Taierzhuang Ancient Town Scenic Area is located in Taierzhuang District, Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction with a total area of 2 square kilometers, including a core area of 1.6 square kilometers. The scenic area features "Battle Culture" and "Canal Culture" as its two core characteristics, and is a composite tourist attraction integrating ancient town sightseeing, cultural experience, leisure and vacation, and red education. There are existing architectural remains from the Ming and Qing dynasties in the ancient town, such as ancient dwellings, ancient shops, and ancient wharves, with a total construction area of about 380,000 square meters. At the same time, a large number of ancient buildings have been reconstructed in accordance with the principles of "original space, original scale, and original style", forming a water town pattern with crisscrossing "ponds", "streets", and "alleys". It has 15 kilometers of water streets and lanes, and 30 bridges with unique characteristics, known as the "Living Ancient Canal" and "China's Most Beautiful Water Town".
History and Culture
The history and culture of Taierzhuang Ancient Town are closely linked to Canal Culture and Battle Culture. As an important node of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Taierzhuang has been a hub of north-south water transportation since the Ming and Qing dynasties, with a gathering of merchant ships and numerous commercial firms. Gradually, it formed a prosperous scene of "a river of fishing lights, ten miles of singing, and markets that never close at night", nurturing a unique canal commercial culture. The existing ancient wharves, ancient guildhalls (such as the Fujian Guildhall and Shanxi Guildhall) and other relics are witnesses to the prosperity of canal culture in those days.
The 1938 Battle of Taierzhuang was an important battle in China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. As the main battlefield of the battle, the ancient town witnessed the heroic resistance of the Chinese army, which finally achieved the largest victory since the start of the War of Resistance. This battle made Taierzhuang an important red education base. A large number of battle sites are preserved in the ancient town, such as bullet-hole walls and former sites of field hospitals. In addition, the Taierzhuang Battle Memorial Hall has been built, which details the historical background, process, and significance of the battle, inheriting the spirit of patriotism.
Main Attractions
Taierzhuang Battle Memorial Hall
The Taierzhuang Battle Memorial Hall covers an area of 34,000 square meters and a construction area of 6,000 square meters, consisting of an exhibition hall, a video hall, a calligraphy and painting hall, and a monument. The exhibition hall vividly reproduces the fierce process of the Taierzhuang Battle through a large number of historical photos, cultural relics, video materials, and scene restorations, including precious cultural relics such as weapons used in the battle, soldiers' relics, and command documents. The video hall plays the documentary film "Bloody Battle in Taierzhuang" in a loop, allowing visitors to more intuitively feel the tragedy of the battle. The memorial hall is a national patriotic education demonstration base, attracting a large number of visitors every year to pay tribute to the martyrs.
Ancient Canal Wharf Group
The Ancient Canal Wharf Group in Taierzhuang Ancient Town is an important carrier of canal culture. There are 11 existing ancient wharves from the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as Dayamen Street Wharf and Yuehe Wharf. These wharves are paved with bluestones, with staggered steps, witnessing the prosperous history of Taierzhuang as an important canal town. Among them, Dayamen Street Wharf was one of the most prosperous wharves in those days, about 50 meters long and 8 meters wide, and was the main place for loading and unloading goods for merchant ships from north and south. Now, visitors can take a covered boat here to tour the ancient town along the water streets and lanes, experiencing the artistic conception of "the boat travels in the water, and people sit in the painting".
Fuxing Building
Fuxing Building is one of the landmark buildings of Taierzhuang Ancient Town, 38 meters high with 7 floors. It adopts the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with overhanging eaves and a magnificent momentum. The building displays the development history of Taierzhuang from ancient times to the present, and there is an observation deck on the top floor, from which you can overlook the entire view of the ancient town and the canal scenery. At night, Fuxing Building is brightly lit, reflecting with the surrounding water streets and lanes, becoming one of the highlights of the ancient town's night view.
Guandi Temple
Taierzhuang Guandi Temple was built in the Qing Dynasty, covering an area of about 3,000 square meters and a construction area of 1,200 square meters. It consists of a mountain gate, a main hall, side halls, and an opera house, and is one of the better-preserved ancient buildings in the ancient town. The main hall enshrines a statue of Guan Yu, with statues of Guan Ping and Zhou Cang on both sides. The wood carvings and stone carvings in the hall are exquisite in craftsmanship and have high artistic value. Guandi Temple, as a place for merchant groups to worship and discuss affairs in those days, embodies the commercial spirit of honest management in canal culture, and is now also a good place for visitors to experience traditional folk culture.
Ximen Street
Ximen Street is one of the core commercial streets in Taierzhuang Ancient Town, about 500 meters long and 8 meters wide. On both sides, there are a large number of shops in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, selling local specialties, handicrafts, and characteristic snacks. The street is paved with bluestones, and the buildings on both sides are mostly two-story pavilions with carved beams and painted rafters, simple and elegant. This is not only a place for visitors to shop and consume but also an important area to experience the market culture of the ancient town. The performances of folk artists on the street (such as shadow plays and dough figurines) add a strong flavor of life.
Food
Featured Food in the Scenic Area
The characteristic food in Taierzhuang Ancient Town is mainly in the style of southern Shandong, among which "Taierzhuang Spicy Chicken" is the most famous. It uses locally raised free-range chickens, stir-fried with dried chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and other seasonings. The chicken is tender, spicy, and fragrant, with a price of about 88 yuan per serving. In addition, "Canal Mixed Fish Pot" is also very popular. It uses fresh mixed fish from the canal, stewed with tofu, vermicelli, and other ingredients. The soup is rich and delicious, with a price of about 68 yuan per serving, which is a traditional method of local fishermen.
Surrounding Food
There are many characteristic restaurants in Taierzhuang District around the ancient town. "Canal Family Restaurant", about 2 kilometers away from the scenic area, features canal fisherman's dishes. The restaurant's "Fermented Fish" uses crucian carp from the canal, which is marinated and fermented. The meat is tender and has a strong wine aroma, with a price of about 48 yuan per serving. In addition, "Vegetable Pancake" is a local traditional snack, made of flour, eggs, and various vegetables. The outer skin is crispy, and the filling is rich, with a price of about 8 yuan each. It is convenient and fast, and is deeply loved by visitors.
Tickets
Ticket price: 118 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "台儿庄古城" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
It is open 24 hours a day, but the opening hours of some attractions and shops are different. Generally speaking, attractions are open from 8:00 to 22:00, shops are open from 9:00 to 23:00, and night tour items (such as light shows and boat tours) are mainly open from 19:00 to 22:00. The Taierzhuang Battle Memorial Hall is open from 9:00 to 17:00 (admission stops at 16:30, closed on Mondays, except for legal holidays).
Tour Route
A recommended two-day tour route: On the first day, enter the ancient town at 9:00 a.m., visit Ximen Street to experience the market culture, and visit Guandi Temple; have lunch in the scenic area, tasting special foods such as spicy chicken; in the afternoon, go to the Ancient Canal Wharf Group, take a covered boat to tour the water streets and lanes (about 1 hour), then visit cultural relics such as Fujian Guildhall and Shanxi Guildhall; enjoy the ancient town's night view and light show in the evening, and stay in a characteristic inn in the ancient town. On the second day, visit the Taierzhuang Battle Memorial Hall in the morning (about 2 hours) to learn about the history of the battle; have lunch in a nearby restaurant, tasting foods such as fermented fish; in the afternoon, visit Fuxing Building, climb to the top to overlook the entire view of the ancient town, then visit the handicraft shops in the scenic area to buy souvenirs, and leave the scenic area around 16:00.
Transportation
- Public transportation: From Zaozhuang Station (high-speed railway station), you can take BRT Line B10 to Taierzhuang Ancient Town Tourist Center directly, with a journey of about 1.5 hours and a fare of 5 yuan; from Taierzhuang Bus Station, it is a 10-minute walk to the west gate entrance of the ancient town; you can also take the free shuttle bus of the scenic area (from the tourist center to the ancient town entrance).
- Self-driving: Starting from Jinan, drive south along the Beijing-Taipei Expressway, turn into Lancao Expressway, get off at Taierzhuang Exit, and go to Taierzhuang Ancient Town Parking Lot according to the navigation instructions. The whole journey is about 350 kilometers, with a driving time of about 4 hours. There are multiple parking lots in and around the scenic area, with a parking fee of 5 yuan per hour.
- Taxi/online car-hailing: Taking a taxi from Taierzhuang Station (high-speed railway station) to the ancient town tourist center, the whole journey is about 50 kilometers, with a driving time of about 1 hour and a cost of about 100 yuan.
Must-visit Attractions
- Taierzhuang Battle Memorial Hall: Covering an area of 34,000 square meters and a construction area of 6,000 square meters, it comprehensively displays the history of the Taierzhuang Battle through cultural relics, videos, and other materials, and is an important place for patriotic education.
- Ancient Canal Wharf Group: There are 11 existing ancient wharves from the Ming and Qing dynasties. You can take a covered boat (with a voyage of about 1 hour and a fare of 60 yuan per person) to tour the 15-kilometer water streets and lanes, and feel the charm of the "Living Ancient Canal".
- Fuxing Building: 38 meters high with 7 floors, it is a landmark building of the ancient town. Climbing to the top, you can overlook the entire view of the ancient town. At night, it is brightly lit, and its night view is highly ornamental.
Tour Suggestions
- The recommended visiting time is 2 days, which allows you to fully experience the culture, night view, and surrounding attractions of the ancient town, avoiding a rushed schedule.
- Touring the ancient town at night is a major feature. It is recommended to stay in an inn in the ancient town to experience the water town style and light show at night (one show at 19:30 and 20:30 every night).
- When taking a covered boat to tour the water lanes, you can choose the boatman's explanation service (additional 20 yuan) to learn about the historical stories and architectural characteristics of the ancient town.
- When visiting in summer, take heatstroke prevention measures, such as bringing sun umbrellas and fans; it is cold in winter, so keep warm, and some water lanes may be icy, so be careful when walking.
- When buying specialties, you can compare prices. Taierzhuang clay sculptures, canal stone paintings, and other handicrafts are memorable.
Matters Needing Attention
- There are many water streets and lanes in the ancient town. Pay attention to your steps when walking, especially on rainy days, as the bluestone roads are slippery to avoid falling.
- When taking a boat, wear a life jacket, abide by the boat rules, and do not chase or play on the boat.
- Maintain solemnity in the Taierzhuang Battle Memorial Hall, do not make loud noises, and do not touch the exhibits.
- There are many visitors during peak seasons (holidays and summer). It is recommended to buy tickets in advance and travel during off-peak hours to avoid crowds.
- Take good care of the ancient town's environment, do not litter, do not damage ancient buildings and facilities, and abide by the scenic area management regulations.