Shanghai 1.5 hrs | No wonder Emperor Qianlong designated this place for spring outings—it's so fun!

Emperor Qianlong, who visited the south of the Yangtze River six times, chose to come to Yanguan four times in March. This place is practically his designated spring outing route! 🏞️ Taking advantage of the beautiful spring day, I took my kids to retrace Emperor Qianlong's route! Here's a detailed travel guide for you 👇🏻 — 📍 1 hr drive from Shanghai—Yanguan Ancient Town, Jiaxing—City of Tidal Music 🎫 Combined ticket: CNY 60 (free accommodation) Free for children under 1.2m (Includes 5 venues that were previously charged separately) 🕐 8:30–22:00 🅿️ Parking lot at the Tourist Center (free accommodation) ⚠️ During holidays, go directly to P6 for more parking spaces (charging stations are available on the 3rd floor) — 🟠 Spring-exclusive itinerary and activities (weekend edition): ❶ Gongchen Gate: Music performances are held on weekends by the Changmu Bridge and on the lawn by the theater. ❷ Imperial Wharf: Take a boat from here and experience the waterway scenery enjoyed by Emperor Qianlong. (Enjoy a "Drunken Jiangnan" afternoon tea on the boat as it slowly sails through the ancient town's waterways. The spring breeze is gentle, and you're sitting on a flower boat, feeling the spring all around you. Every photo you take will be amazing.) ❸ Poseidon Temple: The place where Emperor Qianlong prayed for blessings. The red walls and green tiles make for great photos. 9:58/14:18 (Blessing activities) ❹ Confucian Temple and School: A very educational place for children. 10:30/15:00 (Blessing ceremony and plum blossom viewing) ❺ Guanchao Scenic Park: 🎫 CNY 30. The tide presents different forms at different times. The spring tide has a healing effect. (Watch the first wave of the tide/enjoy the flowers) ❻ Music House Museum: There are many interactive musical installations here, suitable for all ages. ❼ Zhuchang Hotel: Take the elevator to the 5th floor for a beautiful view of the sunset over the city walls.🌇 ❽ Former Residence of Chen Gelao: Emperor Qianlong stayed here four times during his six visits to the south of the Yangtze River! — Photo 📷 guide: 1. There are photo spots at the entrance of the Yanguan Tide Wall Scenic Area on both sides. The left side facing the main gate is better for photos. 9:00–22:00, starting every hour for 15 minutes. 2. The scenic area is divided into north and south routes. It takes 3–5 hrs to tour on foot. You can take the sightseeing bus for CNY 20/person for unlimited rides all day (free accommodation). 🏨 Where to stay? We stayed at the Xuande Gate Hotel this time. This was once the former residence of Zhu Xi. It has a tranquil environment with ancient charm and Song Dynasty elegance. You can see the sunset 🌄 from your room! 🍝 What to eat? There are many local snacks to choose from on Beimen Street. For a proper meal, you can go to the Guchengmen Restaurant.