1.5 Hours from Tianjin to Step into a Poetic Spring 🌸

#discoverchina "Do you know? Should it not be lush green and fading red?" Just 1.5 hours from Tianjin, I found myself in Zhangqiu, the hometown of poet Li Qingzhao, walking into the very verses of springtime poetry. 🌿🪷 📍 Trip Summary: 2 Days 1 Night | Mingshui Ancient City Spring Escape 💡 Complete guide with travel, itinerary, photo spots & food recs! 🚄 Transportation Tianjin → Zhangqiu: 08:10 - 09:46 Zhangqiu → Tianjin: 16:42 - 18:33 From Zhangqiu train station, it’s a quick 10-minute ride by taxi to the scenic area. 🌟 Highlights Traditional Chinese architecture with flowing water everywhere Intangible heritage workshops Early morning local market Immersive poetry performances Spring scenery straight out of an ink painting Local food galore Epic nighttime fountain show 🧭 Itinerary Overview Day 1 Visitor Center → City Wall → Hongsheng Cloth Workshop Huxian Street → Meihua Spring → Li Qingzhao Former Residence Longquan Temple → Moquan (Ink Spring) Drone Light Show → Fountain “Spring Elegance” Performance Day 2 Morning Market by the Springs (Zaojiu Ji) Mingshui Main Street → Yian Poetry Show Mengjia Opera House (local theater) Braised Pork Restaurant → Lotus Banquet Dock → Boat Ride 🧱 City Wall Views From the top, the view is vast—I felt power and peace all at once. Don’t miss the poetry kite exhibition and even try your hand at DIY kite-making at the academy nearby. “Seize the east wind and fly your dreams.” 🎏 ☀️ Zaojiu Ji: Morning Market by the Water Open 7:00–9:00am. Sit beside the springs, sip tea, eat breakfast, and watch traditional performances. I devoured pancakes, tofu pudding, lamb soup, and mini dumplings—ate like a local, loved every bite! 🥣 🎭 Mingshui Main Street A lively street full of handicraft shops and NPC interactions—you never know when a costumed character will show up! 📜 Li Qingzhao’s Residence A must-visit for poetry lovers. She was not just a literary genius but also a bold and passionate soul. Her old home sits beside Shuyu Spring and Meihua Spring, and you might even run into an NPC version of her reciting poetry. 🖤 Moquan (Ink Spring) This spring literally looks like ink—deep, dark, and flowing strong. There’s a spot nearby to sip tea made from the spring water. 🌊🍵 🎤 Yian Poetry Show Live poetry slam, Chinese style. Hear ancient verses come to life with elegance and emotion. 🚣 Boat Ride Classic Jiangnan-style paddle boat, floating under stone bridges and past willows and peach blossoms—this is what spring dreams look like. 🌸🏞️ 🎨 Intangible Heritage Experiences Try your hand at leaf carving, hairpin-making, lacquer fans, archery, and pitch-pot games. 🌟 Spring Elegance Show A 20-minute sound, light, and water spectacle with fire effects, immersive music, and live dance. One word: epic. Hotel guests get access to a private viewing area. #thingstodo #travel