Changzhou Ancient Canal South Street Cultural Tourism Area

Changzhou Ancient Canal South Street Cultural Tourism Area

The Changzhou Ancient Canal South Street Cultural Tourism Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The Changzhou Ancient Canal South Street Cultural Tourism Area is located on South Street in the downtown area of Changzhou. It is the only canal cultural tourism area in China where an ancient canal runs through the city center. Stretching from Jinling Middle Road in the east to Huaide Bridge in the west, and bordered by the ancient canal to the south and Yanling West Road to the north, it covers five major areas: Bijixiang, Xiyingmen City Wall, Minyuanli, Shuangguifang, and Chongfa Temple, with a total area of approximately 300,000 square meters. It was designated as a AAAA-level tourist attraction by the National Tourism Administration in 2011.

The Changzhou Ancient Canal runs east-west across the urban area and is part of the Jiangnan Canal section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. The main areas for visitors are between Canal No. 5 Creative Block and Dongpo Park. You can explore sites such as Bijixiang—featured in *Dream of the Red Chamber*—on foot, or take a boat ride to enjoy the scenery along both banks of the canal.

Although some attractions along the Changzhou Ancient Canal are well-known, many of the buildings are newly constructed in an antique style. They are suitable for history and literature enthusiasts interested in reliving the past, but may lack the authentic ancient charm one might expect.

Recommended attractions along the canal include: Canal No. 5 Creative Block, Ming City Wall, Bijixiang, Qingguo Lane, Tianning Temple, Hongmei Park, and Dongpo Park. You can combine walking and bus rides for a pleasant canal tour.

Canal No. 5 Creative Block is renovated from the former Changzhou No. 5 Textile Mill and is great for photography. Xiyingmen City Wall is the only remaining section of the Ming-era city wall in Changzhou. In ancient times, shops in Bijixiang worked through the night making combs, and the "Lights of Bijiliang" were once a famous local sight. Qingguo Lane is a somewhat worn but charming old street. Tianning Temple boasts grand halls, and its Tianning Pagoda displays exquisite Buddhist treasures. The poet Xu Zhimo wrote *"Hearing the Confession Chants at Tianning Temple in Changzhou."* Hongmei Park has a garden-style layout, and its Wenbi Pagoda is the oldest surviving structure in Changzhou. The Yizhou Pavilion in Dongpo Park was once the docking spot where Su Dongpo moored his boat.

The original route for the Changzhou Ancient Canal boat tour was from Canal No. 5 Wharf to Bijixiang to Dongpo Park, with a stop at Bijixiang for boarding and disembarking. Due to ongoing subway construction in Changzhou, the route has been changed to Canal No. 5 Wharf to Bijixiang to Baiyang River. This new route combines industrial heritage, historic sites, and the natural scenery of Baiyang River.

Address: No. 32, Bijixiang, Zhonglou District, Changzhou

Type: River / World Cultural Heritage

Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 hours

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Ticket Information:

No admission fee.