hotel; the police require foreign guests to be registered.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Yangzhou from Shanghai?
High-speed trains from Shanghai Hongqiao take about 1.5-2 hours and cost about CNY 150-190 (~$21-27). Book on Trip.com or the 12306 app with a passport.
How many days do I need in Yangzhou?
Two days cover Slender West Lake, Geyuan Garden, He Garden, Dongguan Street and Daming Temple; add a third for Yangzhou Museum and day trips.
When is the best time to visit Yangzhou?
March to May and September to November. April brings willow and blossom around Slender West Lake.
Do I need a visa to visit Yangzhou?
It depends on nationality. Many countries have visa-free entry for short stays, and the 240-hour transit policy applies with an onward ticket. Check the National Immigration Administration site or the nearest Chinese embassy before travelling.