Yangzhou
扬州"The Refined Garden City"
Li Bai wrote 'In the third month of smoke and flowers, go down to Yangzhou.' For over 1,000 years, Yangzhou was China's wealthiest and most cultured city — a center of salt trade, garden design, lacquerware, and the refined lifestyle of the literati class.
Li Bai wrote 'In the third month of smoke and flowers, go down to Yangzhou.' For over 1,000 years, Yangzhou was China's wealthiest and most cultured city — a center of salt trade, garden design, lacquerware, and the refined lifestyle of the literati class.
Cultural Spots in Yangzhou
Insider knowledge, must-do experiences, and the stories behind each place.
About This Place
Dongguan Street is Yangzhou's most authentic historical street, stretching nearly 1.1km through the heart of the old city. Dating back to the Tang Dynasty, it was the city's main commercial artery during Yangzhou's golden age as China's wealthiest city. The street is lined with Qing Dynasty merchant houses, guild halls, and residences — each with carved wooden screens and stone-paved courtyards. Over 50 historical buildings survive intact, including the Fan residence nearby and several salt merchant mansions.
Walk the full length of the street in the morning before tourist crowds arrive. The best-preserved section is in the middle — look for the wooden shop fronts with original carved panels. The Xu Ningbo Guild Hall inside is extraordinary. Try the Yangzhou traditional sweets from century-old shops — particularly the sesame candy and osmanthus cake.
Walk the entire street end-to-end. Enter at least one of the restored merchant houses to see the courtyard layout. Buy traditional Yangzhou sweets from authentic century-old vendors. Find the stone tablet marking the ancient Tang Dynasty gateway.
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