Major city · China
Yangzhou扬州
Give Yangzhou 2 nights: one full day for Slender West Lake and the gardens, one for the old-town canals and the Grand Canal Museum. Skip it if you only have 3 days in Jiangsu.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot, humid, heavy rain), Chinese New Year week
- Airports
- YTY · NKG
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
Yangzhou is a 2,500-year-old canal and salt-trade city on the Yangtze plain, 1.5–2 h by high-speed rail from Nanjing or Shanghai. Its draw is a compact set of classical gardens, the slender lake park and the old Grand Canal, not a big-ticket monument. Two nights covers it well; one night is a squeeze.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Yangzhou, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetyYangzhou is a low-crime city and safe for tourists day and night.
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire · 120 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportYTY Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport (About 40 km east of the centre; mostly domestic routes plus Osaka and Seoul.YTY Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport (About 25 mi east of the centre; mostly domestic routes plus Osaka and Seoul.
- Getting aroundCity buses cost about ¥2 (≈ under US$1) a ride but many routes stop around 18:00–19:00.City buses cost about ¥2 (≈ under US$1) a ride but many routes stop around 6:00 PM–7:00 PM.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee in a mall café¥20–40 (≈ US$3–6)
- Street or quick mealBowl of noodles or Yangzhou fried rice¥15–40 (≈ US$3–6)
- Beerdraught in a bar / can at a convenience store¥15–30 (≈ US$3–5)¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi ride3.1 mi taxi ride¥15–25 (≈ US$3–4)
- Metro or bus rideCity bus ride¥2 (≈ under US$1) (check)
- Museum or sight ticketGarden or temple entry¥30–120 (≈ US$5–17)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personCN¥80 (≈ US$12)
- Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomCN¥380 (≈ US$55)
- High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomCN¥700 (≈ US$100)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CN¥300 (≈ US$45) · Mid CN¥600 (≈ US$85) · High CN¥1,200 (≈ US$170)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- YTY Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport (About 40 km east of the centre; mostly domestic routes plus Osaka and Seoul. Airport express bus to town, roughly 75 min.) · NKG Nanjing Lukou International (About 60 km southwest; express buses run to the Yangzhou city terminal downtown.)YTY Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport (About 25 mi east of the centre; mostly domestic routes plus Osaka and Seoul. Airport express bus to town, roughly 75 min.) · NKG Nanjing Lukou International (About 37 mi southwest; express buses run to the Yangzhou city terminal downtown.)
Weather and climate
Yangzhou: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
7°C45°F
−1°C30°F
6 rd
Feb
10°C50°F
2°C36°F
7 rd
Mar
15°C59°F
6°C43°F
9 rd
Apr
21°C70°F
11°C52°F
9 rd
May
26°C79°F
17°C63°F
9 rd
Jun
29°C84°F
21°C70°F
11 rd
Jul
32°C90°F
25°C77°F
13 rd
Aug
32°C90°F
25°C77°F
11 rd
Sep
28°C82°F
20°C68°F
8 rd
Oct
23°C73°F
14°C57°F
7 rd
Nov
16°C61°F
7°C45°F
6 rd
Dec
10°C50°F
1°C34°F
5 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
City buses cost about ¥2 a ride but many routes stop around 18:00–19:00. Routes Z6, K1 and 88 run along Wenchang Rd between the two railway stations; tourism routes 游1/2/3 link the main sights. Taxis and ride-hailing are cheap and easy; shared bikes work well on the flat grid, but watch the mopeds.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Zhenjiang
goDoor to door: About 1–1.5 h
High-speed train from Yangzhoudong, or the Zhen-Yang ferry from Guazhou (¥3 (≈ under US$1) on foot, every 5–10 min, 24 h weather permitting)
Ferry is the scenic option; the bridge is expressway only.
Nanjing
goDoor to door: About 1.5–2 h
High-speed train from Yangzhoudong or Yangzhou station
Easy half-day or full-day add-on; see visit Nanjing.
Gaoyou
cautionDoor to door: About 1–1.5 h
Bus or train from Yangzhou; Gaoyou is a county-level city under Yangzhou
Canals and old streets, but thin on English signage.
Suzhou
overnightDoor to door: About 2.5–3.5 h
High-speed train, usually with a change at Nanjing or Zhenjiang
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep there instead.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Wenchang Ge / city centre
Around the Wenchang Pavilion roundabout: malls, hotels and restaurants, walkable to the old-town lanes.
Slender West Lake south gate
Quiet, green and close to the lake park; best if the gardens are your main reason for coming.
Yangzhoudong (East) station area
Convenient for an early train out, but 7 km from the sights and thin on evening food.Convenient for an early train out, but 4.3 mi from the sights and thin on evening food.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥250–450 (≈ US$35–65) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥450–900 (≈ US$65–130) excl. bed
- High
- ¥900 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range double room1 × 2 nights × CN¥380 | CN¥760 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × CN¥600 | CN¥2,400 |
| Slender West Lake admission2 × CN¥120 · check | CN¥240 |
| City bus ride2 × CN¥2 · check | CN¥4 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × CN¥100 | CN¥200 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CN¥360 |
| Trip total≈ CN¥991 per person per day, bed included | CN¥3,964≈ US$600 |
2026 estimate in yuan; long-distance trains and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Bowl of noodles or Yangzhou fried rice | ¥15–40 (≈ US$3–6) |
| Morning dim sum (baozi, congee, tea) | ¥15–35 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Coffee in a mall café | ¥20–40 (≈ US$3–6) |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a convenience store | ¥15–30 (≈ US$3–5) / ¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2) |
| 5 km taxi ride | ¥15–25 (≈ US$3–4) |
| City bus ride | ¥2 (≈ under US$1) (check) |
| Garden or temple entry | ¥30–120 (≈ US$5–17) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Many bus routes end around 18:00–19:00: plan the last leg by taxi.Many bus routes end around 6:00 PM–19:00: plan the last leg by taxi.
- Slender West Lake charges a steep admission (¥120 (≈ US$17) as listed); other parks nearby are free.
- Mopeds often ignore traffic rules, including on bike lanes.
- The Run-Yang bridge to Zhenjiang is an expressway: no bicycles or mopeds, use the ferry instead.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 120
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Yangzhou扬州
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请到这个地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire119
- Ambulance120
Embassy
No US or UK embassy in Yangzhou; the US consulate-general is in Shanghai and the UK consulate-general in Shanghai too. Most nationalities rely on their embassy in Beijing (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Zhen-Yang ferry, Guazhou → Zhenjiang: ¥3 (≈ under US$1) on foot, ¥5 (≈ under US$1) with a bicycle, ¥15 (≈ US$3) per car; every 5–10 min, 24 h weather permitting (check)
- Taxi, Wenchang Ge → Yangzhoudong station: about ¥25–35 (≈ US$4–5), 20–25 min (check)
- High-speed train, Yangzhoudong → Nanjing: about ¥60–90 (≈ US$9–13), 1.5–2 h (check)
Say or show
- 你好 — Hello (nǐ hǎo)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xiè xie)
- 多少钱? — How much is it? (duō shao qián)
- 可以刷卡吗? — Can I pay by card? (kě yǐ shuā kǎ ma)
- 洗手间在哪里? — Where is the toilet? (xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ lǐ)
- 我不要 — I don't want it (wǒ bú yào)
Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card is the practical way to pay; small shops may not take cash easily.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Yangzhou. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot, humid, heavy rain), Chinese New Year week · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for YTY and NKG: last express-bus departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Wenchang Ge, Slender West Lake south gate, the old-town canals, and the Grand Canal Museum.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Slender West Lake, Ge Yuan, He Yuan, Daming Temple, Grand Canal Museum) and eat pages with last orders.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialYangzhou municipal government
- officialYangzhou Taizhou International Airport
- officialChina Grand Canal Museum
- officialSlender West Lake Scenic Area
- officialYangzhou Museum
- secondaryWikivoyage: Yangzhou, revision 5320225 (CC BY-SA 4.0)