Holiday in Taizhou

About Taizhou

Taizhou is located in Jiangsu Province on the northern bank of the Yangtze River and is a historic water town with over 2,100 years of history. The city combines the elegant canal culture of the Yangtze Delta with a surprisingly rich tradition of opera and literature. Taizhou is the hometown of the famous Peking opera master Mei Lanfang, who is considered the greatest Dan performer (female roles) in the history of Chinese opera. The Qinhu Wetland (Qinhu National Wetland Park) is the heart of the city: a vast network of lakes, canals, and floating islands, known in China as "the hidden water town." Rare bird species live among the reed landscapes, and boat trips through the labyrinthine waterways are among the most atmospheric experiences in the region. The Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall honors the life and work of the opera master, who gained international fame as the first Chinese artist in the 1920s and 1930s and was friends with Charlie Chaplin. His art form, the "Mei style," has had a lasting impact on Peking opera. The Fengcheng Canal (old city moat) surrounds the historic old town and is one of the few completely preserved city moats in China. The Zhonglou Pagoda, the Wangyu Pavilion, and the old bridges along the canal form a picturesque ensemble of traditional Jiangnan water architecture. Taizhou is also famous for its bathing culture: the city has natural hot springs that have been used since the Ming Dynasty.