Emperor Qianlong Visited Here Six Times! Thrilling Experiences at the Qiantang River

"The saying that the tidal bore on the eighteenth day of the eighth lunar month is the most spectacular in the world is truly accurate!" Sitting on a sculling boat looking up at the ancient city wall, I finally understood the surging emotions in Su Shi's poetry. This hidden gem, where Emperor Qianlong stayed four times during his six southern tours, is home to the Qiantang River tidal bore—one of the world's three great tidal phenomena—and preserves the time-honored secrets of an ancient town with a thousand-year history... 🚣♀️【Three Ways to Glide into the Ink-Wash Landscape of Jiangnan】 1️⃣Morning Mist Boat Ride: At 6:30am, rent a traditional black-awning boat at Gongchen Gate Dock (120 yuan/boat) and glide through three ancient bridges in the morning light, watching the black-tiled, white-walled houses along both banks gradually awaken 2️⃣Pre-Tide Cycling: Rent a bike for 9 yuan and follow the Wengjin Line Greenway to chase the tide (the Old Salt Warehouse return tide section is recommended) 3️⃣Night Exploration: After 7:00pm, take a lantern-lit stroll along North Street—the bluestone slabs tell stories in the moonlight 📸【7 Magical Photo Spots】 ❶Yanguan Tide Wall (navigate to the Visitor Center) The giant tide observation instrument against the ancient city wall creates a magical collision—enter cyberpunk mode during the blue hour ❷Sea God Temple Ceremonial Gate (30 yuan entrance fee) Stand on the third step looking up to capture the "Forbidden City of Jiangnan" carved from 99 pieces of white marble ❸Red Wall of Confucius Temple (free) At 4pm on autumn afternoons, ginkgo leaves fall on palace walls identical to those in the Forbidden City ❹Ancient Pine at Chen Official's Residence (included in combo ticket) A 370-year-old tree in the courtyard of the five-section compound, its shadow telling the Chen family history ❺Music House Dome (B1 of The Lead Singer Hotel) Stand under the sound wave installation for silhouette shots, as if conducting a cosmic symphony ❻Stone Railings at Tide-Viewing Platform (secure spot 2 hours early) Use a telephoto lens to capture the moment when the tide crashes against the embankment—waves blooming like snow lotuses in your lens ❼Window Lattice at Wang Guowei's Former Residence (closed Mondays) The carved wooden window frames the back garden, hiding metaphors for the "Three Realms of Life" 🎫【Tested Value-for-Money Itinerary】 Day 1: Morning photography at the tide wall → Historical tour of Chen Official's Residence → Explore the Sea God Temple's flying eaves → Hanfu experience at the Imperial Dock → Wait for the crossing tide at Tide-Viewing Park (around 11:30am) Day 2: Trace martial arts legends at Jin Yong Book House → Pray for blessings at Confucius Temple → Afternoon tea at The Lead Singer Hotel → Night tour of the Music Museum 🍜【Emperor Qianlong's Favorite Food Map】 ✔️Yanjing Cake: Freshly steamed "Qianlong Step Cake" at 67 North Street, with flowing date paste filling when bitten ✔️River Fresh Noodles: At 12 Tide-Viewing Road, milky-white broth made from white bait fish caught after the tide ✔️Jar Meat Feast: At Yushen Restaurant on Chunxi Road, Dongpo pork—the ancestor of braised pork—simmered in clay pots for 6 hours ✔️Ball King Banquet: Secret menu item at Prime Minister's Mansion Hotel, miraculous fish balls whipped into cloud-like texture 🌙【Staying in a Sound Museum】 The "Lead Singer Music Resort Hotel" I stayed at was amazing! The lobby features an installation of 7,000 musical notes, and B1 houses an acoustic lab where you can hear the heartbeat of the Qiantang River. Most incredible is the starry sky pool—at night, lying by the poolside, you can hear the whispers of the ancient sea wall stones 20 meters underground... ⚠️【Tidal Bore Observation Guide】 ▪Check the agricultural tide table on "Yanguan Tourism" in advance, recommended around the 3rd/18th day of the lunar month ▪Crossing tides (main tide + return tide) occur only about 40 times per year ▪Keep a safe distance of 50 meters! Last year, a livestreamer standing at the bottom of the embankment was nearly swept away ▪Prepare waterproof bags + change of clothes, the tide mist is fiercer than you imagine Standing before the white marble imperial pavilion where Emperor Qianlong once watched the tide, I suddenly understood his obsession with returning to Jiangnan six times—when the 20-meter-high tide wall surges forward like thousands of galloping horses, that soul-stirring awe is truly worth chasing for a lifetime!