Holiday in Zhangjiagang

About Zhangjiagang

Zhangjiagang is located on the southern bank of the Yangtze River in Jiangsu Province and is considered one of the cleanest and most livable county-level cities in China. The city was the first Chinese city to win the UN-Habitat Award for environmental friendliness and is nationally recognized as a model city for civilization — a designation that honors its green parks, well-maintained streets, and exemplary urban planning. The Shuangshan Island Park (Shuangshan Dao) in the Yangtze is Zhangjiagang's natural jewel: The river island connects wetlands with forest paths and offers panoramic views of Asia's mightiest river. In autumn, thousands of migratory birds flock to the island, and the sunsets over the wide Yangtze River are spectacular. The Zhangjiagang Fenghuang Mountain (Fenghuang Shan), despite its modest height of 86 meters, is the cultural heart of the city: The site includes a Buddhist temple, a Yongjing monastery, and historical stone carvings. From the mountain peak, one can enjoy a wide view over the Yangtze plain to Nantong on the opposite riverbank on clear days. The historic old town of Heyang preserves Jiangnan architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries: White walls, black tiled roofs, cobblestones, and small canals create a charming ensemble that appears less renovated and thus more authentic than the more famous water towns. The Heyang Clan Hall is a magnificent example of ancestral worship architecture. The Yangtze Culture Museum documents the history of river crossings: Zhangjiagang has always been a strategic point on the Yangtze, and the modern Zhangjiagang Yangtze Bridge (completed in 2020, suspension bridge with a main span of 1,092 m) is one of China's largest bridge construction projects.