Yangzhou (扬州) is a Jiangsu canal city on the north bank of the Yangtze, about 90-120 minutes by rail from Shanghai and 30-60 minutes from Nanjing. It is known for Slender West Lake, private gardens, the Grand Canal and Huaiyang cuisine.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Yangzhou lacquerware (扬州漆器)
Inlaid and carved lacquer boxes, trays and screens, a Yangzhou craft tradition
Price: CNY 50-5,000 (approx USD 7-700)
Where: Dongguan Street craft shops
Yangzhou jade carving (扬州玉雕)
Carved jade pendants and ornaments in a regional style
Price: CNY 100-10,000 (approx USD 14-1,400)
Where: Dongguan Street craft shops; compare several stalls
Xie Fuchun scented powder and creams (谢馥春)
Heritage cosmetics brand founded in 1830, sold in decorated tins
Price: CNY 20-300 (approx USD 3-42)
Where: Xie Fuchun shop, Dongguan Street
Sanhe Simei pickles (三和四美酱菜)
Time-honoured Yangzhou pickled vegetables and sauces in gift packs
Price: CNY 15-120 (approx USD 2-17)
Where: Sanhe Simei shop, Dongguan Street
Paper-cuts and lanterns (剪纸, 灯彩)
Hand-cut paper art and lantern models; Yangzhou's paper-cut tradition is regionally known
Price: CNY 10-300 (approx USD 1.5-42)
Where: Dongguan Street stalls
Yangzhou pastries and tea (扬州点心, 绿杨春茶)
Boxed pastries and local green tea from teahouse retail counters
Price: CNY 30-200 (approx USD 4-28)
Where: Fuchun and Yechun teahouse counters
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Dongguan Street
Pedestrianised Ming-Qing street with craft shops, teahouses and snack stalls running to the Grand Canal.
Where: Dongguan Street historic district
Hours: Daily approx. 8:30AM-10PM
Pishi Street and He Garden Area
Quieter lanes beside Dongguan Street with local shops and snack houses.
Where: Pishi Street
Hours: Daily approx. 8AM-9PM
Guoqing Road and Wenchang Pavilion Shopping Belt
City-centre retail belt of Guoqing Road and Wenchang Middle Road with brand stores and department stores.
Where: Wenchang Pavilion area
Hours: Daily approx. 10AM-9:30PM
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Dongguan Street and Pishi Street
Heritage craft and food-gift area beside the Grand Canal
Guoqing Road and Wenchang Pavilion
Central retail belt with department stores and local brands
Hanjiang District Wanda Plaza
Modern mall with international brands and cinema
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Yangzhou Wanda Plaza
Large modern mall with international and domestic brands, restaurants and a cinema in Hanjiang District.
Hours: Daily approx. 10AM-10PM
Jinghua City Shopping Mall
Central shopping mall on Wenchang Middle Road near Wenchang Pavilion.
Hours: Daily approx. 10AM-9:30PM
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is possible at souvenir stalls on Dongguan Street, but not in malls or brand shops
Start at about half the first price and settle around 60-70 percent
Compare jade and lacquer prices at several shops before buying
Pay by Alipay or WeChat Pay; cash is accepted but many stalls prefer QR codes
Ask for a receipt for jade or lacquer items over CNY 500
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Shops open around 9-10AM and close around 9-10PM, Tax refunds are mostly limited to major malls; ask at the mall service desk, Prices are in CNY; 1 USD is about 7.10 CNY