Explore Yangzhou for 7 days and 6 nights with 8,000 RMB｜Stay by Slender West Lake
The lake’s thin mist lingers, willow branches gently brush the window frame.
Old Yangzhou locals say: "In the morning, skin wraps water; at night, water wraps skin" —
Only then do I understand what it means to truly live.
In 7 days and 6 nights, with less than 8,000 RMB,
I stayed in a boutique guesthouse transformed from a century-old garden by Slender West Lake, with a window view of Wuting Bridge;
Had morning tea for 7 consecutive days, from Fuchun, Yechun to Quyuan, never repeating a meal;
Took a night tour of the ancient canal, listened to Yangzhou folk tunes, and got drunk on pipa music until dawn;
Visited all the old-brand bathhouses: “Xiangyuan” for scrubbing, “Shuibaopi” for foot soaking, experiencing the true meaning of “In the morning, skin wraps water; at night, water wraps skin.”
Spend about 50 RMB per person to savor exquisite Huaiyang cuisine,
With 8,000 RMB, pack up Yangzhou’s “slow life, tea, gardens, and baths” all in one trip 🍵🌸🛁
💰 Budget Breakdown (per person｜cheaper for two travelers)
| Item | Budget |
|------|--------|
| Round-trip transportation (high-speed train/flight) | ¥1600 (Direct access from major cities to Yangzhou Station/Taizhou Airport) |
| Accommodation (6 nights in garden guesthouse) | ¥2400 (¥400/night, by Slender West Lake) |
| Local transportation (bus + taxi) | ¥300 |
| Food (morning tea + meals + snacks) | ¥1800 (¥250/day, 14 meals!) |
| Tickets + experiences (Slender West Lake, Ge Garden, He Garden, folk tunes, baths) | ¥1400 |
| Shopping + emergency reserve | ¥500 |
| Total | ≈ ¥7800 |
✅ Note: If traveling with a companion, sharing accommodation and taxi costs, the per-person budget can be controlled under 6,000 RMB, and with 8,000 RMB you can visit more gardens and buy lacquerware souvenirs!
🗓️ Daily Detailed Itinerary (Recommended travel from March to May or September to November｜Spring willows and autumn moon are most pleasant)
Day 1: Arrive in Yangzhou｜First encounter with Slender West Lake × First morning tea experience
📍 Itinerary: Arrive at Yangzhou Station → Taxi to Slender West Lake guesthouse → Check-in → Visit Yechun Teahouse
Afternoon: Check in at a garden guesthouse by Slender West Lake (¥380-450, such as “Changle Inn” or “He Garden · Qiyun”)
Century-old house renovation, carved windows, bluestone courtyard, lanterns light up at night
Evening: Walk to Yechun Teahouse (Yumantou branch)
Must order: Hot dried tofu strips, crab roe soup dumplings, jade shumai, Kuilongzhu tea
Night: Stroll along Slender West Lake, enjoy the night view of Wuting Bridge
Late-night snack: A bowl of “Yang Ba Guai” stewed chicken noodle soup
📌 Tip: Morning tea starts at 5 PM for dinner, don’t go at “breakfast” time!
Day 2: Slender West Lake walking tour｜From “Changdi Spring Willows” to “Twenty-four Bridges”
📍 Itinerary: Full day immersed in garden aesthetics
7:00 AM: Enter Slender West Lake as soon as it opens (ticket ¥100)
Avoid crowds, enjoy the morning tranquility
Route: Changdi Spring Willows → Xuyuan → Little Jinshan → Fishing Platform → Wuting Bridge → White Pagoda → Twenty-four Bridges
Must photograph:
Wuting Bridge reflection (morning light)
Twenty-four Bridges’ “twenty-four pillars” (Du Mu’s poetic scene)
Noon: Eat Huaiyang cuisine at lakeside Xiangyinglou: Lion’s Head meatballs, braised dried tofu strips
Afternoon: Take a boat tour from Lianhua Bridge to Xichuntai (¥40)
Evening: Soak at Xiangyuan Bathhouse (¥98, includes scrubbing + foot soak)
📌 Local secret: The west gate of Slender West Lake is less crowded, perfect for photos!
Day 3: Ge Garden × Dongguan Street local life
📍 Itinerary: Salt merchant mansion + thousand-year-old street
Morning: Visit Ge Garden (ticket ¥45)
One of China’s four famous gardens, known for “four-season rockeries”
Must see: Spring mountain stone bamboo shoots, summer mountain waterfall, autumn mountain red leaves, winter mountain Xuan stone
Noon: Have a simple meal at Qingyuan Teahouse inside the garden
Afternoon: Stroll Dongguan Street (free)
Check in: Xie Fuchun perfume powder shop, Sanhe Simei pickles, Luyang wontons
Must eat: Lotus root starch balls, Huangqiao sesame cakes, tofu pudding
Evening: Listen to Dongguan Street folk tunes (¥30/person)
Songs: “Yangzhou Folk Tune,” “Jasmine Flower”
📌 Tip: Xie Fuchun offers DIY sachets, starting at ¥28, great gifts!
Day 4: He Garden × Ancient Canal night tour
📍 Itinerary: Late Qing Dynasty’s top garden + water town Jiangnan
Morning: Tour He Garden (ticket ¥40)
“Prototype of China’s overpass” with multi-level corridors, perfect for photos
Must visit: Yuxiu Building, Water Heart Pavilion, Pianshi Mountain House (a Shitao masterpiece)
Noon: Eat creative Huaiyang cuisine at “Simple Tea and Plain Food”
Recommended: Slow-cooked radish, Lotus Pond Three Treasures
Afternoon: Return to guesthouse for rest, experience “skin wraps water” culture
Evening: Night cruise on Ancient Canal (boat ¥60)
Lights reflect on water, listen to boatwomen sing folk songs
End point: Dongguan Ancient Ferry, continue exploring the night market
📸 Photo spots: He Garden corridor reflection, canal night lights, folk tune singer’s profile
Day 5: Morning tea triple challenge × Lacquerware Museum × Ultimate Shuibaopi experience
📍 Itinerary: Taste buds + craftsmanship + body therapy
Morning: Start the “morning tea triple” challenge:
1. Fuchun Teahouse (main branch): drink Kuilongzhu tea, eat Kuilongzhu buns
2. Quyuan Teahouse (Slender West Lake branch): waterside private room, great for photos
3. Yiyuan Restaurant: local favorite, great value
Afternoon: Visit Yangzhou Lacquerware Museum (free)
See thousand-year-old craftsmanship, custom small items (from ¥198)
Evening: Ultimate bath experience at Shuibaopi Bath City (¥128)
Scrubbing + pedicure + foot massage + sauna, full 3 hours
Yangzhou saying: “In the morning, skin wraps water; at night, water wraps skin” — perfectly fulfilled
📌 Tip: Fuchun morning tea queues start after 9 AM, recommend arriving at 7:30!
Day 6: Daming Temple × Pingshan Hall × Wenchang Pavilion night view
📍 Itinerary: Climb high for a broad view, feel the scholar’s spirit
Morning: Climb Daming Temple (ticket ¥45)
Starting point of Jianzhen’s eastward voyage, climb Qiling Pagoda for city views
Noon: Eat vegetarian at Xiangjichu inside the temple
Afternoon: Walk to Pingshan Hall (built by Ouyang Xiu)
“Pingshan railing leans on clear sky,” feel Song Dynasty elegance
Evening: Return to Dongguan Street for souvenirs:
Xie Fuchun duck egg powder, Sanhe Simei pickles, lotus root starch balls (vacuum packed)
Night: Photograph Wenchang Pavilion night view (Yangzhou landmark)
📌 Locals say: Pingshan Hall is most beautiful in autumn when osmanthus blooms!
Day 7: Farewell Yangzhou｜Last morning tea + Take home a pack of “Kuilongzhu”
Morning: Return to Yechun or Fuchun for the last morning tea
Order a pot of tea, sip slowly like an old Yangzhou local
Check out: Guesthouse owners often give homemade tea bags or small lacquerware
Head to Yangzhou Station/Airport, end the 7-day “slow life” journey
📌 Avoid scams: “Free guiding” at scenic entrances is a trap, don’t trust it!
🍜 Yangzhou must-eat food list (50-80 RMB per person to eat full)
| Type | Recommended | Must order |
|------|-------------|------------|
| Morning tea | Fuchun, Yechun, Quyuan | Soup dumplings, hot dried tofu strips, Kuilongzhu tea |
| Main meals | Lion’s Head meatballs, braised dried tofu strips | Simple Tea and Plain Food, Yiyuan Restaurant |
| Snacks | Lotus root starch balls, Huangqiao sesame cakes | Most authentic from Dongguan Street vendors |
| Late-night snacks | Old hen chicken noodle soup, wontons | Yang Ba Guai, Luyang wontons |
📌 Tip: Huaiyang cuisine is light; add soy sauce if you prefer stronger flavors!
🏡 Accommodation recommendations (high cost-performance + good location)
1. Slender West Lake/Dongguan Street guesthouses (¥380-450)
Garden style, near attractions, experience old Yangzhou life
2. Chain hotels (e.g., All Seasons, Atour, around ¥300)
Good value, suitable for budget travelers
3. City hotels (near Wenchang Pavilion)
Convenient transportation, good for transfers
📸 Top 5 photo spots
| Location | Style | Best time to shoot |
|----------|-------|--------------------|
| Wuting Bridge reflection | Ink-wash Jiangnan | 6:00 AM |
| Ge Garden four-season rockeries | Garden wonder | Morning light |
| He Garden multi-level corridor | Late Qing charm | 3:00 PM soft light |
| Ancient Canal night boat | Lantern glow | After 7:30 PM |
| Morning tea steamer close-up | Daily life | 7:30-8:30 AM |
✅ Summary: Why explore Yangzhou this way?
✔️ Visual shock (gardens, canals, bridge reflections)
✔️ Taste enjoyment (morning tea, Huaiyang cuisine, folk tunes)
✔️ Body therapy (baths, scrubbing, foot massage)
✔️ Cultural depth (salt merchants, scholars, intangible heritage)
✔️ Cost-effective (8,000 RMB for a “noble slow life”)
📌 Final word:
Don’t say Yangzhou is just about “morning tea” anymore!
In this 2,500-year-old ancient city,
You can sip tea by Wuting Bridge at dawn,
Listen to folk tunes on the ancient canal at night,
And soak in the steam of a bathhouse,
Suddenly...
Post by Sophia Garcia Sophia8 | Sep 2, 2025
