The Shi Kefa Museum

People often say "Visit Yangzhou in the misty March," but actually, besides spring, Yangzhou's autumn is also breathtakingly beautiful. Honestly! Yangzhou really doesn't lack beautiful places that don't cost a dime... The ginkgo trees at Shigong Shrine will turn yellow in just a few weeks! Perfect for taking amazing photos!! Photos that are guaranteed to turn out great. And if you're lucky, you might even catch groups of little cats 🐱!

November and December in Yangzhou are truly a paradise for autumn lovers! I spent four days and three nights visiting several major autumn viewing spots and would like to share them with you. 🍁 Ginkgo: 📍 Qionghua Temple (P1-3) A little-known spot with very few people. Taking photos under the century-old giant ginkgo tree is very photogenic. Admission is 5 RMB. 📍 Yanfulu Ginkgo Avenue (P4-6) The entire road is lined with colorful ginkgo trees, creating a great atmosphere! 📍 Shi Kefa Memorial Hall (P7-8) One of the most famous autumn viewing spots. Free entry with an ID card. There is a nearly 300-year-old ginkgo tree, but it can be crowded. It’s best to visit on weekday mornings. Note: closed on Mondays❗ 🍁 Japanese Maple: 📍 Ge Garden (P9-11) 📍 He Garden (P12-14) Classic Jiangnan garden landscapes, with Japanese maples glowing under the sunlight. Strongly recommend entering right when the garden opens in the morning for fewer people and beautiful scenery~ The combined ticket for He Garden and Ge Garden is 50 RMB, available for purchase directly at He Garden, valid for two days. 🍁 Phoenix Tree: 📍 Slender West Lake (P15-17) Currently off-season tickets are 60 RMB. Recommended to enter from the South Gate and exit from the West Gate to see most of the attractions. The temple near the White Pagoda is especially photogenic. 📍 Songjiacheng Sports Park (P18) A great place for Yangzhou locals to take walks. The ginkgo avenue is mostly bare now, but the phoenix trees are beautiful, and there are dedicated photo spots perfect for portraits.

Compared to spring, I seem to like autumn more. If it weren’t for that, how would I have seen such beautiful ginkgo trees? A suddenly planned two-day trip to Yangzhou, taking advantage of the weekend to come see the ginkgo trees. As soon as I arrived, I felt that Yangzhou is truly a "slow-paced" city—enjoying morning tea, watching opera, taking photos of the ginkgo trees. It seems that once you come here, you forget all your worries and immerse yourself in a slow-paced life. ❤️ Things to do: Since we came mainly for the ginkgo trees, we focused on spots with more ginkgo. Most of the photos above were taken at Shigong Shrine. It’s currently ginkgo season, so there are quite a few people. Admission is free (just show your ID at the entrance). The place isn’t large, and aside from the ginkgo trees, it’s pretty ordinary. It’s said these two ginkgo trees are over 200 years old, so they are really beautiful. Eight Eccentrics Memorial Hall ✖️ Not recommended. Tickets are 15 yuan (there are various combo tickets to check out 👀). There are two ginkgo trees at the entrance, but they’re small and some leaves have already fallen. Not many people visit. I don’t think it’s a must-visit spot. Slender West Lake (off-season 55 yuan/person) ☑️ A must-go! Even if you have to crawl, go! Enter from the south gate—take an electric boat tour of the lake (60 yuan/person)—after getting off, walk along the shore back to the south gate. I recommend taking the boat! You won’t get too tired and can enjoy the scenery on both sides. Staff said there’s not much to see on the north gate route this season, so after getting off the boat, we chose to walk back along the shore to the south gate. Along the way, you can visit many attractions. It’s quite comfortable to walk, look around, and take photos. It takes about 2 to 3 hours. Near the south gate, the children’s playground also has a large area of ginkgo trees, which is very beautiful! There are many great photo spots along the way—so Slender West Lake is definitely worth visiting! Dongguan Street and Pishi Street: They feel a bit like Pingjiang Road. Stroll around, look around, buy some fridge magnets. I recommend the fridge magnets from Fushengji on Dongguan Street—they’re very special! Dongguan Street is even more beautiful at night! 🍜 Food: This time I tried Cucha Danfan and Yechun, both quite popular restaurants. I really like Yangzhou’s Yangchun noodles; the broth is different from Shanghai’s, a delight for noodle lovers. Yechun is crowded but you can try many different dishes. Overall, it feels similar to Shanghai. Small tips: Avoid peak meal times when eating. Yechun doesn’t have to be for morning tea only. There were dozens of tables waiting in the morning, but we went after 2 pm and didn’t have to wait. The dishes are the same as in the morning. 🏠 Accommodation: Stayed at a guesthouse near Shigong Shrine called Huazhu·Xiangwang Aesthetic Guesthouse, highly recommended! The owner is very nice, not only contacting you in advance to confirm the itinerary but also responding to all your questions—she’s reliable! The rooms are very clean, and as soon as you enter, you can see the blue tiles outside the window. The sunlight coming in feels wonderful! Plus, it’s close to all the attractions. We basically walked to all the spots during our stay! When we left, they even prepared souvenirs for us—so touching! Autumn in Yangzhou is truly beautiful. I don’t think this will be my last time visiting Yangzhou!

“Who will I meet, and what kind of dialogue will we have?” Wintersweet covered in snow, a rare sight in many years… A heavy snowfall, will have countless people, standing in countless places, capturing countless snow scenes, writing down countless heartfelt stories… “Snow on the blue mountains, bright candles shine south”; “Don’t say the official is foolish, there are those even more foolish than him”… Envy those moments of “meeting” the snow, many sceneries are met by chance, should be cherished well～ One person carrying a camera for a walk, Snow falls all over the city, a rare encounter with Huai Min!

I've always heard about the famous ginkgo trees at Shigongci in Yangzhou, and finally got to see them in person last weekend👻 In the small courtyard, there are two large ginkgo trees Both are 290 years old, and the courtyard is too small to contain them They cover the entire courtyard, climbing up desperately ⏰Photo taken on: 11/15, Shigongci is free to visit. ✨Ginkgo yellow leaf progress: The tree on the east side is about 40% yellow, the one on the west side is about 30%. 👉Recommended photo spot: Personally, I think it's really hard to take good photos inside the small courtyard Walk towards the east exit, look up and it suddenly opens up The tree on the east side rises far above the courtyard wall, truly spectacular‼️ The best viewing period is expected by the end of the month😜 ✅These photos were taken at the exit, photos 1-7 are close to the original colors. The later photos are a bit greener than the actual ginkgo color due to phone issues!

These two trips were definitely worth it, really worth it👍👍👍 I came once in mid-November when the leaves were still yellow-green gradient Came again on 11/29, and the full yellow was absolutely stunning💯 For what you love❤️, no distance is too far❓ The ground was covered with fluttering ginkgo leaves✨✨, shining golden and dazzling Taking photos of the ginkgo can even cure neck pain haha😊 I was looking up the whole time, totally exhausted～～ The best viewing period is just these two days🤟 Go on a sunny noon for the best light Good lighting is key for great shots📷 The crowd photos are in the last three pictures👻

That splash of red in Yangzhou’s autumn✨, the maple leaves at the Shi Kefa Memorial Hall are absolutely stunning! Came specifically on the weekend to check out this red maple area, didn’t expect a free attraction to be so photogenic～ 📍Shi Kefa Memorial Hall Address: No. 24 Guangchumenwai Street Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Closed on Monday) Admission: Free🆓 Standing outside the quaint blue brick and gray tile building, I was amazed by the red leaves peeking over the courtyard walls! The weekend happened to be sunny, with sunlight dappled through the maple leaves onto the stone path—every snap is a masterpiece. Recommended to come around 3 PM when the light is softest, you’ll fill up your phone’s memory in no time! Though the hall isn’t large, surprises await everywhere. The most recommended spot is the maple forest area further inside, where fallen leaves carpet the ground, crunching underfoot—pure autumn BGM🎶. Remember to wear solid-colored clothes; they look amazing against the red maple backdrop～ 🍂Tips for visiting: 1. The bluestone path in the courtyard can be slippery, so wear non-slip shoes 2. Best photo spot is the maple forest area in the memorial hall’s backyard 3. You can also visit the nearby Fuchun Teahouse to try Yangzhou morning tea 4. The park is small and can be toured in about an hour, perfect for fitting into a one-day Yangzhou trip

"Go to Yangzhou in March when the flowers are in bloom." This line of poetry is so famous that I always thought that Yangzhou in spring was the most beautiful place in the world. But who would have thought that Yangzhou in autumn would be so stunning? I was so amazed that I couldn't help but share this beauty with everyone! I got up early and went to Shigong Temple, full of anticipation for the autumn ginkgo trees. Before I even entered the gate, I was stunned by the sight in front of me! The ginkgo tree was tall and lush, with branches and leaves stretching out freely. The golden color was so intense that it was like a canopy of gold. The natural beauty of the tree was so striking that it surpassed all the ginkgo trees I had seen this year. At that moment, the phrase "ginkgo trees never disappoint in autumn" was no longer just a light-hearted slogan, but a real and beautiful autumn scene. My friends in Yangzhou were very enthusiastic and recommended a treasure trove of autumn scenery: Qionghua Temple ➡️ Shigong Temple ➡️ Yangzhou Eight Eccentrics Memorial Hall ➡️ Songjia City. Walking along the route, the autumn scenery accompanied me all the way, and each place had its own unique charm that made it hard to look away. I heard that the maple leaves in He Garden will be red next week, like a second invitation from autumn. I immediately made a decision to go to Yangzhou again next week! I didn't get enough of it last time, and this time, I want to lock the beauty of Yangzhou in autumn in my memory. 📷 Here's a tip: The Shi Kefa Memorial Hall opens at 9 am and is free of charge, so don't miss this golden opportunity if you're interested. Take advantage of the autumn season and head to Yangzhou to encounter your own autumn surprise!

48 Hours Through Yangzhou: Visit temples, ancestral halls, lakes, and the city, capturing the autumn of an entire ancient city. Golden ginkgo in autumn is the main theme of Yangzhou, but the bustling Tianning Temple, the solemn Shigong Ancestral Hall, the water reflections of the Eight Eccentrics, and the Zen atmosphere of Daming Temple each offer different autumnal contexts; the plane trees appear in the rustic Song Jia City and the exquisite Slender West Lake, presenting distinct atmospheres. Day One 1️⃣ Tianning Temple: p1-2 Antique market and millennium-old ginkgo, Zen amidst worldly life. 2️⃣ Shigong Ancestral Hall: p4-6 Red maples reflect ancient lamps, solemn ancestral hall and the beauty of architectural light and shadow. 3️⃣ Yanbu West Road: p3 Bustling market life, elegant scholar’s study charm coexisting with golden ginkgo. 4️⃣ Eight Eccentrics Memorial Hall: p7-8 Water reflects ginkgo, blending artistic eccentricity with natural reflections. 5️⃣ Chongning Temple: Can’t leave it out Quiet and serene at dawn, a peaceful ancient temple at sunrise with few visitors. Day Two 6️⃣ Song Jia City: p9-10 Plane trees’ autumn colors soak the ancient city walls, vast poetic mood. 7️⃣ Changchun Road: p11-p12 Bald cypress avenue, modern aesthetics of urban planning. 8️⃣ Slender West Lake: p13-15 Pavilions and pagodas mirror each other, a classic garden painting with changing scenes at every step. 9️⃣ Daming Temple: p16-18 Ancient temple with yellow walls, Jianzhen’s relics, ginkgo soaked in millennia of incense smoke.

Yangzhou's winter is hidden in the subtle fragrance of Shigong Ancestral Temple! A century-old ancestral temple paired with proud wintersweet blossoms offers both historical depth and Jiangnan poetry. The best part is it's quiet and uncrowded, so you don't have to jostle for photos~ This ultimate guide to wintersweet viewing + hidden gem accommodation recommendations is a must-save before you go! 🌸 Essential Guide to Wintersweet Viewing at Shigong Ancestral Temple 📍Address: Meihualing Bank, Guangchumenwai Street (Shi Kefa Memorial Hall) ⏰Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:45), Closed on Mondays (except public holidays) 💰Admission: Free! Just swipe your ID card/social security card to enter. If you forget your ID, you can still enter by registering. ✨Best Viewing Period: Late December - Early February. Over 200-year-old ancient wintersweet blossoms bloom in succession, their subtle fragrance wafting through the air. 📸Must-take Photo Spots: 1. In front of Xiangtang Hall: Next to the famous couplet "A few plum blossoms, tears for a lost nation; a sliver of moonlight, the heart of an old official," capture the wintersweet and the ancient ancestral temple plaque in the same frame for a full ancient charm. 2. Corridor Corner: White walls and dark tiles reflect the plum blossoms. Take a side shot of falling petals for an absolutely stunning atmosphere. 3. Outside Qingxuexuan Pavilion: Wintersweet branches extend diagonally in front of the stone tablet. Shoot when the light and shadows are dappled for a natural cinematic filter. 💡Tip: Wearing a plain long dress or Hanfu will make your photos even better. The slanting sun from 3-5 PM will cast a warm glow on the petals. After your visit, you can walk to the adjacent Tianning Temple (Yangzhou's "Mini Forbidden City") to check out its red walls and ancient architecture. The two locations are very close~ 📍 Nearby Itinerary (Super Smooth 1-Day Trip) Shigong Ancestral Temple → Tianning Temple → Yumato Wharf → Dongguan Street → Geyuan Garden ✅ All locations are reachable by taxi for the starting fare, or you can cycle shared bikes to explore the old city charm of Yangzhou along the way. ✅ At Dongguan Street, you can try hot dried tofu strips and osmanthus taro seedlings. When you're tired from exploring, it's super convenient to head back to the hotel to rest. 🏨 Hidden Gem Accommodation Recommendation for Your Wintersweet Trip Choosing the right place to stay in Yangzhou is so important! I highly recommend "Home Inn.neo (Yangzhou Wenchang Pavilion Weiyang Road Store)," where I stayed this time. Its location and experience are absolutely fantastic, perfectly tailored for tourists~ ✅ Prime Location, Direct Access to Attractions Without Detours • Only 2.5 km from Shigong Ancestral Temple, a 10-minute taxi ride directly to the hotel, making it easy to return after viewing the wintersweet. • 6-minute drive to the West Gate of Slender West Lake, 10 minutes to the Grand Canal Museum, and super close to Dongguan Street and Geyuan Garden. • Surrounded by a plethora of dining options. You can walk to authentic Huaiyang cuisine without having to travel far for meals. ✅ New and Fully Equipped Facilities, Super Comfortable Stay • Newly renovated in 2022, rooms are clean, tidy, and odor-free. Bedding is soft and skin-friendly, and soundproofing is excellent. • Free parking, 24-hour front desk, laundry room + dryer are all available, so no worries about laundry during your trip. • There's also a gym. After a day of sightseeing, a workout is super stress-relieving. The buffet breakfast offers a rich variety, including Yangzhou local specialties. ✅ Excellent Value for Money, Go for It! • Economy price with an unexpectedly good experience, consistently well-reviewed. • Supports free luggage storage and taxi booking services, making it super convenient for families with children or elderly travelers. • Modern minimalist design blended with the ancient charm of Yangzhou, great for taking photos to share online. Coming to Yangzhou in winter to admire the wintersweet at Shigong Ancestral Temple, staying at this conveniently located and well-equipped hotel will make your trip even more enjoyable~

In wintertime Yangzhou, wintersweet flowers bloom, their subtle fragrance drifting, intoxicating all who encounter it. Inside the Shi Kefa Memorial Hall, a wintersweet tree over 250 years old stands beneath the Qingxue Pavilion gate. Most of its blossoms have already opened, releasing a rich aroma that refreshes the mind and spirit. At the Slender West Lake Scenic Area, wintersweet buds are unfolding their petals, with strands of fragrance wafting through the branches. In the Ge Garden during winter, wintersweet decorates the winter hills like a fairyland, where the fresh scent mingles with ancient charm. Within He Garden, a splash of bright yellow catches the eye, with graceful branches and the plum fragrance filling the air, making one forget the chill of winter. Near the South Gate of Songjia City, along the red walkway, wintersweet flowers have burst from buds to full bloom seemingly overnight. In a corner of the Canal Three Bays Scenic Area, a solitary wintersweet blooms proudly in the cold, its fresh scent lighting up the winter and inviting visitors to pause and enjoy, lifting their spirits. Additionally, Daming Temple, Wang’s Small Garden, Zhuyu Bay Scenic Area, and Yangzijin Park are also excellent spots for viewing wintersweet. Many wintersweet trees are also planted along Yangzhou streets such as Wenchang West Road and the Ancient Canal Scenic Belt. Come to Yangzhou to smell the fragrance and seek the blooms, and experience this winter’s romance and surprises! Do you know any other great places to enjoy wintersweet? Feel free to recommend~

From Yanfu West Road all the way to Yanfu East Road, ginkgo trees line the streets, their leaves shining golden under the midday sun. The recent warm weather makes it perfect for a slow bike ride or a relaxing walk, very soothing ❤️‍🩹 This weekend, Shigong Temple was packed with people, and the ginkgo leaves have turned completely yellow. When I visited last week, there was still some green left. The temple will be closed tomorrow, Monday, so I recommend visiting on Tuesday if you can. The ginkgo leaves have started to fall, so make sure to catch the last moments of autumn!