Taizhou Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 台州 (tāi zhōu)
Population: 5,690,000
Area: 9,411 square kilometers (3,634 square miles)
Location: in the middle area of Zhejiang, east China
Administrative Division: 3 districts (Jiaojiang, Huangyan, Luqiao); 3 counties (Sanmen, Tiantai, Xianju); 3 county-level cities (Linhai, Wenling, Yuhuan)
Area Code: 0576
Zip Code: 318000
GDP (2019): CNY 513.405 billion (USD 74.417 billion)

Located in middle Zhejiang, Taizhou is south to Ningbo and Shaoxing, north to Wenzhou, east to Jinhua and Lishui, and west off the East China Sea. Taizhou is a typical water city in the south of the Yangtze River with a dense river network, showing no less charm than that of Suzhou and Hangzhou. But what makes Taizhou widely known is Tiantai Mountain, the birthplace of Tendai School of Buddhism, the first sect of Buddhism in China, and the Southern Taoism. The mountain now is a lively spot with beautiful scenery and ancient Guoqing Temple. If you want to experience the historical atmosphere of Taizhou, the 6,000-meter long (19,685 feet) South China Great Wall first built in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317 - 420) and extended in the later dynasties is unmissable.

 Tiantai Mountain: It is a national AAAA scenic area, not only famous for its breath-taking scenery, but also for its Buddhism and Taoism culture.

 Shenxianju Scenic Area: Located in Xianju County, it attracts visitors with its fairy landscape. The highlights are the unusually shaped mountain peaks, rocks and waterfalls.

 Taozhu Provincial Scenic Area: It is a national geological park in Linhai. Taozhu Ancient Town and Coral Rock are most famous there.

 Fangshan-Nansong Mountain Scenic Area: Linked with the famous Yandang Mountain, it is composed of three parts: Fangshan Mountain, Lion Peak and Longjiangmen Gateway.

 Changyu Dongtian Scenic Area: It is a national AAAA scenic spot in Wenling. The grand cave scenery formed due to the stone exploration 1,500 years ago. Thousands of caves link and form a natural music hall.

 Other Spots: Shitang Fishing Village, Dalu Island, Dachen Island, Shepan Island, Sea World, Wu Zixiong Glass Art Exhibition Hall, Yuhuan Agricultural Sightseeing Garden, Shaddock Orchard

The region belongs to the subtropical monsoon climate zone. Summer there is quite hot especially in July when the average temperature can be as high as 34C (93F). Winter is long but not too cold. The average temperature is about 4C (39F) to 8C (46F). Early May, late June and early September are its rainy season. Best time to pay a visit is from April to October. Every year from April to May, the Azalea Festival and Stone Culture Festival are held. The China Taizhou Tourism Festival is held between May and September. The South China Great Wall Tourism Festival is held from October to November. These interesting festivals can be the good reference for choosing the time to visit.

 History: This land has been cultivated since the Neolithic Age. In the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC), it was called Puxiang, which was changed into Puxian Shire in the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD). In 621 of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), it was called Haizhou State. The name of Taizhou came into being in 622. It was in 1994 when it became a prefecture-level city under the approval of the State Council.

 Physical Features: With the East China Sea to its east, the land here inclines from high west to low east. It is covered with various landforms including hills, plains, mountains, islands and sea.

 Local Highlights: Taizhou is newly developed harbor city. It is an important manufacture base of Zhejiang with the most renowned productions of mold and water pump. It has the second largest coal-fired power plants in Zhejiang. It is also one of China's main bases of fruit and fishing industry.

 Special Local Products: Handicrafts: glass sculpture, bamboo sculpture, stone sculpture, tree root carving, shell carving, waxwork, paper lantern, pearl
Foods: satsuma, waxberry, loquat, orange, shaddock, chestnut, long persimmon, sugarcane