Exploring Ancient Charm Along Fengcheng River: A Thousand-Year Journey Through a Water City

Taizhou, a thousand-year-old city surrounded by water, carries the profound and elegant culture of the Huaiyang region. Fengcheng River, like a jade ribbon embracing the ancient city, connects history, opera, folk customs, and modern urban prosperity. Walking along its banks feels like traveling through time, where each step touches the warmth of history, and every scene tells the poetic story of this water city. This article will take you on an in-depth tour of the Fengcheng River Scenic Area from a visitor's perspective, allowing you to experience its unique charm. I. Fengcheng River: The Lifeblood and Soul of an Ancient City Fengcheng River is Taizhou's "mother river" and the most well-preserved thousand-year-old moat in Jiangsu Province. It's not just a geographical waterway but the core carrier of Taizhou's culture. The river winds through thousands of acres, integrating the historical heritage of "city established in Southern Tang Dynasty, cultural prosperity in Northern Song Dynasty" with modern urban prosperity. Boating on the river, you can see ancient buildings and lush trees lining both banks, with the majestic Wanghai Tower and the elegant Taoyuan Garden reflected in the water. As ripples spread across the surface, the weight of history washes over you. What makes the Fengcheng River Scenic Area unique is its "double-water encircling city" ecological pattern: the inner ring centers on Fengcheng River, while the outer ring forms a "jade belt" consisting of Yinjiang River, Zhoushan River, and others, creating an interwoven urban waterscape. This pattern differs from both the delicate charm of Jiangnan water towns and the grandeur of northern water systems. Instead, it showcases Taizhou's "water-city symbiosis" through the interplay of open waters and historical relics. II. Daytime Tour of Fengcheng River: Ascending Towers, Tracing Cultural Veins 1. Wanghai Tower: Historical Echoes of the Premier Tower of Huaiyang Region Wanghai Tower is the cultural landmark of the Fengcheng River Scenic Area. Originally built during the Southern Song Dynasty, it was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, finally restored in 2006 in Song Dynasty style, earning the title "Premier Tower of Huaiyang Region." From the top, although the sea is no longer visible (due to coastline changes), you can still imagine the poems left by literary figures like Fan Zhongyan and Lu You while leaning on the railings. The tower houses exhibits of historical reconstruction materials, from Song Dynasty blue bricks to Ming and Qing Dynasty wood carvings, each detail telling the story of "the tower rising and falling with the city." Notably, Wenhui Hall to the west was where Northern Song officials like Teng Zijing and Fan Zhongyan gathered for literary exchanges, where the spirit of "worrying before the world worries" took root. 2. Taoyuan Garden and "The Peach Blossom Fan": Living Heritage of Opera Culture Across the river from Wanghai Tower lies Taoyuan Garden, centered around "Chen Hermitage," where Qing Dynasty playwright Kong Shangren created "The Peach Blossom Fan." The garden features 116 varieties of peach trees that bloom like rosy clouds in spring, complementing the traditional opera stage and painted boats. While strolling through, you might encounter Kunqu Opera performers presenting excerpts from "The Peach Blossom Fan" on stone boats, their flowing sleeves bringing the joy and sorrow of Li Xiangrun and Hou Fangyu across time. Together with the Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall and Liuyuan Pinghua, Taoyuan Garden forms the "Three Opera Culture Villages," embodying Taizhou's reputation as the "Home of Opera." 3. Qiao Garden and Imperial Examination Hall: Garden Elegance and Scholarly Memories Qiao Garden is the oldest surviving private garden in northern Jiangsu, known for its ingenious layout featuring fourteen scenic spots including "South Window Pride" and "Cloud-Gathering Cave." The thousand-year-old cypresses stand strong, and winding paths lead through artificial mountains, showcasing the Ming Dynasty garden-making wisdom of "seeing greatness in smallness." The Imperial Examination Hall is a physical testament to China's ancient examination system, with restored examination cells, government offices, and interactive exhibits that vividly convey the hardships and glory of ancient scholars' "decade of diligent study." III. Night Tour of Fengcheng River: Brilliant Lights, Folk Celebrations If daytime Fengcheng River is a historical thinker, nighttime Fengcheng River is a lively dancer. Taking a painted boat cruise at night is the essence of experiencing Taizhou's charm. 1. Painted Boat Cruise: A Dreamlike Water Journey of Light and Shadow Ornately decorated painted boats glide across the water as lights along both banks illuminate sequentially. Wanghai Tower dons a golden coat, while Taoyuan Garden's opera stage reflects in the water like a flowing fine-brush painting. As the boat passes Taizhou Old Street, folk performances featuring the "Three Stars of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity" and auspicious lion dances unfold along the shore, with drums and laughter recreating the prosperity of Ming and Qing marketplaces. Reaching Sanshuiwan, a modern light show transports visitors to a dreamlike fairy tale world, where classical and contemporary elements collide wonderfully. 2. Taizhou Old Street: Thousand-Year Flavors on the Tip of Your Tongue The night tour inevitably ends at Taizhou Old Street. Among the gray-brick and black-tiled Ming and Qing buildings waft the charred aroma of clay oven biscuits, the buttery sweetness of Huangqiao baked flatbreads, and other local delicacies like Jingjiang pork jerky and Zintong fish cakes that make mouths water. In traditional craft shops, intangible cultural heritage artisans create lifelike "rabbit lanterns" and "Beijing opera masks" with nimble fingers. On the ancient stage, the melodious singing of Yangzhou Opera "Dragon and Phoenix Love" fills the air, while audience members either sit on long benches sipping tea or stand applauding, immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of everyday life. IV. Staying by Fengcheng River: Sleeping by the Water, Retreating to the Countryside For a deeper experience of the water city's tranquility, consider staying at Yundu Guesthouse in Qianduo Town, Xinghua. The guesthouse sits by Lake Pingwang, surrounded by water on three sides, with individual cottages complementing the terraced field landscape. In the morning, you can open your window to see light mist hovering over canola fields like an ink painting; at night, you can fall asleep under the stars, listening to frogs and insects. The bamboo chairs and pottery jars in the guesthouse evoke childhood memories, while activities like fishing and tea picking allow visitors to temporarily escape the hustle and bustle and return to the pastoral simplicity of rural life. V. Four Seasons at Fengcheng River: Symphony of Festivals and Flowers The charm of Fengcheng River changes with the seasons: - Spring: Golden fields of canola flowers in Qianduo, blooming peach blossoms at Taoyuan Garden Festival; - Summer: Cool breezes along Fengcheng River, night boat cruises become the top choice for escaping the heat; - Autumn: Lantern markets illuminate Old Street during Mid-Autumn Festival, intangible cultural heritage performances convey traditional charm; - Winter: Spring Festival folk activities in full swing, dragon and lion dances, Hanfu garden tours revive ancient New Year customs. Additionally, the scenic area regularly hosts cultural themed events, such as ancient music performances at Wanghai Tower and Mei School Beijing Opera fan clubs, offering visitors pleasant surprises in every season. Conclusion: Water City Taizhou, A Never-Ending Cultural Feast The Fengcheng River Scenic Area is a museum without walls. Here, history isn't cold relics but flowing water, opera performances, fragrant cuisine, and vibrant everyday life. Whether climbing towers to contemplate the past, boating to enjoy the night view, exploring market flavors, or retreating to the countryside, Fengcheng River welcomes every traveler to write their own water city story with an inclusive attitude. As Chinese scholar Wen Huaisha said, "The existence of Wanghai Tower is not only for ascending and overlooking but also serves as an important cultural high ground of Chinese civilization." The elegance and profundity of this land will create eternal ripples in the hearts of all who visit. Wanghai Tower at Fengcheng River