The Romantic Lunar New Year Atmosphere at Yaohu Town, Hidden in the Details

Yixing Yaohu Town is a themed resort town that combines natural scenery with cultural history, built around Yixing's unique "mountain, water, pottery, bamboo, and tea" culture, offering a rich variety of leisure experiences. Here is a detailed travel guide covering tickets, transportation, attractions, and special activities: ### **1. Basic Information** - **Address**: Yaohu Road, Zhangzhu Town, Yixing City, Jiangsu Province - **Opening Hours**: Year-round 09:00-22:00 (winter) / 09:00-22:30 (summer) - **Ticket Prices**: - Adult: 60 yuan - Discounted (seniors/children/students): 30 yuan - Recommended Packages: - Admission + Mini Train: 85 yuan - Admission + Boat Ride + Mini Train: 135 yuan ### **2. Transportation** - **High-speed Rail**: Yixing Station is about 22km from the town, 30 minutes by taxi. - **Self-driving**: - About 1 hour from Wuxi or Changzhou - Only 2km from the Yunhu exit of the Hangchang Expressway. - **Direct Shuttle**: Some platforms offer free shuttle buses to and from the high-speed rail station. ### **3. Must-visit Attractions & Experiences** **① Sightseeing Mini Train** - About 50 minutes for the full journey, circling the town for 7km, passing through bamboo forests, tea fields, and lakes, reminiscent of scenes from Hayao Miyazaki animations. - Price: 30 yuan/person one-way; package deals recommended for better value. **② Purple Clay Tower** - The town's landmark building, colored like purple clay teapots, surrounded by excellent lake views, perfect for photos. **③ Rowing Boat Lake Tour** - Drift across Yaohu Lake to enjoy the Jiangnan watertown scenery, package about 115 yuan (including admission). **④ Mingling Street** - Traditional commercial street where you can buy purple clay teapots, bamboo crafts, and taste local snacks like black rice and braised bamboo shoots with pork. **⑤ Intangible Cultural Heritage Experiences** - **Purple Clay Crafting**: Experience pottery making at Beihong Mansion (reservation required). - **Dragon Kiln Site**: Watch traditional kiln fire ceremonies and experience thousand-year-old pottery culture. **⑥ Evening Activities** - **Dragon Water Show**: Water screen light show every Friday and Saturday night, combined with fireworks and music for an impressive audiovisual experience. - **Bars and Night Markets**: Huxia Bar offers special drinks, and night tours of Mingling Street provide a lively atmosphere. ### **4. Accommodation Recommendations** - **Yaohu Grand Hotel**: Over 600 rooms with "pottery culture" themed designs; some packages include mini train rides, craft experiences, and afternoon tea. - **Nearby Guesthouses**: Mingling Village and Longchi Village have over 60 distinctive guesthouses, ideal for in-depth exploration. ### **5. Itinerary Suggestions** **One-day Route** - Morning: Mini Train → Purple Clay Tower photos → Mingling Street shopping - Afternoon: Rowing boat lake tour → Purple clay crafting experience - Evening: Watch the Dragon Water Show → Night tour of the bar street **Two-day Route** - **Day 1**: Mini Train → Bamboo Rat Water Park (open in summer) → Intangible Heritage Market → Night Water Show - **Day 2**: Boat Tour → Lu Xiangsheng Ancestral Hall → Lakeside Boardwalk (Hanfu photography) → Climb the Purple Clay Tower. ### **6. Tips** - **Eligible for Free Entry**: Children under 1.2m, seniors over 70, active military personnel, etc. - **Pet Policy**: Pets are prohibited in the scenic area and must be left at the visitor center. - **Best Seasons**: Spring (flower sea), Summer (water park), Autumn (tea field scenery). Yaohu Town offers both the elegance of a Jiangnan watertown and the comfort of a modern resort, suitable for family trips, culture enthusiasts, and photography lovers. Booking package tickets in advance can save money, and weekend evening activities are more abundant, so plan your time wisely!