14 Days in Taizhou (Jiangsu)

Take the evening moat cruise when the lights come on; Wanghai Tower has the best roof view, and Old Street's snack alley warms up after dark.

1. Fengcheng River Scenic Area
2. Wanghai Tower
3. Taizhou Old Street

The opera master's memorial opens early; Qiao Garden is the oldest garden north of the Yangtze, and the museum's Ming costumes pair well in the afternoon.

1. Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall
2. Qiao Garden
3. Taizhou Museum

Boat through the wetland reed maze, then wander Qintong's Ming-Qing lanes; April visitors catch the famous boat festival.

1. Qinhu National Wetland Park
2. Qintong Ancient Town

In April the raised field islands turn gold — view them from the wooden walkway or a small boat; the water forest is best by flat-bottom boat.

1. Xinghua Qianduo Rapeseed Fields
2. Lizhong Water Forest

Market breakfast of Huangqiao shaobing, an afternoon in the teahouses, then one last moat cruise to close the loop.

1. Taizhou Old Street
2. Fengcheng River Scenic Area

About an hour by rail — Slender West Lake and Daming Temple fill a day; return to Taizhou for a late dinner.

1. Yangzhou
2. Slender West Lake

Roughly 1.5 hours on high-speed rail — museum in the morning, the Ming city wall in the afternoon, back by evening.

1. Nanjing
2. Nanjing Museum

Halfway to Nanjing — the temple-capped hill of Jinshan, a riverside walk and a taste of Zhenjiang vinegar with lunch.

1. Zhenjiang
2. Jinshan Temple

About 1.5 hours by rail — the Humble Administrator's Garden early, then Pingjiang Road's canals before the crowds peak.

1. Suzhou
2. Humble Administrator's Garden

A rest day halfway through — long breakfast, lakeside benches and an early night before the second week of day trips.

1. Fengcheng River Scenic Area
2. Taizhou Old Street

The birthplace of Zhou Enlai and the home of Huaiyang cuisine — the memorial quarter and a proper banquet lunch fill the day.

1. Huai'an
2. Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall

China's first modern city as planned by Zhang Jian — walk the Hao River moat loop and the museum quarter by the water.

1. Nantong
2. Hao River Scenic Area

On Taihu Lake — Turtle Head Isle's promontory in the morning, spare ribs and noodles downtown before the train back.

1. Wuxi
2. Turtle Head Isle

A pack-up day — revisit your favorite lanes, buy pastry gifts from Old Street and catch the evening train.

1. Qiao Garden
2. Taizhou Old Street