Where to take kids during the Dragon Boat Festival? Picturesque Jiaxing, filled with zongzi
During the Dragon Boat Festival, Jiaxing is a great place to visit. As a water town in the Jiangnan region, it enjoys a pleasant climate without extreme cold or heat.
Jiaxing has a long history and splendid culture, and is considered the birthplace of Jiangnan culture. As early as six or seven thousand years ago, ancestors cultivated the early Neolithic culture of the Taihu Lake basin in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River here—the representative of early Neolithic culture: the Majiabang Culture, one of the origins of the ancient civilization of the Chinese nation. Jiaxing has produced many notable figures throughout history, with a large number emerging in modern and contemporary times—including literary master Mao Dun, Sinology giant Wang Guowei, Crescent Moon School poet Xu Zhimo, cartoonists Feng Zikai and Zhang Leping, renowned mathematician Chen Shengshen, and martial arts fiction master Jin Yong, among many other distinguished individuals. In the past, Jiaxing was home to numerous historical sites and scenic spots. It was once said that the city had “seven pagodas and eight temples,” though some have disappeared over time.Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially since the reform and opening-up, significant efforts have been made to protect cultural relics and restore or develop landscapes. Many old attractions have regained their former glory, and new ones showcase fresh appeal. The South Lake and Yuewang Tower in the urban area are traditional scenic spots, originally celebrated for their misty, poetic ambiance.Most areas in Jiaxing are crisscrossed with rivers and lakes, densely packed like a spiderweb. Boats dock at piers, stone bridges span the waterways, and homes are built along the canals. Words related to water—such as confluence, dike, embankment, creek, harbor, and stream—are commonly used in place names across both urban and rural areas. Jinhua ham, Shaoxing wine, Ningbo tangyuan, and Jiaxing zongzi are four well-known delicacies of Zhejiang. It’s no surprise to say Jiaxing is a city of zongzi.Zongzi shops are everywhere in the city, the air is filled with the fragrance of bamboo leaves, and even the urban sculptures on the streets are zongzi-themed. There was even one time I almost stepped on a discarded zongzi while crossing the street—turns out, Jiaxing really is covered in zongzi. For your Dragon Boat Festival trip, why not choose Jiaxing and enjoy some zongzi?Recommended itinerary: Wuzhen – Wuzhen Ancient Stage – Qiantang River Bridge – Lingyin Temple – Three Pools Mirroring the Moon – Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal – Xitang
Jinhua ham, Shaoxing rice wine, Ningbo tangyuan, and Jiaxing zongzi are four well-known delicacies of Zhejiang. It’s no surprise that Jiaxing is often called the “City of Zongzi.”Zongzi shops are everywhere in the streets of Jiaxing, with the fragrant aroma of bamboo leaves lingering in the air. Even the city’s roadside sculptures often feature zongzi themes. Once, while crossing the street at a crosswalk, I almost stepped on a zongzi someone had dropped—proof that Jiaxing really is full of zongzi everywhere.If you’re traveling during the Dragon Boat Festival, choose Jiaxing as your destination—and enjoy some zongzi while you’re there!
Recommended itinerary: Wuzhen — Wuzhen Ancient Stage — Qiantang River Bridge — Lingyin Temple — Three Pools Mirroring the Moon — Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal — Xitang
