[2025 Xinghua Attraction] Travel Guide for Zheng Banqiao Memorial Hall (Updated Apr)

Here's the ultimate Xinghua travel guide: Recommended Attractions • Qianduo Scenic Area: One of the world's four largest flower seas. From mid-March to the end of April, over 4,600 acres of rapeseed flowers bloom in vibrant splendor. Take a boat trip through the sea of flowers or climb the observation tower for a panoramic view. In 2025, a new nighttime bamboo raft tour will be added, offering a dreamy perspective of the flower fields at dusk. Capture the morning mist over the flowers with a drone at 6:30 am. The second-floor terrace of the "Fusheng Tea House" on the east side of the scenic area is the best spot for capturing the golden sunset. • Lizhong Water Forest Park: The largest artificial wetland ecological forest in East China, known as the "Jiuzhaigou of Central Jiangsu" and a "bird paradise of East China." In 2025, the ecological trail will be extended to 8 km, and a misting system will be added, operating daily at 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Take a wooden raft down the waterways. A 70-200mm telephoto lens is recommended for capturing photos of egrets among the trees. • Jindongmen Ancient Street: Known as the "No. 1 Ming and Qing Dynasty Ancient Street in Central Jiangsu," this street boasts over a thousand years of history. It retains the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Visit the former residence of Zheng Banqiao, Zhao Haixian's Western-style house, the Cheng Family Mansion, and Zhuangyuan Square. • Shijiaqiao Scenic Area: The birthplace of Shi Nai'an, author of *Water Margin*. Visit Shi Nai'an's former residence and the Shi family ancestral hall, and immerse yourself in the culture of *Water Margin*. Recommended Food • Xinghua Morning Tea: Specialties include shredded dried tofu, crab roe buns, and pine nut shumai. • Shagou Fish Balls: Fresh, tender, and bouncy, with an excellent taste. • Shagou Lotus Root Sandwiches: Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, a perfect blend of lotus root and meat flavors. • Smoked and Roasted Delights: Pig's head, goose wings, spiced dried tofu, and tea eggs—fragrant but not greasy. Accommodation Recommendations • Budget: Duotian Manju Youth Hostel, renovated from an old granary, with a rooftop terrace overlooking the flower fields. • Mid-range: Yunduo Guesthouse, a glass house suspended over the river, equipped with a smart lighting system. • High-end: Shuiyuetang Boat House Hotel, each room with a private hot spring pool and fishing gear. Transportation Guide • By car: Take the "Xinghua South" exit of the Shanghai-Shaanxi Expressway. Parking lot P4 at Qianduo Scenic Area is only 300m from the viewing platform. • By high-speed rail: Take the train to Taizhou Station and transfer to a bus directly to Xinghua Qianduo Scenic Area. Alternatively, arrive at Xinghua Station and take the "Flower Field Express" tourist bus. Itinerary • Two days, one night: Visit the Qianduo rapeseed flower sea in the morning of the first day, go to Wu Jindang Park (Waterway No. 1) in the afternoon, and stroll through Jindongmen Ancient Street in the evening. Visit Lizhong Water Forest Park on the second day. • Three days, two nights: After arriving in Xinghua on the first day, explore Jindongmen Ancient Street and visit Zheng Banqiao's former residence. In the afternoon, visit the Xinghua Museum. On the second day, explore Qianduo Scenic Area, experience the intangible cultural heritage of bamboo weaving, and take a night tour of Bazijiao Bridge. On the third day, go birdwatching at Lizhong Water Forest Park, then go cycling in the Wu Jindang wetland, and savor the Zhongzhuang Drunken Crab feast. Travel Tips • The queues for the boat tour at Qianduo Scenic Area are long on weekends. It is recommended to purchase fast-track tickets in advance on the "Xinghua Tourism" mini-program. • Drones are prohibited in Lizhong Water Forest Park. • If traveling in spring, take sun protection and mosquito repellent measures. If traveling in winter, dress warmly.

You don’t have to go to Suzhou or Hangzhou to enjoy the spring in the south of the Yangtze River. You can come to the treasure town of Taizhou Xinghua for a visit🚶 There are not only thousands of acres of cauliflower and water forests here🌲 There are also quaint streets and special delicacies🍜 Suzhou can be reached within 3 hours by car, and round trip is possible on weekends Get up early and have a Xinghua morning tea to feel the atmosphere of the city This is the ideal slow life in spring 🍵 - 🗺️Xinghua slow-paced one-day tour route: Xinghua Morning Tea➠Qianduo Water Rapeseed Field➠Jindongmen Old Street➠Lizhong Water Forest Park - 📸️ Worth visiting Xinghua in spring: ✅Qianduo Water Rapeseed Field Ten thousand acres of cauliflower fields are like a golden field🌼 The river is like a path crisscrossing the flower fields, so magnificent that it is speechless🥹 Taking a rowboat through it is like walking into a flowery maze. The rich aroma of cauliflower hits you in the face, and you can feel the romance of spring in person🍃 ✅Jindongmen Old Street The old streets from the Ming and Qing dynasties that have been completely preserved Every brick and tile contains traces of the history of the water city Xinghua🕰️ There are many historical buildings in the old street: 📍Former Residence of Zheng Banqiao 📍Zhao Haixian Mansion 📍Chengjia Da Sima Mansion 📍Zhuangyuanfang It is very suitable for a leisurely stroll, taking your family to understand the profound culture and history of Xinghua📽️ ✅Lizhong Water Forest Amid the rippling blue waves, the green trees are shady, and the purple February orchids fill the gaps in the forest🌲 The boat sailed through it, as if in a fairyland, with water birds dancing and Metasequoia trees standing in rows🦢 It is quiet and full of vitality, and the workers are relaxed both physically and mentally🥹

The former residence has side rooms to the south and the main house to the north, commonly known as "Zheng's Great Hall". Masters Zhao Puchu and Liu Haisu respectively wrote the plaques "Zheng Banqiao's Former Residence" and "Banqiao's Former Residence" for the entrance hall. Upon entering the entrance hall, you will see a screen wall. Turn left and you will suddenly enter the courtyard. The courtyard is lush and fragrant with old bamboo and new bamboo shoots, and potted orchids and banana plants are dotted around. The moss hints at the age of the former residence.

Zheng Banqiao, a painter and writer of the Qing Dynasty, a writer of Xinghua, Jiangsu. Kangxi Xiucai, Yongzheng ten years of people, Qianlong first year of scholars. The county magistrate of Minxian County has a remarkable political performance. After living in Yangzhou, he made a living by selling paintings and was an important representative of the Eight Monsters of Yangzhou. Zheng Banqiao's former residence, located in the east of Xinghua City, Jiangsu Province, is a very small attraction, so there are not many people. The courtyard is not very large, but it is very delicate, the building is simple, the wall is covered with tiles, and it is a quiet place. Visiting Zheng Banqiao's former residence focuses on the culture. From the gardens and buildings, you can feel the cultural heritage here. Although the courtyard is not as good as Su Xichang, you can imagine how Zheng Banqiao smelled the chickens and danced poetry books here. Going further, it is a slightly larger courtyard. The green bamboo in the courtyard is in a hurry and warm. There is a bamboo forest behind the house. The back garden has flower windows and waters, and the scenery is pleasant. There are celebrity inscriptions on the back garden promenade. This is the "Ya room" written by Zheng Banqiao in "The room is not big, the flowers are not much". It is said to be a former residence, more like a small garden, the room is a study, by the window, you can see the bamboo shadows in the garden. There are pavilions and lotus gardens in the garden, which are elegant and quiet. I also met the old gentleman who plays Zheng Banqiao. It looks a bit far from it. This is also a must-see for Xinghua Old Town. If you don't have time to visit other places, at least check it out.