Experience our Brilliant Past
Wang Hai Lou – Sea Watching Area
This scenic area is on the riverside and provides and excellent view of Taizhou and of the sun rise. Built facing the East, it is said that on a clear day, the sea can be seen from a top the tower.
Built in 2008, there are a variety interesting elements to this park area, and so it has been visited by a number of celebrities and government leaders already. Once visitors enter the area, they are greeted by a forest of bamboos and a garden of hidden stone steles. Poems written in different styles and by different authors are on display here. A next major interest point is the large bronze relief map of the ancient city and city walls.
In the middle of the scenic area, a three story traditional building can be found, one that houses works of art and secret views of the city, surely a site worth seeing.
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Taizhou Old Street
The old street of Taizhou is filled with local restaurants that offer simple yet exquisite local specialties and tasteful treats mad by local people. One of the best snacks available is the Sesame Seed cakes. You can find a small shop at the extreme end of the street that bakes these pleasures regularly. Don't miss out on it!
Another interesting feature of shops along the road is that they have quality assurance. The local administration has created and applied a set of standards to local shops and vendors. This will surely increase the ease and quality of your experience.
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Chenghuang Temple (Taoist temple)
To reach this temple, visitors must first go through a narrow street filled with flower and fruit shops. For early birds, the experience is one of the most enjoyable around.
This Taoist temple, over 1000 years old, is one of the best preserved temples in Jiangsu, and as such, is a national reference. Many odd religious displays are spread throughout the complex. If you are curious, we recommend you visit the bizarre depiction of heaven and hell.
There is one thing you must do while at this temple. Ring the bell. There is a large and old bell hanging outside the main building. Ring it once, and you will receive luck, twice and you will receive financial help, and if you ring it three times, you will receive a promotion.
If you visit the temple during the start or middle of lunar months or during weekends, you'll be greeted many people and temple fairs.
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Xuezhen Examination Hall
This modernly built museum rebuilds the ancient public examination system. During ancient times, while dynasties were still in power, to reach a public office, candidates would have to pass through a series of standardized exams.
During exam periods, candidates were isolated from the world and others. They would be taken into small individual rooms where they would remain till the completion of the exam. The purpose of this was to make cheating impossible. Normally, for a person to pass the exams, they would have to study for ten years on average, and even then, their acquisition of the position was not guaranteed. Competition was aggressive.
If you are interested in getting a deeper understanding of the examination process, you should try the available audio-tours.
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 Guangxiao Temple (Buddhist temple)
Built in East Jin Dynasty (405-418 A.D.), Guangxiao Temple has a history of more than 1600 years. Through the years, a large number of eminent monks have practiced Buddhism in Guangxiao Temple. Many monks that have roots in Taizhou have become Buddhist abbots in contemporary Chinese Buddhism in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and even in the United States.
Currently, there are 100 monks living in the temple area. All are volunteers and normally do not stay longer then 5 years.
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 Diao Hua Lou
This pavilion was actually an ancient home with unique characteristics. Built during the Qing Dynasty, this home has exemplary works of wood and stone carvings. Internally, the staircase, rooms, and windows are decorated with different relief effects. The back room, detached from the central building, displays 1001 carved dragons. Will you count them?
The house also has some characteristics typically unknown to visitors. Secret stairways and halls connect the bedrooms and dining room.
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Qintong Ancient Town
The Ancient Town of Qintong is a famous historic and cultural town of China, with history of over 3,000 years. The ancient town is surrounded by water, boasts many century-old trees, complex buildings, and, most importantly is a testament to ancient ways and culture.
While visiting Qintong, you`ll want to see and notice a few main attractions and details:
Camellia Tree
A Camellia tree, almost illusive, is rooted and growing strongly in the ancient town of Qintong. First planted at the end of the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD), this particular Camellia tree is a peerless treasure.
Brick Carvings
Brick carving can be seen on almost all buildings in the region. The signify wealth and are a local specialty.
Folk Custom Museum
This small and quaint museum displays original contracts of purchase and sale of wives. These documents are over 400 years old.
Local Temple
The local temple is a very small yet appealing location. Young couples normally visit, praying for their happiness and love.
Nuptial Museum
This local hoe has been transformed into a display hall for local wedding traditions. You`ll notice that traditional brides wear red gowns, to symbolize love and luck.
Fire Department
The fire department is an interesting site. It shows old techniques and technology. Qintong had imported foreign hosing systems to combat fire. These now obsolete equipments are on display here.
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Jin Dong Men Historic Street
The area of this historical is being rebuilt in order to expand and maintain its original features. This street isn`t known to many visitors, thus it maintains its original characteristics and livelihood. Shops selling clothes, vegetables, dried foods, carvings, decorations, snacks, fortune tellers, dentists, agricultural tools, death ritual articles, DVDs, barbers, tea, and pawn shops can all be found here. While passing through there are a couple places of interest:
Medicine Shop and Pharmacy
This small shop on the corner maintain all traditional appearances. Chinese medicine is stored, weighed and sold in traditional ways and a doctor is always on staff for emergency situations and walk-in consultations. There are a few modern medications available, if you need it.
Chinese Medicine Museum
Deep into the region, there is a small Chinese Medicine Museum where wax figure explain the consultations and methods used by doctors. The Museums includes the Doctor’s home, consultation rooms, and library.
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Gu Shan Scenic Area (Buddhist temple)
This impressive area is a lonely mountain in the center of Taixing, Taizhou. On the top of this mountain, a long stairway up, there is a Buddhist temple popular among locals.
On the climb up, fortune tellers are spread in front of depictions of different Buddha versions. The original temple was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, but was recently rebuilt.
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 Liu Guo Jun Former Residence
This Former residence belonged to a general of 800 years ago. The neighboring memorial was built in his honor by locals before he past away. He was and is a local legend. It is said that he was a master in war strategies and brought many victories to his commanded army. The legend says that he had a magical book that contained his strategies, supposedly the book was given to him by the gods.
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He’s Ancestral Hall
 The He family ancestral hall is an atypical red tourism attraction. This home is located in midst of an old-fashion and genuine district, normally irrelevant to visitors. The home, as many others, shows characteristics of the Ming Dynasty. However, it is nothing but common. This ancient home is protected by the Jiangsu Province and is simply the most authentic home around. From furniture, to wooden pillars, to windows and memory stones, this house will fascinate you.
The He Ancestral Hall is also a symbol of Red Tourism and patriotism. The home served as a support base for the local army. The family provided food and board for soldiers.
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