[2025 Zaozhuang Restaurant] Travel Guide for ZHAO HUA XI SHI (Updated Oct)

✅Summer vacation is coming! Want to take your kids out but not sure where to go? Moms, look no further—Taierzhuang Ancient City is an amazing destination! Whether you drive or take the high-speed train from Jinan, it's super convenient. Pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable ancient city adventure with your little ones! 🚗Transportation Guide: 🎈High-Speed Train: Take the train from Jinan West Station to Zaozhuang Station (about 1.5 hours, ~¥90). From Zaozhuang Station, you can take a taxi directly to the ancient city's South Gate (carpooling is more cost-effective for groups). Alternatively, take BRT10 (operating 7:20 AM - 9:30 PM, every 30-60 minutes) to Taierzhuang Ancient City Parking Lot (terminal station, ~¥5). From there, buy tickets at the visitor center and take an electric cart (24/7 service) into the ancient city. 🎈Self-Drive: From downtown Jinan, take the Jitai Expressway, Taixin Expressway, or Bintai Expressway (~300 km, 3-4 hours). Navigate to "Taierzhuang Ancient City Southeast Parking Lot" (~¥20/day), just a 5-minute walk to the entrance. 📅Itinerary: ✅Day 1: 🎈Morning: Depart from Jinan. If driving, take breaks to enjoy the scenery. If taking the train, arrive early at the station. 🎈Noon: Check in at your hotel near the ancient city, then try local specialties like Zaozhuang Spicy Chicken or Jianbing (savory pancakes) at nearby restaurants. 🎈Afternoon: Enter via the East Gate and visit the Taierzhuang Battle Memorial (2-3 hours) to learn about WWII history. Stroll through the ancient streets and shop for souvenirs. 🎈Evening: Watch the live performance "Qianlong's Tour of Taierzhuang" (~6:00 PM, check schedule) at Tianhou Palace Square, then explore the palace's exquisite architecture and Mazu culture. 🎈Night: Dine at Lakeside Moonlight Music Restaurant, then take a night boat tour (day: ¥40/person; night: ¥60/person) to enjoy lantern-lit canals and folk songs. End with a visit to the bustling night market. ✅Day 2: 🎈Morning: Visit the Battle Site Park to reflect on history, then walk the Buyun Bridge for panoramic views of the ancient city and canal. Catch a lion dance performance at Revival Square (check schedule). 🎈Noon: Try local dishes like Yellow Flower Beef Noodles or Lamb Soup at Eight Bowls Restaurant. 🎈Afternoon: Explore museum street (Yuehe Street), including the Signboard Museum and Grand Canal Tax History Museum. Optionally, try traditional crafts like Lu embroidery or clay sculpting before heading back. 🍔Food Recommendations: 🎈Zaozhuang Spicy Chicken: Signature dish with tender local chicken and spicy peppers. Try at Lakeside Moonlight. 🎈Jianbing: Crispy pancakes stuffed with fresh veggies and eggs—available at many street stalls. 🎈Yellow Flower Beef Noodles: Chewy noodles with braised beef and daylily flowers. Recommended: Master Song’s Noodles. 🎈Lamb Soup: Rich and nourishing, perfect even in summer. Try at Xiji Lamb Soup. 🎈Duck Egg Glass Noodles: Refreshing cold dish with savory duck eggs. Best at Morning Blossoms Restaurant. 🏨Accommodation: 🎈Family-Friendly: Sky Garden Hotel offers kid-friendly amenities (toiletries, slippers, beds) and nearby play areas. 🎈Premium: Sky City Hotel features smart rooms, 270° canal views, and personalized travel tips via WeChat. ❗Tips: 🎈Tickets: ¥118 (2-day pass). Buy online to skip lines. Discounts for seniors (60+) and locals—check policies. 🎈Shows: Daily performances like Steel Fire Dragon (8:30 PM) or Qianlong’s Tour (6:00 PM). Plan ahead! 🎈Cobblestone Streets: Wear anti-slip shoes for kids. 🎈Weather: Summer essentials—sunscreen, hats, fans, mosquito patches. Bring rain gear if needed. 🎈Holidays: Book hotels/tickets early. Expect queues for boats and shows. ✅Moms, follow this guide for a joyful summer trip to Taierzhuang Ancient City—it’ll be a memory to treasure!

🌙 Stay: "Moonlight Harbor Hotel" by the Water Wake up to the flowing canal right outside your window, with traditional rooftops casting gentle shadows in the twilight. The wooden corridors echo with soft footsteps, as if the ancient town is whispering, "Welcome home." Drift off to sleep watching river lanterns from your balcony and wake to birdsong at dawn—isn't this the slow-paced life you've dreamed of? 🍽️ Eat: "Morning Blossoms, Evening Memories Chinese Restaurant" Hidden in the Alleys Push open the red wooden door, and the aroma of spicy chicken mingles with the sweetness of rice wine. Must-tries include the "Canal Fish Potstickers"—tender fish wrapped in savory broth, with crispy golden bottoms—and the "Zaozhuang Spicy Chicken," a fiery stir-fry of local free-range chicken. Pair it with a bowl of freshly made pumpkin porridge for ultimate comfort. Book a window seat in advance to enjoy the lively street views while you dine! 🔥 See: The Millennium-Old "Fire Dragon Steel Sparks" Lights Up Summer Nights Watch as molten iron transforms into a shower of stars, and bare-chested artisans dance with dragon-shaped tools, sending golden sparks cascading like waterfalls across the sky—no CGI here! This 300-year-old "king of folk fireworks" is pure spectacle. Stand in front of the ancient opera tower, feel the heat and cheers, and capture every jaw-dropping moment on your phone—each frame is a showstopper for your social feed! 💡 Tips: June brings mild evenings, so light cotton dresses and sandals are perfect. Ask the hotel for a "Night Tour Map" to explore lantern-lit streets and vibrant bar alleys. Here, time slows, and stories warm the heart. ✨

🚗 Come to Tai'erzhuang, even lazy people can travel easily! Self-driving tours are super convenient. Friends in Shandong Province, drive over, Tai'erzhuang has free parking lots. Park your car, walk a few steps to the ancient city entrance, worry-free! 🎫 Tickets are 118 yuan, unlimited entry and exit within two days. Remember to take a brochure at the entrance, it contains a map, just follow it. If you find it tiring, you can take a tour bus, but it's a bit expensive. 🍗 Food guide: Speaking of Zaozhuang, you must try the spicy chicken! There's also the intangible cultural heritage Huanghua beef noodles and vegetable pancakes. We went straight to the Zhaohuaxishi restaurant for lunch, the spicy chicken was super delicious, the pancake with green onions was a bit hard to bite, but it's also a specialty, worth a try. 🍰 We also bought osmanthus cake on the way, it looks great, but the taste is just so-so. But traveling is all about trying new things! 🏨 Accommodation recommendation: Zhaohuaxishi Inn, right on the second floor of the restaurant, over a hundred yuan, super cost-effective, luxurious rooms, large area, enthusiastic service, the receptionist will also tell you where to take good photos, the night scenery is stunning! 🎭 Performance time: The iron flower performance at night is super popular. If you want to stand in the front row, go to "Fuxing Wharf" 30 minutes in advance to get a spot. The inn I stayed at is just outside, super convenient. There's also the "Shuiyueyin" performance at Niushiwang, worth watching. 📢 Interaction time: Does anyone have their own hidden food or accommodation recommendations in Tai'erzhuang? Or any travel tips? Come to the comment section to share, let's discover more beauty of Tai'erzhuang together!

The night view of the ancient city of Taierzhuang is amazing. Based on my own experience, I will tell you how to effectively tour the ancient city of Taierzhuang. 1⃣️Accommodation + Catering🏨 Choosing a cost-effective hotel is very important. It's also important to eat well when you're out. Recommended accommodation🛏️: Huajiadi·Taiwan Inn ❶Service🍃: The staff's service is particularly enthusiastic💗 They will help with luggage, introduce the guide map in detail and mark the performance time, and tell us how to play better✅ ❷Room space☀️: The chosen one is a 180-degree viewing suite, which is very suitable for family travel. There are three beds in the room, and there is also a sofa coffee table, the space is suitable for children to play. ❸Dining🍴: It's more convenient to eat in the hotel. Their family's Morning Flower Evening Collection Chinese Restaurant and Huajiadi Art Restaurant are quite famous. We ordered the most characteristic local spicy chicken in the restaurant. The taste is quite authentic and the portion is full. 2⃣️Local specialty food⭐️ 🔥Zaozhuang Spicy Chicken (Local thin-skinned chili with delicious small rooster, the taste of stir-frying is absolutely amazing) 🔥Canal Carp (Big carp raised in the ancient canal, the whole one comes up directly with color, fragrance and taste) 🔥Duck Egg Fenpi (Fresh and fragrant duck eggs with fenpi, the taste is simply too delicate) 🔥Pancake Roll with Big Onion (Famous Shandong pancake with spicy sauce and big onion, take a bite, it's simply too appetizing) 3⃣️Performance🎉 Daytime sessions: ①10 o'clock Lunan Shadow Play-Location Taizhuang Post East Side ②11 o'clock Quyi Collection-Location Xie Yuda Tea Line ③15 o'clock Zhong Fan Lion Dance-Fuxing Square (no performance on Wednesday) Evening sessions: ①5:45 Welcome Show-Location at the East Gate Tower ②6:30 City Building Light Show-Location at the City Building ③7:30 Boat-shaped Street Light Show-Location at Boat-shaped Street ④7:45 Fire Dragon Steel Flower-Location at Fuxing Square 🎏Meet in the ancient city of Taierzhuang, I'll wait for you here~