Yancheng
Yancheng
The beauty of wetland, home of red-crowned crane and Milu
Yancheng is the largest prefecture-level city in Jiangsu. With its flat terrain and richness in raw materials, Yancheng earns the name “A Land of Abundance”. It is where Jiangsu’s longest coastal line, largest beach, and the national nature reserves for precious species. The Chinese Milu Park is the largest nature reserve on earth for elks, while Yancheng National Rare Birds Nature Reserve is the world’s biggest wintering ground for red-crowned cranes. Besides, The city has always been an important sea salt production place since ancient times.
Natural Attractions
Historical Attractions
Red-Crowned Crane Eco-tour Wetland
Yancheng Red-crowned Crane area has many rivers and swamp wetlands with an abundance of biological resources in their primitive form. More than 800 birds of the red-crowned cranes fly here each year to evade winter. Many other protected species can be found here, such as the river deer, and it is an important shelter for rare migrating birds.
Chinese Milu Park
The world’s first wild Milu (elk) park provides the largest coverage and it is the home to the varieties of Milu. There are also some 2,000 species of flora and fauna. Sight-seeing vehicle service is available and the recommended time to visit is in May and June, for these are the season of the Milu fighting for their crown. Self-driving is the suggested mode of transportation.
Dazong Lake Tourist Resort
The resort is divided into eight functional areas: entrance plaza area, water style area, historical and cultural area, Buddhist cultural area, Ludang maze area, wetland ecological area, fishery sightseeing area and lakeside resort area. The Ludang maze has been selected for Guinness Records of China. Take a boat ride in the reed maze and feel the poetic atmosphere of the “startling of the egret”.
Cultural History
Xixi Cultural Tourist Attraction
Ever since the Han Dynasty, Xixi is known for its salt harvesting industry, touted as the “Sea Salt Warehouse Under Heaven”. Its long history left behind numerous historical heritage sites including the Haichunxuan Tower erected since the Tang Dynasty and restored during the Song Dynasty with a history of 1,400 years.
Yancheng Salt Farming Cultural Site
The main attractions include the Chinese Museum of Sea Salt, Shuijie street, Shuicheng water city, and etc. are promoting the culture of sea salt harvesting. Tourists may get to witness some rare acrobatic and cultural performances, taste some appetising local street food and purchase authentic souvenirs.
Water Margin Thematic Park
Located in a millennial old nostalgic town namely the White Horse Town, is the place that Shi Nai’an was born. Known for his notable novel “Water Margin”, which is one of the four greatest novels in ancient China, Shi’s hometown reenacted the writer’s living environment in the heydays.
Trending Attractions
Dafeng Netherlands Sea of Flowers
Dafeng is designed with a collective experience of the farmyard, water system, architecture, windmills, and the sea of flower blooms to introduce the impression of a Netherlands town. Every year from the end of March to early May is the season for tulip blossoms. There will be over 300 types of the flower blooming to your delights, apart from the Netherlands Royal Floral Parade.
European Floral Street
A European styled street that integrates food and beverage, thematic bars, entertainment, and boutique hotels. There are many bridges within the township, flowers of various colours are planted on both sides along the bridge, and lit up by colourful lighting at night. The most beautiful floating market in China is located at here too, accompanied by romantic musical fountain show that you should not miss.
Historical Attractions
Food & Beverage
Dongtai Fish Noodle Soup
In one of the Jiangsu cuisines, the main ingredients are the noodles and thick soup base which drop like beads and yet refreshing in taste. Besides tasting good, it also caters to one’s wellness by warming the stomach and nourishing one’s spleen, and acting as a tonic to the digestive system. As wild carp, eel bones, pork bones and other raw materials are used to boil the soup, it is high in protein, rich in calcium and amino acids, yet low in fat.
Jianhu Taro Ball Soup
Jianhu Taro Ball soup has been around for more than a hundred years. Using taro powder of excellent grade as the main ingredient, sugar, mashed dates, sesame powder, and lard or vegetarian oil are added and mixed in, which is then wrapped in pastes made from osmanthus, and then boiled in water till it’s cooked. The pellet-shaped light purple balls are soft, plump, and sweet without greasiness with the fragrance of the osmanthus.
Eight Courses of Yancheng
The Eight Courses of Yancheng was created in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. The eight courses include Stewed Pork Rind, Red-braised Glutinous Rice, Red-braised Long-tailed Anchovy, Assorted Stewed Fish Maw, Steamed Mandarin Fish, Clear Soup Shark’s Fin, Chicken Porridge and Sea Cucumber. The courses have been famous far and wide, which gives out the strong and rustic taste.