Beijing to Shanghai: Places to Explore

Yangzhou

Yangzhou has quietly transformed itself into one of the most pleasant cities in Eastern China. With a population of half a million—minuscule by Chinese standards—the town has a laid-back feel. Yangzhou is small enough to be seen in one day, but is charming enough to make you want to linger for a few days.

Because it's on the Grand Canal, Yangzhou flourished in the Tang Dynasty. Drawing on thousands of years as a trade center for salt and silk, Yangzhou maintains a cosmopolitan feel. Indeed, some of the most interesting sites in Yangzhou demonstrate a blending of cultures: Japanese relations are evidenced in the monument to Jian Zhen, a monk who helped spread Buddhist teachings to Japan. European influence is seen in the Sino-Victorian gardens of He Yuan, and Persian contact is preserved in the tomb of Puddahidin, a 13th-century trader and descendant of Mohammed.