Yangzhou's most well-known scenic venue is the Slender West Lake, a narrow stretch of water in western portion of the city. A favorite retreat of the Qing emperor Qian Long, Slender West Lake is surrounded by weeping willows and various other attrations: Lotus Flower Pagoda (Lianhua), Small Gold Mountain (Xiao Jin Shan); and the Fishing Platform (Diaoyutai). As the legend goes, emperor was so gratified by his luck in fishing at this spot that he ordered additional stipends for the town. more >>

The Yangzhou Museum is located inside the 1,500-year-old Tianning Temple. The predecessor of the Museum is Relics Museum founded in 1951. It was renamed "Yangzhou Museum" in 1953. The former site of the Museum was inside the Memorial Temple of Shigong and it was moved to the new site. There are 15,000 cultural relics, including The David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus) fossil, which is the best-preserved of its kind in China, with a history of more than 10,000 years. The main exhibits are displayed in the second main hall, and show the history of Yangzhou from the Neolithic Age (20,000BP) right through to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), most impressively the history of the three "golden" ages: the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, and the Qing Dynasty. more >>

Situated in a northwestern Yangzhou within the pleasant green northern reaches of Shou Xihu Park, Daming Si has been drawing Buddhist worshippers since the fifth century AD, though much of what you'll see today has been built in more recent times, as this active temple has been expanded. The temple grounds are extensive, encompassing a Memorial Hall to Buddhist monk Jian Zhen, believed to have been the one who brought the faith to Japan, along with a Japanese-style pagoda commemorating Jian's legendary achievement.  In addition, the Fifth Spring Under Heaven bubbles up north of the main complex, surrounded by beautifully kept gardens and overlooked by a teahouse that uses fresh spring water and local leaves for its excellent teas. Other notable structures include Pingshan Hall, associated with Song Dynasty poet Ouyang Xiu, and Gulin Hall, built by poet, cal... more >>

Located just outside Jiangyan City (Jiāngyàn Shì, 姜堰市), Qin Lake (Qín Hú, 秦湖) is a tranquil national wetland park made up of several interconnected lakes and a marsh. Among the flora and fauna in the park are cranes and Père David’s Deer (mílù, 麋鹿), a Chinese deer driven to extinction outside captivity during the decline of the Qing Dynasty. Like Yangcheng Lake near Suzhou, it’s also known for its hairy crabs (dàzhá xiè, 大闸蟹). Qin Lake crabs are said to be more muscular, owing to the lake’s distance from the Yangtze River where the crabs spawn. They are served boiled whole, which means a bit of work to get to the meat and roe, with vinegar for dipping. Jiangsu guide | Yangzhou guide | Yangzhou attractions Yangzhou flights (Nanjing) | Jiangyan hotels Yangzhou on the China Travel Blog more >>