Jinhua

Jinhua lies in central Zhejiang. You can explore the limestone caves mentioned in school texts, visit Wuzhou Ancient City, and sample local snacks. With three days and two nights, visit the city center, Jinhua Mountain, and nearby areas in that order.

• Guzicheng: This free-to-enter, thousand-year-old Wuzhou ancient town retains its bluestone lanes and white walls with dark-tiled roofs. It is a good place to take photos in Hanfu or modern Chinese-style clothing, and to sample local snacks nearby.

• Shuanglong Cave: This limestone cave was featured in an essay by Ye Shengtao. Visitors lie on their backs in a small boat to pass through a low entrance into the inner cave, where they can see stalactites and stalagmites in many shapes. Binghu Cave also has an underground waterfall.

• Bayong Tower: First built during the Southern Dynasties, this tower is where Li Qingzhao wrote, “Its grandeur surpasses the fourteen prefectures along the river.” From the top, you can see the three rivers and six banks, along with the old city. Sunset is especially scenic.

• The Palace of the Prince Shi of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom: This is one of the best-preserved Taiping Heavenly Kingdom sites in Jiangnan. Inside, you can see murals and brick carvings, then take a stroll through the lush rear garden.

• Ten-Thousand Buddha Pagoda: This seven-story Song-style pagoda stands beside the Wuyi River and is a striking landmark of the old city. Climb it in the evening to watch the sunset, then see the old city light up.

• Zhuge Bagua Village: Centered on Zhong Pond, this ancient village in Lanxi has lanes laid out in an Eight Trigrams pattern. Look out for the Ming and Qing wood carvings in the Chancellor’s Ancestral Hall.

• Youbu Ancient Town: This thousand-year-old trading port is known as “Jiangnan’s First Morning Tea.” Come early for soy milk, rou shenzi, jizi guo, and flaky pastries.

• Hengdian World Studios: Located in Dongyang, this film and television complex suits visitors interested in costume dramas and photography. You can choose the Qin Palace and Along the River During the Qingming Festival areas. The park is large, so two main areas are enough for one day.

Three-Day, Two-Night Itinerary

• Day 1: Old City Heritage Tour
  • Morning: After arriving in Jinhua, start at the Jinhua Museum to learn about the history of the Eight Wus, then walk to the Palace of the Prince Shi of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to see its murals.

• Afternoon: Tour the Guzicheng district along Baoning Gate, then head to Xichun Lane’s pastry street for freshly baked Jinhua flaky pastries and jizi guo.

• Evening: Climb Bayong Tower for sunset over the old city, then go near the Ten-Thousand Buddha Pagoda to enjoy the night view after the three rivers and six banks are lit up.
• Day 2: Shuanglong Cave and Jinhua Mountain
  • Morning: Visit the Shuanglong Scenic Area, lie back in a small boat into the cave, and then see the underground waterfall at Binghu Cave.
  • Afternoon: Have a farmhouse meal near the scenic area. If you still have the energy, head to Luniang Lake for photos or visit the Huang Daxian Shrine.

• Evening: Return to the city center and have Jinhua pot at a long-established pot restaurant.
• Day 3: Nearby Heritage or Film Tour (choose one)
  • Route A (Lanxi heritage route): Go to Youbu Ancient Town early for morning tea, then visit the old lanes of Zhuge Bagua Village in the afternoon. This route is best suited to self-driving and allows a more relaxed schedule.
  • Route B (Hengdian film route): Visit Hengdian World Studios and tour the Qin Palace and Along the River During the Qingming Festival areas. You can take photos in Hanfu and watch large-scale performances.

Jinhua Food List

Breads and clay-pot dishes are among Jinhua’s most representative foods, and you can try them near each stop on your itinerary.

• Jinhua Pot: The clay pot is still steaming when it reaches the table. With the tofu-sheet and pork-bone pot, taste the bone marrow first, then cook the accompanying ingredients in the broth.

• Jinhua Flaky Pastry: Filled with dried vegetables and meat, then baked over charcoal, it has a crisp crust. The filling is most fragrant when the pastry is fresh from the oven.

• Lanxi Jizi Guo: Meat filling is wrapped in a thin pancake, an egg is poured in, and the whole thing is pan-fried. The pancake is crisp and the filling tender.

• Fujian Geng: This Jinhua breakfast features a thick soup with handmade rice sheets, bean sprouts, wood ear mushrooms, dried bamboo shoots, and sliced meat. It has a savory, salty flavor.

• Youbu Morning Tea: At Youbu, choose from rou shenzi, jizi guo, flaky pastries, soy milk, and small wontons for morning tea.

Accommodation and Transport Tips

• Where to stay: On a first visit to Jinhua, consider staying near Guzicheng or Jinhua Station. This makes it easy to reach city attractions and explore the old town and snack stalls at night. If you plan to visit Hengdian the next day, you can stay in Hengdian on your final night.
• Getting around: By high-speed rail, choose Jinhua Station, about a 15-minute drive from Guzicheng. City attractions are fairly close together, so you can take taxis or shared bikes. To reach Shuanglong Cave on Jinhua Mountain, where there are many winding mountain roads, consider driving or taking the scenic-area shuttle bus.

Practical Reminders

• Reservations and closures: The Jinhua Museum and the Palace of the Prince Shi of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom are usually closed on Mondays. Check opening hours before setting out; the museum requires an advance online reservation.
• Queues at Shuanglong Cave: During holidays, entering the cave may involve a long wait. Try to arrive and check in before 8 a.m. The cave is cool, and the steps can be slippery, so bring a light jacket and wear slip-resistant walking shoes.
• Buying local products: When buying sightseeing tickets, watch for roadside sales pitches. If you want to take Jinhua flaky pastries or ham home, buy them at established shops in the city center; souvenir shops at scenic-area entrances are usually more expensive.
• Planning your itinerary: Jinhua covers a wide area. Trying to fit Yiwu, Hengdian, Lanxi, and city attractions into three days will make the schedule tight, so choose according to your interests.