# Taizhou (Jiangsu)

Taizhou (泰州 Tàizhōu) is a city in Jiangsu. In 2010 its population was 4.6 million, of whom 1.6 million live in the built-up (or metro) area made of three urban districts, (Hailing, Jiangyan and Gaogang).

## Regions

* Jingjiang City Jingjiang City is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province and is managed by Taizhou City. It is an emerging port industrial city in Jiangsu Province.
* Hailing District Hailing District was once known as the "Four Lings" together with Guangling Yangzhou, Lanling Changzhou and Jinling Nanjing.
* Gaogang District Gaogang District is located in the southern half of Taizhou City. It has the Yangtze River port Taizhou Port, the South-to-North Water Diversion Hub Project Diversion River and the Taiyang Yangtze River Bridge.
* Taixing City Taixing City is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province and a pilot city directly under the provincial administration. It has the reputation of "Hometown of Education" and "Hometown of Ginkgo".
* Jiangyan District Jiangyan District is rich in products and fertile land, and is known as the "Land of Fish and Rice". The rivers in Jiangyan District belong to two major river systems, the Yangtze River system in the south and the Huaihe River system in the north.
* Xinghua City Xinghua City is a "land of plenty" and has been awarded the first batch of national all-area tourism demonstration areas, national ecological demonstration areas, national sanitary cities, the 21st among the top 100 counties for rural revitalization in the country, and the national environmental protection model city.

## Understand

The urban core of Taizhou prefecture is Hailing District (海陵 Hǎilíng). Adjacent to it are Gāogǎng (高港) and Jiāngyàn (姜堰). There are also three outlying satellite cities: Jìngjiāng (靖江), Tàixīng (泰兴), and Xīnghuà (兴化). Each of these places has its own identity, and when locals say "Taizhou", they usually seem to mean Hailing District.
For information about Xinghua, see Xinghua.

### History

Taizhou, located in Jiangsu Province, has a history of over 2,000 years. It was first established as Tangyue during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) and became an important cultural and administrative center during the Tang and Song Dynasties. Its strategic location along the Yangtze River enabled the city to grow as a hub for trade and transportation.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Taizhou experienced significant economic growth, especially in agriculture, silk, and textile production. The city also became a major center for maritime trade. Additionally, Taizhou is known for its local opera and literature, with many prominent scholars and poets hailing from the area.
Today, Taizhou combines its rich historical heritage with modern development, preserving its cultural identity while expanding as an industrial and commercial city. It continues to attract both tourists and scholars to explore its past and

### Climate

Taizhou City is located in the northern subtropical humid climate zone, affected by monsoon circulation, and has obvious monsoon characteristics. There are four distinct seasons here, with high temperatures and rainy days in summer and mild and dry winters.

## Talk

English speakers are not widespread so it would be wise to have destinations and hotel addresses written in Chinese characters. Most taxi drivers do not speak English & will not recognise hotel names written in English. Many younger Taizhoans have studied English in school but due to a lack of practice, are not conversant.
Even speakers of Standard Mandarin may have some trouble understanding the residents here, as the local dialect is Lower Yangtze Mandarin, which diverges significantly from Standard Mandarin in pronunciation.

## Get in
### By train

Taizhou Railway Station is a modern station, located 12 km north east of Taizhou city centre. Local bus 26 (¥2) runs into downtown, taking around 30 minutes. A taxi costs approximately ¥30. The station is simple enough to use - there are 2 waiting rooms spread over 2 floors (2nd and 3rd floor) and 3 platforms. Taizhou is on the newly opened Nanjing-Nantong railway line and is served by approximately 6 trains per day in each direction - most just run between Nanjing (2 hours, ¥13 hard-seat) and Nantong but a handful are K-trains continuing to Shanghai - there are also daily connections to Guangzhou (26 hours) and Beijing (15 hours). The ticket office is fairly quiet at most times and you never have to wait more than 5 minutes, although the staff don't speak English.

### By bus

There are regular buses to Nanjing, Nantong, Yancheng, Yangzhou etc as well as a few per day running to Shanghai. Taizhou Bus Passenger Transport Station (+86 523 8688 3786) is located at 2 Qingnian South Road, Hailing District.

### By plane

32.562762119.7136781 Yangzhou Taizhou Airport. YTY is about halfway between Taizhou and the nearby Yangzhou. So far, it has fairly limited service, from a few major airports throughout China, to Taiwan, and to a few nearby countries (South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia). (updated Feb 2017)

## Get around
### By bus

Taking a bus is relatively simple. Most buses are ¥1 although the 26 to the train station is ¥2. The fare is written on the fare box and exact change is required. Most buses run from 05:00 to 22:00. Schedules are in Chinese only as are the on-board announcements; although if you have a basic knowledge of Chinese they're easy to follow.

### By taxi

Taxis are plentiful and cheap with flagfall starting at ¥8.

### By bike

Riding a bike can be a fast, fun and relatively safe way of travelling. Many roads have dedicated bike lanes but beware of everything from motorbikes to buses encroaching on your territory. Bicycles can be purchased in several locations including Lotte Mart, Jichuan East Road, Hailing. For locals, bicycles are slowly being eclipsed by electric scooters but they still remain an easy means of transportation for visitors. Whilst not as prevalent as in bigger cities, bike theft does occur so make sure your ride is locked up safely. Helmets are optional but recommended.

### By foot

Walking around Taizhou can be a pleasant experience. As with all of China, right-of-way is effectively proportional to weight: vehicles trump motorbikes, motorbikes trump pedestrians. Motorbikes and bicycles can come from any direction. Avoid unpredictable movements while walking and crossing streets. Drivers predict your future location from your speed & direction. Taishan Park in Hailing district is a popular venue for walking while safely removed from the traffic on the streets. Taishan Park is 1.5 km south west of Pozi Street Commercial Pedestrian Street. Fengchenghe Scenic Area, Nanshansi Road, Hailing district is a pleasant location for a walk.

## See

* 32.482581119.9268891 $^{[deadlink]}$ Wanghai Tower (Wang Hai Lou), Fengchenghe Scenic Area, Nanshansi Road, Hailing, ☏ +86 52386363910. Newly-constructed tower in scenic riverside area.
* Guangxiao Si (temple)
* Old Street ('Lao Jie'). Misleadingly named new development of restaurants & souvenir stalls.
* Mei Lanfang Park & Memorial Museum
* Hu Jintao's birthplace (Jiangyan District, near the walking street). The former Chinese leader Hu Jintao was born in an old neighborhood in Jiangyan. Good luck figuring out which house it is if you don't have a local to show you around—it's not marked in any way. But the old houses are interesting to walk through regardless.

## Do
### Festivals

* Taizhou Temple Fair (泰州庙会): The temple fairs in Taizhou are an integral part of the city’s cultural heritage, particularly during major festivals like the Spring Festival and the Lantern Festival. These fairs are a vibrant mix of religious ceremonies, folk art performances, and traditional activities. Visitors can enjoy lively performances such as dragon and lion dances, yangko, and stilt walking, creating an exciting and festive atmosphere. The temple fairs also offer locals the opportunity to gather, pay tribute to the gods, and celebrate the blessings received throughout the year while preserving Taizhou's rich cultural traditions.
* Taizhou Peony Festival (泰州牡丹节): Taizhou is famous for its beautiful peony flowers, which bloom in spring, and the city hosts the Peony Festival to celebrate this natural beauty. The festival features stunning displays of peonies in full bloom, with colorful gardens stretching across the city. During the festival, visitors can enjoy flower viewing tours, folk performances, and local handicraft exhibitions. The event also offers a chance to taste local delicacies and experience Taizhou's agricultural and cultural heritage, making it a perfect time to appreciate both nature’s beauty and the region’s traditions.
* Taizhou Grand Canal Festival (泰州大运河节): The Grand Canal, which runs through Taizhou, plays a significant role in the city’s history. The Taizhou Grand Canal Festival celebrates this vital waterway and showcases the city’s maritime culture. The festival features boat races, boat parades, traditional crafts, and performances that highlight the city's historical role as a center of water transport. In addition to cultural performances, the event includes local food stalls and handicrafts, allowing visitors to experience both the historical and modern aspects of Taizhou’s vibrant culture.

## Buy

Hailing district is the main business and commercial hub of the city. Shopping is concentrated in the blocks bordered by Dongjin Road to the north and Jichuan Road to the south. Qingnian Road forms the western boundary for most shoppers while the eastern boundary stretches at a push to Gulou Road.
* 32.470946119.9162921 Taizhou Wanda Plaza, 228 Jichuan East Road, Hailing. Huge modern shopping & entertainment complex located at the junction of Jichuan East Road and Qingnian South Road. Includes shopping centre, restaurants, cinema & 2 hotels (Doubletree by Hilton Jiangsu Taizhou and Jinjiang MetroPolo Taizhou). Pizza Hut & Starbucks are on the ground floor of the main complex. Numerous restaurants are on the upper floor, as is the IMAX cinema. Shops include Wanda Department Store, Carrefour, Zara and numerous others.
* 32.471088119.9212782 Lotte Mart (Lotte Department Store), Jichuan East Road, Hailing. Large department store & supermarket at the junction of Jichuan East Road and Hailing South Road. KFC (one of many in the city) is on the ground floor.
* 32.49351119.9167133 Pozi Street Commercial Pedestrian Street (Pozi Street), Pozi Street Commercial Pedestrian Street, Hailing. The street is at the centre of the traditional shopping and restaurants district in Taizhou although it is now competing with the new Taizhou Wanda Plaza 2 km to the south. Taizhou No. 1 Department Store is 1 block north of Pozi Street while Taizhou Fashion Shopping Plaza is a large complex 1 block to the south. The area also includes many restaurants including western staples McDonald's and Pizza Hut.

## Eat

The area around Pozi Street has lots of cheaper eats such as KFC, fast food places and noodle shops.
The Taizhou Wanda Plaza complex has lots of Western food but is inconsistent in quality. Tasty curries, poor steaks and an expensive buffet restaurant called Toronto's are on offer in Wanda Plaza.
It seems to be the consensus among the local English speaking foreigners that the best restaurants appear to be family owned and are scattered throughout the city. There are some excellent places to eat in Old Street (老街 Lǎo Jiē); which despite its name is actually a new development. Classic dishes include 'gan si', 'bao zi' and 'mien'.
'Dafeng SanqianLi' on Gulou South Road near Wanda Plaza is a Korean owned restaurant with excellent Kimchi pancakes and Bi Bim Bap. It's located south of the KFC at the intersection of Jichuan East Road.
'Shui Ren Tang' has excellent zhōu (粥) or porridge as well as Ribs and Chinese buns. It's on Gulou North Road and is near the 'Hui bin Lou'.
There are a few BBQ streets with people from Xinjiang mostly selling meat that you can roast on an open flamed bbq. Sitting on small stools and sipping beers while eating lamb, beef, and chicken are favourite pastimes for many in Taizhou.
The Three Delicacies of Taizhou (泰州三绝): Referring to the stinky tofu from Taixing, ginger duck from Taizhou, and crab roe soup dumplings from Yangzhong. These three dishes each have their own unique characteristics and are representative snacks of the Taizhou region.
Crystal Steamed Buns (水晶包子): This is a traditional Jiangsu snack, and Taizhou has its own version. Crystal steamed buns are known for their thin, transparent skin and diverse fillings, including both meat and sweet options.
River Fresh Hui Noodles (河鲜烩面): Located in a water-rich region, Taizhou's river fresh hui noodles feature fresh river ingredients as the main components, with a delicious and unique broth.
Peach Blossom Spring Frozen Tofu (桃花源冻豆腐): This is one of Taizhou's specialty dishes, using locally produced frozen tofu as the main ingredient and complemented with peanut sauce and crushed peanuts, providing a refreshing and delightful taste.

## Drink

Nightlife in Taizhou typically involves ordering beers in a restaurant or going to KTV (karaoke) bars. There is little in the way of regular bars or clubs. KTV can be a great way to spend the evening; order some beers, choose some songs and sing the night away. English songs are available but the choice is limited. KTV bars are scattered throughout the city; some of the bigger venues are concentrated around Pozi Street. A new 'bar street' has been manufactured in the Taizhou Wanda Plaza complex but none of the bars there are particularly inviting.
Su Bei Rice Wine (苏北米酒): Tai Zhou may have some traditional rice wine production, and one type could be Su Bei Rice Wine. This rice wine likely boasts a rich and mellow taste, representing a local specialty.

## Sleep

* 32.47371119.913921 Wanda Realm Taizhou (泰州万达嘉华酒店), No. 222, Jichuan East Road, Hailing District, ☏ +86 400 088 8899. This is a five-star luxury hotel with modern facilities and high-quality services. The hotel has multiple restaurants, a gym, a swimming pool and other facilities suitable for business and leisure travelers. The location is excellent, with easy access to the city center and major attractions. 59~61. (updated Dec 2024)

## Go next

Yangzhou is near to Taizhou and is a larger city. It has lots of gardens and is worth the trip.