One-Day Tour Guide to Yangcheng Lake: The Most Intoxicating Crabs

When Bai Juyi visited West Lake, he couldn’t help but praise, “I cannot bear to leave Hangzhou, for half my lingering is for this lake.” Today, I’d say, “I cannot bear to leave Suzhou, for half my heart belongs to Yangcheng Lake.”

Osmanthus blossoms hang on the branches, filling the air with fragrance for miles. This time of year, when the crab roe is rich and plump, is the perfect season for crab feasting. This year, my father and I hit it off immediately and decided to take the whole family on a one-day trip to Yangcheng Lake. We visited the renowned “No.1 Crab City in the World” and “Hometown of Crabs”—Bacheng in Suzhou—to enjoy the charm of the Jiangnan region and savor the tempting aroma of crabs. Though this trip was indeed spontaneous and our preparations were hasty, we still looked up a one-day tour guide to Yangcheng Lake online. Despite the short duration, it left a profound impression on me.

We set off in the morning and, following our prepared one-day tour guide to Yangcheng Lake, our first stop was the Old Street of Bacheng. The most typical picturesque scenery of the Jiangnan region unfolded before my eyes, leaving me somewhat enchanted. Stepping into the old street, the two-hundred-meter-long thoroughfare stretching from east to west was bustling with activity. The shops here, with their classic antique charm and exquisite cuteness, were filled with a dazzling array of goods. Affectionate Jiangnan women stood behind the brilliantly lit shop doors, smiling sweetly with captivating eyes—truly full of local flavor. This small town, like a paradise on earth, exuded a faint yet serene sense of daily life because of this little street, yet it even more vividly displayed the beauty of peaceful times. Although I also grew up in the Jiangnan region, I had always stayed within the city surrounded by high-rises. Experiencing the elegant charm of white walls and black tiles firsthand was a first for me—I found it refreshingly novel, and my heart was utterly captivated.

My stomach was growling, and grandma, feeling a bit unwell from the journey, wasn’t up for lingering either. So after a brief stroll, we eagerly headed straight for the most important destination of this one-day Yangcheng Lake tour—A Si Crab House in Bacheng. I’d heard that the scenery here is beautiful and the crabs are delicious, and I’d been looking forward to it for a long time.

In the distance, rows of crab restaurants stood neatly aligned, and A Si Crab House was right at the entrance. Stepping into the first-floor hall, it was spacious, bright, and bustling with lively energy. The air was thick with the irresistible aroma of fresh crabs, making mouths water.

The staff warmly greeted us and, noticing that grandma looked tired due to slight motion sickness, kindly brought her some snacks and poured her a cup of tea, attending to her with gentle and thoughtful care. Led by the staff, we went upstairs to the private dining area. We entered one of the rooms, which, though not luxurious, was clean and tidy. Looking out the window, the autumn air was crisp, the water surface calm—an especially pleasant sight. Mom and grandma took a short rest in the room, while dad and I, unable to sit still, followed the staff to pick out our crabs.

Actually, while preparing the one-day tour guide to Yangcheng Lake, I learned that in recent years, the government has placed increasing emphasis on protecting the aquatic environment. The area of net cage farming in Yangcheng Lake has been significantly reduced, now covering only about 16,000 mu, with an annual production of around 1,300 tons. However, the market is full of mixed quality, with many places falsely selling “mixed crabs” under the guise of “Yangcheng Lake crabs” at high prices. But this A Si Crab House surprised me—though located right by Yangcheng Lake, when asked about the crabs, they patiently explained that theirs are premium crabs from high-standard pond farming, not those grown in the lake. “Yangcheng Lake crabs” are a nationally protected geographical indication, limited to crabs actually farmed within Yangcheng Lake. Their crabs may drink Yangcheng Lake water, but since they’re not grown in the lake, they can’t yet be called Yangcheng Lake crabs.

This honesty really moved us. But what we didn’t expect was that the restaurant would actually let us personally select the crabs—now that’s true sincerity.

The crab house is quite long; walking past the kitchen, we arrived at the back crab ponds. The crabs here were all lively and full of energy.

Dad, being experienced, picked while giving me tips on which ones were good. After selecting several plump, large crabs, the chef tied, rinsed, and steamed them on the spot. We returned to the private room, enjoying delicious home-style dishes while waiting for the main stars to make their appearance. Before long, the steamed crabs were served. The aroma was overwhelming, filling the room with fragrance, and just the smell made my mouth water. The crabs were glossy in color, with snow-white bellies free of impurities. When we opened the shells, the crab meat was rich and smooth, the white as snow, the yellow mellow and rich. The crab meat was delicious—tender, firm, and succulent. The male crabs had plump roe and rich meat, while the females were full of golden roe and oil, offering a rich variety of textures, leaving a fragrant aftertaste that lingered on the palate. Dipped in A Si’s specially made crab sauce, the flavor was doubled. The whole family enjoyed it heartily. Dad sipped his drink while savoring the crab meat, clearly overjoyed, and even the usually picky mom couldn’t stop praising it.

After the meal, we sat in the private room chatting about daily life and admiring the scenery of Yangcheng Lake. As an ancient poem goes, “To not know Yangcheng is to disappoint your eyes; to not eat crab is to starve your stomach.” Now I’ve had both—and I felt as happy as a celestial being.

As the sun set in the west, the waters of Yangcheng Lake shimmered beautifully—it was truly like “autumn waters blending with the boundless sky, and sunset clouds flying with a lone duck.” But our one-day tour of Yangcheng Lake was coming to an end. As we left, thinking about the delicious crabs, the lake scenery, and the down-to-earth A Si Crab House, I felt truly reluctant to go. Goodbye, Yangcheng Lake—I’ll definitely come back again next October.