Daohe Scenic Area

Daohe Scenic Area

Daohe Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The ancient Daohe district was formed in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, boasting a history of over 600 years. It is the largest cluster of Tai-style residential architecture in our city. Hanxi and Wuxiang are located to the east and west respectively, while Daohe and Caohe rivers run from north to south, where the Yangtze and Huai rivers converge. The area features an orderly spatial layout, distinctive Tai-style houses, profound historical heritage, numerous cultural relics, and well-preserved street textures. There is a local saying: “Once you step into the Five Lanes, it’s like drinking a potion that confuses your soul.”

Daohe Scenic Area has become an important destination for both locals and tourists for sightseeing and leisure. The area includes the provincial-level cultural heritage site, the Zhou (Wu) Family Residence known as the “Ninety-Nine and a Half Rooms,” the former home of Qian Guisen, a late Qing Dynasty Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and Vice Minister of Rites, revered as a master of literature, the Guanwang Temple — the earliest Ming Dynasty structure in the Two Huais region dedicated to the Salt God, an ancient cluster of wells dating back over two millennia from the Han and Tang dynasties through the Ming and Qing periods, and the Taizhou Scientific Development Concept Exhibition Hall, a national three-star green building designed by He Jingtang, the chief architect of the China Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo.

Daohe Scenic Area is the first historically and culturally significant zone in Taizhou to undergo renovation and revitalization. The project covers a planned area of 16.8 hectares. The ancient Daohe district, formed in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties with over 600 years of history, lies with Hanxi and Wuxiang to the east and west, and Daohe and Caohe rivers running from north to south. Though the area is rich in cultural relics, features well-organized spatial textures, and has profound cultural heritage, it had suffered severe damage due to long-term neglect. The revitalization adhered to principles of active preservation and organic renewal, using renovation as the means and revival as the goal — safeguarding historical authenticity, architectural integrity, and cultural continuity. Major historical buildings were fully restored, iconic cultural facilities were prioritized for construction, infrastructure was significantly improved, population density was effectively alleviated, the living environment was comprehensively upgraded, cultural essence was deeply explored, and functional positioning was strategically planned. Key conservation efforts focused on three aspects: first, the integrated urban-commercial form of “two rivers, three streets, and five lanes,” along with street textures and spatial patterns; second, the Tai-style regional architecture that “embodies the finest of Ming and Qing residences,” including 11 cultural heritage sites and over 30 historic buildings as tangible cultural heritage; third, the intangible cultural heritage representing the spirit of the “Lixia River Gateway” region. The project was carried out in three phases: Phase I centered on the environmental upgrade around the No. 1 Duorixiang Tai-style ancient residence, included the construction of the Scientific Development Concept Exhibition Hall, and the restoration of cultural heritage sites such as the Zhou (Wu) Family Residence; Phase II emphasized the development of shops along the ancient streets, riversides, and commercial areas, mainly constructing outlets along the entries to Hanxi Street, Daohe Road, Gongren Road, and Hailing North Road, forming a preliminary cluster of buildings; Phase III focused on restoring key historic buildings in the district, constructing new Tai-style homes, improving infrastructure, and reviving historical aesthetics, thereby fully completing the revitalization of Daohe Scenic Area.

Daohe Scenic Area blends cultural charm with scenic waters, merging past and present. Historically attached to the old city and controlling the northern pass, it served as a hub for salt and grain transport, with boats crisscrossing alongside parallel streets and bridges, creating a unique layout and rare street texture — hence the saying, “Once you step into the Five Lanes, it’s like drinking a potion that confuses your soul.” The area features the exhibition hall of Cao Jun, an outstanding representative of overseas Chinese in America; the Wuxiang Primary School, founded in the first year of the Xuantong era of the Qing Dynasty; an ancient cluster of wells with a continuous history of over two millennia from the Han and Tang through the Ming and Qing periods; and the Taizhou Scientific Development Concept Exhibition Hall, a national three-star green building designed by Mr. He Jingtang, chief architect of the China Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo... Like dazzling pearls scattered throughout the scenic area, they attract visitors to explore the past, seek serenity, and immerse themselves in emotion.