Qinhu Lake Tourist Scenic Area is located in Jiangyan District, Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, as well as a national wetland park and a national water conservancy scenic area. The scenic area centers on Qinhu Lake, with a total area of about 26 square kilometers, of which the water area accounts for 70%, covering various wetland types such as lakes, rivers, and swamps. It features the in-depth integration of "water, wetland, ecology, and folk customs" and boasts rich animal and plant resources, with more than 150 species of birds, including national protected animals like red-crowned cranes and egrets. Facilities such as the Wetland Science Museum and the Boat Festival Viewing Platform are built in the scenic area. Among them, the Wetland Science Museum, with a construction area of about 3,000 square meters, is an important window for displaying wetland ecology and Qinhu Lake culture. It is not only a paradise for ecological sightseeing but also renowned nationwide for the annual "Qintong Boat Festival", combining natural landscapes with cultural charm.
History and Culture
The history of the Qinhu Lake area can be traced back to the Neolithic Age. Many ancient cultural sites have been discovered around it, proving that humans have lived and multiplied here as early as thousands of years ago. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, this area was a border zone between the three kingdoms of Wu, Chu, and Yue, with convenient water transportation, gradually forming a commercial market and leaving rich historical relics.
The most representative cultural symbol of Qinhu Lake is the "Qintong Boat Festival", whose origin can be traced back to the Southern Song Dynasty. It is said to be held in memory of anti-Jin heroes. After hundreds of years of inheritance, it has now become a national intangible cultural heritage. Every year around the Qingming Festival, local people will spontaneously organize thousands of boats to compete on Qinhu Lake, presenting a grand scene, which is known as "Qintong has the best boat races in the world". In addition, Qintong Ancient Town in the scenic area has many ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with well-preserved ancient dwellings and streets, reflecting the unique architectural style and folk culture of the Jianghuai region.
Main Attractions
Qinhu National Wetland Park
Qinhu National Wetland Park is the core area of the scenic area, covering an area of about 800 hectares, with a wetland rate of over 90%. Facilities such as wooden plank roads, bird-watching platforms, and wetland adventure areas are built in the park. The main wooden plank road is about 2.1 kilometers long, winding through the reed marshes, allowing tourists to watch wetland vegetation and birds up close. Rare animals such as elk and Chinese alligators also live in the wetland park, making it an important base for wetland ecological protection and popular science education in East China.
Qintong Ancient Town
Qintong Ancient Town is located on the west bank of Qinhu Lake, covering an area of about 0.54 square kilometers, with a history of over 2,000 years. The ancient town preserves ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties onwards, including attractions such as the Former Residence of Academicians, ancient dwelling complexes, and the Green Tree Zen Monastery. Among them, "Dongguan Guiyu", one of the "Eight Scenes of Qintong", recreates the scene of fishermen working in the past, while the stone roads and brick-carved gate towers of the ancient town fully display the simple charm of the water towns in the Jianghuai region.
Boat Festival Viewing Platform
The Boat Festival Viewing Platform is located on the east bank of Qinhu Lake, being the best place to watch the "Qintong Boat Festival". It has a construction area of about 1,200 square meters and can accommodate 3,000 spectators. The design of the viewing platform integrates traditional and modern styles, with the top adopting an antique boat-shaped structure, symbolizing the Qinhu Lake boat festival culture. Except during the boat festival, it is also a good place to overlook the panoramic view of Qinhu Lake, where you can see the boats on the lake and the surrounding wetland scenery in the distance.
Wetland Science Museum
The Wetland Science Museum is an important popular science facility in the scenic area, with a construction area of about 3,000 square meters. It is divided into multiple exhibition halls such as wetland ecology, Qinhu Lake organisms, and folk culture. Through multimedia interactions, specimen displays, simulated scenes, and other methods, the museum systematically introduces the formation and functions of wetlands and the ecosystem of Qinhu Lake. Among them, the large ecological sand table restores the full view of the Qinhu Lake wetland, allowing tourists to intuitively understand the close relationship between wetlands and human life.
Delicacies
Qinhu Lake Eight Delicacies
Qinhu Lake Eight Delicacies is a characteristic food combination in the Qinhu Lake area, using eight kinds of river delicacies produced in Qinhu Lake as the main ingredients, including Qinhu Lake duan crabs, silver fish, white shrimp, soft-shelled turtles, snails, and clams. Among them, Qinhu Lake duan crabs are known as "the most delicious in the world". Due to growing in the unique water environment of Qinhu Lake, their meat is tender, with plump roe and cream. Each crab weighs about 200-300 grams, and the price ranges from 80-200 yuan per crab according to specifications. The "Eight Delicacies" are usually cooked by steaming or boiling to retain the original flavor of the ingredients to the greatest extent. A table of Qinhu Lake Eight Delicacies feast costs about 600-1,200 yuan, suitable for sharing among many people.
Qintong Fish Balls
Qintong Fish Balls are a local traditional snack. They are made by selecting fresh white fish or black carp from Qinhu Lake, removing the bones, chopping into fish paste, adding egg white, starch, and other seasonings, squeezing into balls, and then boiling. The fish balls are white and round, with a delicate and elastic texture and a delicious taste. A portion of Qintong Fish Balls costs about 30-50 yuan, which can be eaten directly or with soup dishes. They are daily dishes on people's tables and also a must-try characteristic food for tourists.
Huangqiao Sesame Cakes
Huangqiao Sesame Cakes are classic snacks in Taizhou area, and are also common in restaurants around Qinhu Lake. They are made of flour, sesame seeds, lard, etc., baked over charcoal fire, with a crispy outer skin and various fillings, such as shallot oil, pork floss, and red bean paste. A single cake costs about 2-5 yuan. They became famous as rations for soldiers and civilians during the "Huangqiao Campaign" in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and now have become a food carrying historical memories.
Tickets
The ticket price is 80 yuan per person. Qintong Ancient Town is charged separately, with a ticket price of 40 yuan per person. You can also buy a combined ticket for 100 yuan per person (including Qintong Ancient Town).
You can search for the official WeChat public account "江苏省溱湖旅游景区" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open daily from 8:30 to 17:30 (admission stops at 17:00). During the Boat Festival (around April's Qingming Festival every year), the opening hours will be extended to 18:00. In winter (December to February of the next year), the opening hours may be appropriately shortened to 9:00-17:00 (admission stops at 16:30). In case of special weather or large-scale activities, the opening hours may be temporarily adjusted. It is recommended to check the official notice of the scenic area before traveling.
Tour Routes
Ecological Culture One-Day Tour Route
Enter from the scenic area entrance at 8:30 a.m., first visit the Wetland Science Museum to learn about wetland ecological knowledge, which takes about 1 hour; then walk along the wooden plank road to visit Qinhu National Wetland Park, enjoying wetland landscapes and birds, with a total distance of about 3 kilometers, taking 2 hours; have a simple meal of Qinhu Lake Eight Delicacies at the Qinhu Lake Renjia Restaurant in the scenic area at noon; go to the Boat Festival Viewing Platform at 13:30 p.m. to overlook the panoramic view of Qinhu Lake, taking about 1 hour; then go to Qintong Ancient Town to visit ancient dwellings and historical attractions, taking 1.5 hours; return to the scenic area exit at 16:30, with a total duration of about 8 hours.
Leisure Experience Half-Day Tour Route
Enter the scenic area at 9:00 a.m., directly take a cruise ship (30 yuan per person for a one-way trip) to tour the surface of Qinhu Lake, enjoying the scenery on both sides, taking 1 hour; visit the Wetland Science Museum after getting off the ship, taking 40 minutes; then stay at the bird-watching platform in the wetland park to observe birds, taking 1 hour; taste special snacks such as Qintong Fish Balls at noon; go to the Boat Festival Viewing Platform to take photos as a souvenir at 13:00 p.m. and end the trip, with a total duration of about 4.5 hours, suitable for tourists with limited time.
Transportation
- Bus: Take Bus 810 from downtown Taizhou to Qinhu Lake Tourist Scenic Area directly, with a total journey of about 1 hour and a fare of 5 yuan per person; take Bus You 2 from Jiangyan District, with a journey of about 30 minutes and a fare of 2 yuan per person.
- Self-driving: Starting from Nanjing, drive east along Ningjingyan Expressway (S29), get off at Qinhu Lake Exit, and drive about 3 kilometers along the guide signs to reach the scenic area, with a total distance of about 180 kilometers, taking 2.5 hours; starting from Shanghai, drive north along Beijing-Shanghai Expressway (G2), transfer to Ningjingyan Expressway (S29), and get off at Qinhu Lake Exit, with a total distance of about 280 kilometers, taking 3.5 hours. The parking fee standard of the scenic area parking lot is 10 yuan per day for small cars and 20 yuan per day for large cars.
- High-speed rail: Take the high-speed rail to Taizhou Station or Jiangyan Station. You can transfer to Bus 810 at Taizhou Station to the scenic area; take a taxi from Jiangyan Station, with a journey of about 15 minutes and a cost of about 20 yuan.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Qinhu National Wetland Park: With an area of 800 hectares and a wetland rate of over 90%, the 2.1-kilometer wooden plank road runs through the reed marshes. You can watch rare animals and plants such as red-crowned cranes and elk, and it is the core area to experience wetland ecology.
- Qintong Ancient Town: An ancient town with a history of over 2,000 years, preserving ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties and the "Eight Scenes of Qintong". The stone roads and ancient dwellings fully display the charm of water towns, allowing you to have an in-depth understanding of local folk culture.
- Boat Festival Viewing Platform: With a construction area of 1,200 square meters, you can watch the grand occasion of thousands of boats competing during the Boat Festival. On ordinary days, it is the best place to overlook the panoramic view of Qinhu Lake, integrating cultural and landscape functions.
Travel Suggestions
- The best travel season is spring (April-May). At this time, the Qintong Boat Festival is held, allowing you to watch the unique boat festival customs. In addition, wetland vegetation revives and birds are active frequently.
- The wooden plank road in the wetland park is long. It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes. Take anti-mosquito measures in summer and you can bring mosquito repellent.
- To taste Qinhu Lake Eight Delicacies, it is recommended to choose time-honored restaurants around the scenic area, such as "Qinhu Lake Renjia" and "Ancient Town Restaurant", to ensure fresh and authentic ingredients.
- It is recommended to spend 1-2 days for the tour. If time permits, you can stay in the wetland-themed hotel in the scenic area to experience the wetland scenery in the early morning and evening.
- There are many tourists during the Boat Festival. It is recommended to book tickets and accommodation 1-2 days in advance and avoid the peak hours from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Notes
- Entering undeveloped areas without permission in the wetland park is prohibited. Do not disturb or feed wild animals, and abide by the environmental protection principle of "only leaving footprints and taking photos".
- Wear life jackets when taking cruise ships, follow the instructions of the staff, do not chase or play on the ship, and keep personal belongings safe.
- The ancient buildings in Qintong Ancient Town are fragile. Do not touch or carve cultural relics, and respect the living habits of local residents.
- The signal in some areas of the scenic area is weak. It is recommended to download offline maps in advance and keep in touch with fellow travelers.
- Thunderstorms may occur in the Qinhu Lake area in summer. It is recommended to bring rain gear and follow the evacuation guidelines of the scenic area staff in case of bad weather.
- When buying specialties such as Qinhu Lake duan crabs, choose regular stores and ask for invoices to avoid buying counterfeit products or those with insufficient weight.