Taierzhuang Ancient City (台儿庄古城)

Taierzhuang Ancient City is a canal town on the Grand Canal in Taierzhuang District, Zaozhuang, Shandong, China. It was largely destroyed during the 1938 Battle of Taierzhuang against Japanese forces, a Chinese victory that boosted morale early in the war, and was rebuilt in the 2000s in the style of traditional canal towns, mixing northern and southern architecture. The site covers a large area of waterways, stone bridges, tiled-roof houses, courtyards and temples. Visitors can walk the lanes, ride boats along the canal, visit museums covering the battle and the history of the Grand Canal, and browse shops selling local crafts and snacks. In the evening, lanterns and lighting illuminate the canal, making it the most popular time for boat rides and photographs, while daytime is quieter and better for the museums. Day entry is about CNY 100, with evening boat rides charged separately, and opening hours run from about 8:00AM to 9:30PM. A visit usually takes three to four hours, and many people stay into the evening. Weekends and holidays are busy, so weekday visits are calmer. Photographers work along the canal bridges, the reflections of lanterns on the water and the row of old-style houses. Because the town is a reconstruction, some visitors find it commercial, but it gives a useful picture of Grand Canal culture and wartime history. The town is reached by high-speed rail to Zaozhuang, then a bus or taxi of about 40 minutes.