Satisfy Your “Crab Cravings” with a “Water Banquet”
As the saying goes, “When the autumn wind rises, the crabs’ feet start to itch.” Golden autumn is the perfect season to savor crabs and enjoy the scenery, as well as a prime time for foodies to hunt down delicious treats. Taizhou, just a 2.5-hour drive from Shanghai, is a millennia-old land of fish and rice, long celebrated as a “water paradise.” The area is crisscrossed with waterways and dotted with rivers and creeks, making it one of China’s largest producers of river crabs. Every autumn, Taizhou hosts a River Crab Festival where a “water banquet” is spread out along the millennium-old Fengcheng River. The feast not only features a variety of renowned crabs such as Qinzhou Barrier Crabs, Xinghua Red-Gel Crabs, Tribute Crabs, and Jingjiang River Crabs, but also offers “crab-flavored” morning tea highlighted by crab roe buns. Food lovers can indulge in crab delicacies from morning till night here!
This year’s Taizhou River Crab Festival runs from September 20 to October 20. During the festival, visitors who purchase attraction tickets worth 100 yuan or more will receive a 50-yuan crab voucher, which can be redeemed at designated restaurants for a free taste of river crabs.
Five Must-See Scenic Spots in Taizhou
The millennium-old Fengcheng River in Taizhou is like a silver thread, stringing together a series of picturesque attractions along its banks. After indulging in food and fun during the River Crab Festival, why not stroll into the Peach Blossom Garden to explore the story behind the famous opera “The Peach Blossom Fan”? Or climb the Wanghai Tower to take in a panoramic view of Taizhou. You can also visit the Qiao Garden, known as the “Little Qiao Family Courtyard,” or the Mei Garden, which showcases the artistic life of Mei Lanfang, to enjoy the scenery and unwind. At night, board a painted pleasure boat for a cruise along the Fengcheng River. With the bright moon above and the shimmering lights of the Wanghai Tower and the dazzling illuminations of the Peach Blossom Garden reflected on the rippling water, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a fairyland.