[2025 Taizhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Meiyuan (Plum Garden) along Fengchanghe River (Updated Jun)

I've always wanted to check out the rapeseed flowers in the paddy fields of Xinghua, Taizhou, so I took the chance to visit Taizhou and nearby Changzhou for a five-day spring tour in Jiangnan. Day 1: Beijing - Changzhou, Museum, Qingguo Lane The Wenpu Hotel in Changzhou is amazing, with a great location. The building itself is a scenic spot, and the facilities and management are excellent. The breakfast even includes local snacks. Nearby is the old-chain Yinsi Noodle Restaurant, where the sweet and sour pork ribs have a strong Jiangnan flavor. At the Changzhou Museum, the town’s treasure, a Southern Song Dynasty vermilion lacquered makeup box, was surprisingly not on display, so I bought a fridge magnet as a consolation. However, other artifacts in the museum are also worth seeing. Qingguo Lane, known as the first lane of Jiangnan literati, has many attractions inside. The shops are lively, offering shrimp cakes, sesame cakes, tofu pudding, hairtail fish wontons, and a variety of snacks. You can easily spend half a day wandering here. Day 2: Tianning Temple, Dongpo Garden, Baolin Zen Temple, Banshan Bookstore At Hongmei Garden and Tianning Temple, unfortunately, the red plum blossoms had already withered, but Tianning Temple was bustling with incense offerings. Walking along the river to Dongpo Garden, the purple bauhinia flowers were in full bloom by the roadside. Dongpo Garden is built on an urban oasis, with a quiet and elegant garden. After 2 p.m., many famous restaurants were closed, so I went to a very small private kitchen. The sweet and sour fish was delicious, and they even had dishes like stir-fried garlic sprouts with broad beans. At Baolin Zen Temple, I hoped to catch the late cherry blossoms but was too late, so I just took a photo of a large pineapple. The popular Banshan Bookstore was really mediocre, just a wall of books, not worth a special visit. Most books were sealed and not allowed to be read, which was baffling. Day 3: Taizhou Qiao Garden, Plum Garden, Old Street Driving to Taizhou, Qiao Garden, praised by Chen Congzhou as "the first garden on the left of the Huai River," is a hidden gem in the garden world. It is low-key and luxurious, with every glance like an unfolding painting. Plum Garden was built to commemorate the art master Mei Lanfang. I ate at an old Taizhou cuisine intangible cultural heritage restaurant, trying white sauce pufferfish and crab roe tofu, which were not too impressive. Strolled around the old street, right next to Taoyuan, but there was nothing particularly new to see. The old tea house Haitangchun was less crowded in the afternoon, so I had an early evening tea there. The buns were exquisite, the fish soup noodles fresh, and the fried stinky tofu tasty. Day 4: Xinghua Duotian Rapeseed Flowers, Water Forest A day tour in Xinghua: you can buy a combined ticket for the paddy field rapeseed flowers and the Li Zhong Water Forest, which includes boat and bamboo raft rides, making it quite cost-effective. The rapeseed flowers are very photogenic, and the water forest is even more beautiful, like entering a fairyland. In Xinghua city, I visited the former residence of Zheng Banqiao, a very small courtyard next to the Zhuangyuan Square. I ate at a local restaurant with home-style meatballs, eel, and tiger shark, all very fresh. It is said that Xinghua’s morning tea is also delicious. Day 5: Taizhou Morning Tea, Taizhou Museum, Liuyuan I went to Huibinlou for morning tea, recommended by the hotel staff. It was not crowded, the environment was comfortable, and it felt a bit like Cantonese morning tea. The buns were bigger than those at Haitangchun, and the lotus root starch balls were very distinctive. A tour of Taizhou Museum showed the tomb of the Ming Dynasty couple Xu Fan and his wife, exhibiting two complete mummies that are lifelike. Finally, I took a walk in Liuyuan opposite the hotel, which houses the Liu Jingtian Storytelling and Talk Museum, focusing on collecting various materials in this field, which was quite interesting. In the evening, I took the train back to Beijing. In five days, I checked off two Jiangnan cities, enjoying full spring gardens, rural scenery, regional culture, local cuisine, and fresh fish, truly a joyful experience. April 2025

🌟 Day 1: A Double Dose of Culture and Nature Morning: Mei Lanfang Park 📍 Address: No. 90 Yingchun East Road, Hailing District 🎫 Tickets: Free (ID card required) ⏰ Opening hours: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm ✅ Must-do: - Take a photo with the white marble statue of Mei Lanfang and experience the charm of the Peking Opera master. - Enjoy the free Kunqu Opera performance at 10:00 am and immerse yourself in excerpts from *The Peony Pavilion*. - Capture the perfect shot at the Plum Pavilion, a pentagonal plum blossom structure featuring carvings of scenes from *The Drunken Beauty*. Afternoon: Li Zhong Water Forest 📍 Address: East of Shunchuan Road, Lizhong Town, Xinghua City 🎫 Tickets: ¥50 (includes ¥40 for the wooden raft ride) ⏰ Opening hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm ✅ Must-do: - Mist Forest Wonderland (one show in the morning and one in the evening): Take a wooden raft through the metasequoia forest and capture stunning photos with the Tyndall effect and water reflections, reminiscent of *Princess Mononoke*. - 3.5 km wooden boardwalk: Overlook the S-shaped waterway from the "Cloud-walking Bridge" and find the iconic crooked-neck tree in the "Confused Forest." - Red Cream Wooden House Fishing Village: Enjoy freshly caught Xinghua hairy crabs. We recommend the "Three Ways to Eat Crab" (crab roe soup dumplings + steamed crab legs + spicy crab shell). Evening: Taizhou Old Street 📍 Address: Yingchun East Road, Hailing District ✅ Must-do: - Morning Tea Museum: Learn about Taizhou's "morning tea" culture and try the shredded dried tofu (thinly sliced like hair) and crab roe soup dumplings (thin skin and rich filling). - Intangible cultural heritage performances: Watch the Jiang-style noodle-making and dried tofu shredding performances while enjoying your meal. - Accommodation recommendation: Stay at the "Morning Tea Teahouse" in the Old Street, with its antique, Republican-style rooms, and enjoy morning tea right after waking up. 🌟 Day 2: The Ultimate Romance of Wetlands and Water Towns Morning: Qin Lake National Wetland Park 📍 Address: Zhentong Town, Jiangyan District 🎫 Tickets: ¥80 (includes boat tour) ⏰ Opening hours: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm ✅ Must-do: - Birdwatcher's paradise: April is the peak migration season for geese and ducks. Take a boat tour to watch black swans and egrets in flight. - Qin Lake Waterfowl Park: Feed the geese from the boardwalk and spot the Baer's pochard (a national first-class protected animal). - Science Museum: Watch a 3D documentary about wetland ecology. Kids will love the immersive "Hundred Magpies Returning to Their Nests" scene. Afternoon: Fengcheng River Scenic Area 📍 Address: Along Fengcheng River, Hailing District 🎫 Tickets: Free (night cruise ticket ¥80) ⏰ Opening hours: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm (night cruise 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm) ✅ Must-do: - Wanghai Tower: Climb the tower for a panoramic view of Fengcheng River and enjoy the night light show at the "First Tower of Jianghuai." - Peach Garden: Visit the ruins of Chen An, where Kong Shangren wrote *The Peach Blossom Fan*, and admire the blooming peach blossoms in April. - Night cruise: Enjoy a 40-minute cruise through the illuminated tunnel, listen to Pingtan *Scenes of Qinhuai*, and experience the thousand-year-old charm of "the state established in the Southern Tang Dynasty." 🚗 Transportation and Food Tips - Transportation: Rent a car at Taizhou Station (around ¥150 per day). Li Zhong Water Forest and Qin Lake Wetland are about an hour's drive from the city center. - Food map: - Morning tea: Gu Yue Lou (Old Street branch) for rice straw and pork dumplings and fish soup noodles. - Lunch/Dinner: Qin Lake Eight Delicacies Restaurant for mitten crabs and fish balls (around ¥60 per person). - Snacks: "Huangqiao sesame cakes" (Long Hu Dou flavor) and "Taizhou stinky tofu" (crispy outside, tender inside) from the Old Street. 💡 Travel Tips - The temperature in Taizhou in April ranges from 15-25°C. We recommend wearing a light jacket and a floral dress for photos. - The best time to photograph the mist forest at Li Zhong Water Forest is before 9:00 am (fewer people and thicker fog). - The best birdwatching spot at Qin Lake Wetland is the "Birdwatching House" on the west side of the Waterfowl Park, where binoculars are available for free. - Arrive early for morning tea in Taizhou, preferably before 6:30 am, to avoid the tour group rush. Taizhou, an underrated water town, combines the elegance of the south with the boldness of the north. From the birthplace of Peking Opera to the water forest, from the hidden wetland to the bustling old street, every step in Taizhou is a delightful discovery!✨

This Lunar New Year, escape the hustle and bustle and embark on a romantic journey to Taizhou Plum Garden in Jiangsu. Stepping into the garden is like entering a wonderland forgotten by time. The warm New Year sun bathes the plum blossoms in a golden glow. Red plums like fire, white plums like snow, and pink plums like clouds, sway gracefully on their branches, emitting a subtle fragrance that fills the air, refreshing the mind and spirit. The pavilions, terraces, and open halls within the garden complement the snow-defying plum blossoms, creating a poetic and picturesque scene, perfect for capturing stunning photos. Here, you can not only appreciate the wonders of nature but also experience the rich cultural heritage, making it an unmissable destination for your Lunar New Year travels. 📍Address: No. 90, Yingchun East Road, Hailing District, Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province. 🚗Transportation: • By car: For those driving, simply navigate to "Taizhou Plum Garden." The surrounding area is well-equipped with ample parking, making parking easy and convenient, with reasonable fees. • By bus: Several bus routes within the city, such as No. 2, 9, and 29, can take you to the Mei Lanfang Park Station. From there, it's a short walk to the Plum Garden. Opt for green travel, it's both convenient and eco-friendly. 👍️Must-see attractions: • Mei Lanfang Historical Exhibition Hall: The hall displays precious photos, costumes, manuscripts, and other artifacts of Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang, showcasing his tumultuous yet brilliant artistic career. It's an excellent window into Peking Opera culture. • Plum Pavilion: The elegant Plum Pavilion is surrounded by plum blossoms, and during the New Year, the fragrance is intoxicating. Sitting in the pavilion and admiring the plum blossoms is like traveling through time, joining the ancients in this floral rendezvous. The photo opportunities are exceptional. 🎟️Tickets: Taizhou Plum Garden is free to the public. Simply present your ID card for entry and enjoy. 💗Other information: • Best viewing time: During the Lunar New Year, plum blossoms are in full bloom, with the peak season being from February to March. Don't miss the most vibrant display of these delicate flowers. • Facilities: The garden is thoughtfully equipped with several rest areas where you can take a break when you're tired. Convenience stores are conveniently located for purchasing snacks and drinks. Professional guided tours are also available. If you'd like to delve deeper into the history and culture of the Plum Garden, inquire and make a reservation at the entrance.

I visited Wanghai Tower and then walked along Yingchun Road to Mei Garden. Mei Lanfang, whose ancestral home is Taizhou, is the pride of Taizhou people. To commemorate the 90th anniversary of Mei Lanfang's birth, the people of Taizhou built Mei Lanfang Park in 1984. Entering Mei Garden, you are greeted by a large bust of Mr. Mei carved from white marble. In front of the bust is the Mei Lanfang Historical Exhibition Hall, a building with gray bricks, brown tiles, and upturned eaves. Inside, photos and artifacts from the master's life are displayed. In the back garden, there are rockeries, flowing water, pavilions, and an imitation ancient opera stage. The pentagonal pavilion on the west side of the stage is the "Mei Lanfang Memorial Pavilion," built in a typical Jiangnan garden style. Many plum trees are planted in the garden, dense and lush. Although the plum blossom season is over, you can almost still smell the fragrance of plum blossoms. Mei Garden is located on the north side of Taizhou's Fengcheng River Scenic Area, surrounded by water on three sides and facing the street on the other. I visited Mei Garden once before in the 1980s on a business trip to Taizhou, but my memory is hazy. Today, I revisit this place.

Morning tea is a major feature of Taizhou. It is not inferior to Yangzhou in sophistication, but it also has its own characteristics. This time we chose Luan Xiaotuan at the intersection of Taizhou Old Street. The characteristics of Taizhou morning tea: good restaurants are built near the river, with beautiful scenery. Good; the cold shredded noodles are delicious; the fish soup noodles are delicious. After eating and walking a few hundred meters, we came to Meiyuan, which is the memorial hall of Mr. Mei Lanfang. The museum is not big. Wandering around can be used as a digestion exercise after having morning tea, and you can also learn about Mr. Mei’s life. The legend of "Tsing Yi" is still very worthwhile. Because I am not familiar with Peking Opera, I don't have much resonance, but there are two details that still attract me. One is that Mr. Mei grew a beard during the Anti-Japanese War and vowed not to go on stage for eight years. Admiration; the second is a poem by Rabindranath Tagore (cover page), "I don't recognize you, my dear", which shows how vividly and expressively Mr. Mei plays the role of "Dan". Taizhou is also known as "Hailing" because it was historically close to the sea, so Taizhou is also known as the birthplace of the navy. We visited the Taizhou Ship Culture Park on the south side of the Taiyang Yangtze River Bridge and boarded supply ships, destroyers, and frigates. and submarines, gained a deep understanding of the Navy, and a deep respect for the submariners.

Located opposite the old street of Taizhou by the canal, there is an ancient and beautiful manor, which is the ancestral home of the Peking opera master Mei Lanfang, known as Mei Garden. Mei Lanfang's grandfather, who joined the Hui opera troupes to Beijing, was one of the Thirteen Greats of the Tongzhi Era and an active Peking opera artist in the capital. Mei Lanfang was born in 1894 in Beijing's Tieguai Xie Alley. His grandfather was one of the founders of Peking opera, and his father and uncle were both famous dan (female role) actors, a typical family of the Pear Garden tradition. From a young age, Mei Lanfang learned the art from his uncle and extensively studied the performances of various roles such as flower dan and warrior dan. At the same time, he absorbed modern artistic expressions and innovated in the performance of hands, eyes, and dance, creating a new form of performance art known as 'flower robe' for the Qingyi role, which caused a sensation in the Peking opera circles of the capital and made him one of the four great dan actors. After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, Japan invaded China and occupied Beijing. Mei Lanfang refused invitations from the puppet Manchukuo government and the Japanese, choosing to stop performing. He even injected himself with a cold vaccine to induce a fever, refusing to perform for the Japanese, demonstrating the noble spirit of a patriotic artist. In Mei Garden, the 'Four Wonders' are most worth seeing. The Mei Pavilion is one of the wonders of the garden; the second wonder is a large half-body white marble statue of Mei Lanfang; the third wonder is the artistic image of Mei Lanfang as Yang Taizhen in 'The Legend of Lady Yang' in the middle of the pool outside the exhibition hall, also made of white marble; the fourth wonder is a giant stone stele inscribed with the lyrics of 'Treading on the Green Grass' written by Mr. Zhao Puchu during his visit to Taizhou. The Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall's historical exhibition area is divided into five sections: 'Mei Blooms Across China', 'Mei Fragrance Throughout the World', 'Mei's Unyielding Spirit', 'Mei's Virtue Like Jade', and 'Mei's Roots in Taizhou'. The five exhibition areas condense and refine Mei Lanfang's brilliant life belonging to China, the world, and Taizhou, reflecting his noble character and patriotic sentiments, as well as his deep connection to Taizhou. The museum uses modern multimedia means such as sound, light, electricity, and film to display cultural relics, pictures, objects, and materials related to Mr. Mei, and visitors can also listen to Mr. Mei's beautiful singing.

As the saying goes, 'Sunny Jiangnan is not as good as rainy Jiangnan.' Recently, Taizhou is shrouded in misty rain, making it the perfect time to wander through gardens. Strolling among pavilions, terraces, and towers, one can watch the small bridges over flowing water and walk through the landscape, experiencing a journey through time. In the bustling city, there is an ancient and quaint Jiangnan garden. In the rainy weather, the drizzle scatters throughout the garden, instantly evoking a sense of 'rainy Jiangnan, where the mountains and waters are like ink painting.' Taizhou is the hometown of Mei Lanfang. To feel the artistic charm of the Peking opera master Mei Lanfang, Mei Lanfang Park is a must-visit place. Mei Garden is covered with greenery, surrounded by water on three sides, offering a view at every step. The garden's corridors are also quite distinctive, connecting north and south, winding and twisting. Passing through the corridors, the melodious sounds of opera sung by opera fans can be heard, filled with the rich Beijing accent and Mei's charm. Wandering in the garden, the scattered and orderly pavilions and waterside pavilions are eye-catching, and the elegant and majestic white marble statue of Mei Lanfang displays the master's extraordinary demeanor. The statue in the middle of the pool outside the exhibition hall represents the artistic image of Yang Taizhen, whom the master portrayed in 'The Legend of Lady Yang.' In the garden, there is a Mei Lanfang historical exhibition hall, which displays Mei Lanfang's life and the costumes and props he used. Here, one can learn in detail about the master's operatic life, and feel his artistic sentiment and patriotic feelings.

Can't stay at home during the holiday, so I chose Taizhou, which is not far from Nanjing. 🚘It took more than an hour to drive there, and the highway is 🆓 during the holiday, which is really nice! It's like a reverse tourism, there are not many people in Taizhou, and the road is smooth🚙 🕛Arrived at noon, just in time for brunch. 🏮Huibin Building, open during the Spring Festival, and it's easy to park nearby. ✔️Signature crab roe bun, 30💰 each, big size, full of crab roe inside, not fishy, tastes quite fragrant, the bun skin is also sweet, it's indeed a local specialty. ✔️The fresh shrimp dumplings are also very fragrant, the meat filling is firm, there are shrimp inside, the soup is fresh and sweet, tastes good～ ✔️Rice straw bun is also quite special, it has a refreshing taste when you eat it. Also ordered hot dry silk, beef bun, thousand layer cake, shumai, fish slice wonton, they all taste okay, just over intake of carbohydrates😂 🕜After eating, walk for 20 minutes to the Plum Garden, visit Mr. Mei Lanfang's house, no need for tickets, just make a reservation by scanning the code. The garden is not big, but it's quite exquisite, has the atmosphere of Jiangnan garden, there is also an introduction of Mr. Mei Lanfang, it's good to bring children to see. 🕝After visiting the Plum Garden, cross a bridge and you are at Taizhou Old Street. To be honest, the old streets everywhere are quite similar, just some snacks and toys. Had a lotus root starch ball, it tastes okay～ ⛲️Taizhou is not big, there are also morning tea museum, peach garden near the old street, but we were a bit tired, so we went back to Nanjing. 🌆No plan for a long trip, a day trip city walk is quite relaxing, change a city, eat some delicious food, walk around, see different scenery～

📍Master Mei Lanfang (1894-1961), whose ancestral home is Taizhou, is famous for his artistic achievements that transcend national boundaries, along with world art masters Stanislavsky (Soviet Union) and Brecht (Germany), and they are collectively known as the world's three major performance systems. 📍 Taizhou Meiyuan Park, also known as the Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall, was built in 1984 to commemorate this Taizhou celebrity. Although the park is small, there are four must-see attractions (P2-5): — Meiting; — A large white marble bust of Mei Lanfang; — A large white marble artistic image of Mei Lanfang, who played Yang Taizhen in "The Story of Yang Taizhen", in the middle of the pool outside the exhibition hall; — A giant stone tablet with a poem "Treading on the Grass" written by Mr. Zhao Puchu when he came to Taishan 📍 The park is free of charge, just scan the QR code at the entrance to register. The park is opposite the old street, next to the Haining Bridge, and faces the Wanghai Tower. It is one of the core attractions of the Fengcheng River Scenic Area. 📍Opening hours: 8:00～17:30. There is a direct bus at the door. (Note: The last picture of the Mei Lanfang Grand Theatre was taken on the street, which was under construction)

When traveling to Taizhou, Plum Garden is a must-visit stop. Mei Lanfang is a household name in Peking Opera, but few people know that although Mei Lanfang was born Although he lived in Beijing, his ancestral home was Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province. The Meiyuan located in the eastern suburbs of Taizhou City was once the Mei family's former residence. The Plum Garden is surrounded by water on three sides. It is elegant and quiet, and has the architectural features of Jiangnan classical gardens. The pictures and objects on display in the Plum Garden Exhibition Hall focus on introducing the life and history of Mr. Mei Lanfang. It also collects a large number of photos and objects of Mei Lanfang's activities during his lifetime, including many cultural relics and gifts presented by celebrities at home and abroad. The Plum Garden is currently free of admission and the tour takes about an hour.

If you go to Taizhou, Mei Garden is definitely a place I would recommend. Mei Garden is a garden-style memorial hall mainly composed of Ming and Qing architecture, commemorating the Peking Opera master Mr. Mei Lanfang. From Shanghai to Taizhou, the high-speed rail takes about 2 hours. If you go to Mei Garden, it is closer to get off at Taizhou Station. It is less than 10 kilometers by taxi and takes more than 20 minutes. The location of Mei Garden is in the Fengcheng River Scenic Area of Hailing District. This scenic area has many attractions, including the old street, Wanghai Tower, Mei Garden, Taoyuan, and so on. I only had half a day, so I chose two places to visit. One is the old street, and the other is Mei Garden. The two places are not far apart. The feeling of the old street is somewhat similar to the City God Temple in Shanghai. If time is limited, you can go or not. Mei Garden is really worth a visit. Although I have been to many small and large gardens, the layout of Mei Garden still makes people feel bright, elegant and quiet. Stepping into it makes people feel very comfortable. Mr. Mei's life, artistic achievements, and personality style are presented one by one here. Although I am not a fan of Peking Opera, it does not prevent me from being moved by the gentleman's style. Mei Garden is free to visit. The delicate and elegant beauty of Jiangnan is fully displayed here, with pavilions, towers, flowing water and long corridors. Temperament is purely a feeling. The same Jiangnan thinking, the same tree water pavilion scenery, the effect may be different. It takes about 1.5 hours to visit, the pace is not fast and the mood is pleasant, and I still feel unfinished after walking around.

Meiyuan has "four musts", Meiting is a must, and the second is Mei Lanfang's large-scale half-body white marble statue. The artistic image of Yang Taizhen's large white marble in "Tai Zhen Wai Chuan" is also called the third, fourth. It is a giant stone tablet. It is written by Mr. Zhao Puchu when he came to Thailand. I don't know Peking Opera, but his name is still very good, and he is the first person in the Chinese Danjiao Creative School. Everyone knows that he sings first-class, but he doesn't know. He also paints, and Qi Baishi is also a teacher and friend (Qi Baishi also likes his drama). Not only that, but his calligraphy skills are also very deep. If a foreign friend is a guest performer, it is estimated that there will be a lot of laughter. The picture above is Mei Lanfang's practice: the forty-eight style of evil spirits, and this is also due to his two shortcomings, one is that the scorpion is not loud, but the reaction is slow, no one is optimistic about him, and this stunned eyes he has practiced Ten years is the pigeons that fly out at home every day. All success is not achieved overnight, it depends on how much effort we have made. The beautiful scenery of Meiyuan is accompanied by the Fengcheng River, which is surrounded by water on three sides and has an elegant scenery. BY DJI 4PRO Meiyuan passed the road and went to Taoyuan. When I was preparing to enter the gate, I saw a young man pushing a relative who was inconvenient to play in Taoyuan. No one is right for you, only family. Taizhou Fengcheng Taoyuan, waiting for the coming season, holding your hand, passing season after season. Linhe is the Wanghai Tower, there are not many people in Taoyuan, you can quietly appreciate and walk slowly. Small bridge in Jiangnan town