Taierzhuang

Taierzhuang（台儿庄） is a district of the city of Zaozhuang in Shandong Province, China, known for its ancient city. It is the largest ancient town in China.

Understand

Taierzhuang Ancient Town is at the center of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, at the junction of Taierzhuang District, Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province and the four provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, Henan and Anhui. The ancient town originated in the Qin and Han Dynasties, developed in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and prospered in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is known as the "No. 1 Town in the World" (awarded by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty). The ancient town covers an area of 2 square kilometers, with 11 functional divisions, 8 major scenic spots and 29 scenic spots.

The ancient city of Taierzhuang has eight architectural styles, including northern courtyards, Hui style architecture, water town architecture, southern Fujian architecture, European architecture, religious architecture, Lingnan architecture, and southern Shandong folk houses.

The ancient city contains ancient rivers, ancient docks, the Ancient Chinese Water Town, the Taierzhuang Battle Memorial Hall, and a cross-strait exchange base. It is one of only two cities in the world, along with the Polish capital Warsaw, that were destroyed in World War II and rebuilt as world cultural heritage sites.

Climate

Taierzhuang
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       12     6 −3       18     9 0       28     15 5       43     22 11       60     27 16       85     31 21       200     33 25       185     32 24       90     28 19       50     22 13       30     15 6       15     8 0 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Taierzhuang has four distinct climate seasons: hot and rainy summers, cold and dry winters, and mild springs and autumns.
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       0.5     43 27       0.7     48 32       1.1     59 41       1.7     72 52       2.4     81 61       3.3     88 70       7.9     91 77       7.3     90 75       3.5     82 66       2     72 55       1.2     59 43       0.6     46 32 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Taierzhuang is located in the southern part of Shandong Province. It has a warm temperate monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. The temperature rises quickly in spring, but the weather is changeable and there are often strong winds; the summer is hot and humid, with rainfall concentrated from June to August; the autumn is cool and pleasant, with clear skies and refreshing air; the winter is cold and dry, sometimes accompanied by frost or snowfall. The annual average temperature is about 13–14 °C (55–57 °F), the highest temperature in summer is often over 30 °C (86 °F), and the lowest temperature in winter can drop to below −3 °C (27 °F). The annual precipitation is about 700 mm, mostly concentrated in the summer.

History

In the pre-Qin period, the area belonged to the states of Xu and Biyang, and was a place of contention among the powers of Wu, Yue, Lu, Song, Qi, and Chu. Archaeological evidence shows that the ancient city of Biyang, more than 2,000 years ago, was an ancient water city, and was listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit in 2006. During the Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin dynasties, the canal was divided into Fuyang and Lanling counties in the north and south. During the Yongjia migration to the south, Fuyang County was merged into Lv County, and later renamed Shouzhang County. After the Eastern Wei Dynasty, the former site of Fuyang was changed to Cheng County. Since the Sui Dynasty, Cheng County has merged with Lanling County, and was later called Lanling County, Yizhou, and Yi County.

In the Tang Dynasty, the Tai family established a village here, called Taijiazhuang. Zhunti Pavilion, located outside the north gate, was built in the middle and late Tang Dynasty and is the oldest building in Taierzhuang that can be traced back to history.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, Di Qing, Su Shi and others successively presided over the large-scale development of the Liguo Iron Mine in Xuzhou (formerly known as Pengcheng). The water of the river near Taierzhuang began to bear the function of transporting iron ore, and was called Penghe River, commonly known as the Iron Transport River, New River, and Central Ditch.

During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, when the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was diverted to avoid the Yellow River and passed through Taierzhuang, it borrowed the Penghe River for transportation.

In the Yuan Dynasty, earthen embankments were built, and buildings such as the Three Emperors Temple and the Xuan Emperor Temple were built in the city, gradually forming a market town called "Taijiazhuang Market".

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Taijiazhuang had a total of 2,000 households, and the name "Taierzhuang" was first recorded in the canal defense monument erected by Yangzhou Road in Huanglinzhuang, southeast of Taierzhuang in the 12th year of Chongzhen (1639).

In the fourth year of Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1647), the construction of Taierzhuang Tucheng began and was completed the following year. The city was built beside the canal, 1.1 kilometers long from east to west and 1 kilometer wide from north to south. In the seventh year of Xianfeng (1857), a new brick wall was built on the old foundation. The bottom of the new city wall is an earthen platform, 4 meters high, with battlements on top. The city wall slopes inward from the bottom edge, and adobe is built inside the brick wall, which is nearly 3 meters wide on the top. There are 6 city gates: the east gate is called Yangsheng, the west gate is called Taicheng Jiuzhi, the north gate is called Zhongzheng, the small north gate is called Chengen Zhanlu, the south gate is called Huidiji, and the small south gate is called Yingxiang. The four gates of the east, west, south and north each have a two-story gatehouse, about 7 meters high, with a guardhouse on top and a passage below, which can accommodate large vehicles. The moat is 9 meters away from the city wall, the river is 10 meters wide, 2 meters deep, and has a circumference of 5.7 kilometers. On the eve of the Battle of Taierzhuang, there were 8 streets, 13 docks, 437 alleys, 5,000 households, and 20,000 houses in the ancient city.

In 1938, during the Anti-Japanese War, the ancient city was reduced to ruins due to the Battle of Taierzhuang.

On April 8, 2008, at the event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Battle of Taierzhuang, the Zaozhuang Municipal People's Government announced the launch of the reconstruction of the ancient city of Taierzhuang.

Get in

Taierzhuang is at the junction of Shandong and Jiangsu. It is the southern gate of Shandong and the northern barrier of Jiangsu. It has an important strategic location and has always been a battleground for military strategists.

The Beijing-Fuzhou Expressway, National Highway 206, National Highway 104 and Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway pass through the area. There are four airports nearby, namely Xuzhou Guanyin, Linyi, Jining and Lianyungang, three high-speed railway stations, namely Zaozhuang, Xuzhou and Tengzhou, and three seaports, namely Shijiu, Lanshan and Lianyungang. The "Golden Waterway" Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal runs across the entire area for 42 km. 2,000-ton ships can navigate all year round, and water transportation directly reaches Yangzhou, Nanjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and other regions.

By bus

• 1 Taierzhuang Bus Station (台儿庄汽车站). Taierzhuang Bus Station is located at the intersection of Zaozhuang-Taierzhuang Highway and Weifang-Xuzhou Highway. There are 30 operating routes, more than 300 daily departures, and more than 4,000 passengers per day. Tickets can be purchased directly at the station or booked through online platforms. The station is equipped with a waiting area and basic facilities to facilitate passengers' travel. (updated Dec 2024)

By car

Beijing-Shanghai Expressway (G2): Taierzhuang is connected to Shandong, Jiangsu, Beijing, Shanghai and other major cities via the Beijing-Shanghai Expressway.

Ji-Xu Expressway (G2511): Taierzhuang is connected to Jinan, Xuzhou and other cities via the Ji-Xu Expressway, and the transportation is very convenient.

Taierzhuang to Zaozhuang City: The transportation between Taierzhuang and Zaozhuang City is connected by multiple county roads and urban roads, and the driving time is about 20-30 minutes.

By plane

The airports around Zaozhuang, from near to far, are Linyi Airport, Xuzhou Guanyin Airport, Lianyungang Baitabu Airport, Jining Qufu Airport, Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport and Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, which are 90 kilometers, 110 kilometers, 110 kilometers, 130 kilometers, 280 kilometers and 370 kilometers away from Taierzhuang respectively.

High-speed rail

There is no high-speed rail in Taierzhuang District, but there is in Zaozhuang City. Taking the Beijing-Shanghai High-speed Railway, the travel time from Beijing and Shanghai to Zaozhuang is 2.5-3 hours; Changsha, Wuhan and Qingdao to Zaozhuang are 6 hours, 4 hours and 4 hours respectively.

Get around

Taierzhuang District, as part of Zaozhuang City, offers various transportation options for both locals and visitors. Public buses are the primary mode of transport within the district and connect most areas conveniently. The bus fares are economical, and many buses display information in Chinese and English.

Taxis are readily available in Taierzhuang and are cheaper compared to larger cities. Ride-hailing apps such as Didi are also popular.

Shared bikes and electric scooters are widely available and can be rented using mobile apps.

The district features some older and narrower roads, especially in residential and historical areas, which can lead to congestion during peak hours. It is recommended to plan travel outside of these times to avoid delays.

For intercity travel, shuttle buses and taxis are the primary connections between Taierzhuang and other parts of Zaozhuang. The district is also accessible via Zaozhuang High-Speed Rail Station, with local transportation options available to reach different areas of Taierzhuang.

While the local population may not speak fluent English, most major services such as hotels, transportation hubs, and tourist centers provide basic bilingual support. It is still a good idea to prepare the names of your destinations in Chinese characters to show drivers or ask for directions.

See

• 1 Taierzhuang Ancient Town (台儿庄古镇), ☏ +86 632-6679038. Open all year round (last entry at 23:59). The ancient town covers an area of about 2 km² and is divided into several functional areas. There are many attractions such as ancient bridges, streets, canals, etc. If you just want to visit, 3-4 hours is enough, but if you like to take a slow tour or take pictures, it may take longer. During the tour, it is worth staying for lunch. There are many specialties of Lunan in the ancient town, such as crispy Taierzhuang pancakes, spicy spicy chicken, rich Zaozhuang spicy soup, and canal-flavored boat dishes. Whether it is a street food stall or an elegant restaurant, you can taste the authentic local flavor and feel the unique atmosphere of the ancient town. Taierzhuang Ancient City is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction, known as "China's most beautiful water town"; it is called "the living ancient canal" and "the only remaining heritage village on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal" by the World Tourism Organization. 160人民币. (updated Oct 2024)
• 2 Taierzhuang Battle Memorial Hall (台儿庄战役纪念馆). 08:30-17:00. The Taierzhuang Battle Memorial Hall covers an area of ​​about 5,000 square meters and was established to commemorate the historical event of the Taierzhuang Battle. There are several exhibition halls in the memorial hall, which display the historical background of the Taierzhuang Battle, the course of the battle, and the heroic Chinese anti-Japanese war heroes.The Taierzhuang Battle Memorial Hall consists of a monument, exhibition hall, film and television hall, panoramic painting hall, war correspondent hall, Tomb of Unknown Heroes, National Defense Education Park, etc. It also has a temporary exhibition hall, a multi-functional lecture hall and a red library.The museum has a total of more than 3,000 cultural relics and historical materials, and exhibits more than 2,000 cultural relics, pictures and historical materials. Through the organic combination of historical relics, historical pictures, documentary materials and various auxiliary display methods, it presents a panoramic view of the heroic deeds of patriotic soldiers in serving the motherland in the Battle of Taierzhuang.The Taierzhuang District People's Government laid the foundation stone on October 12, 1992, and invested 30 million yuan to build the Taierzhuang Battle Memorial Hall. It is a national AAAA-level scenic spot. free. (updated Nov 2024)
• 3 Shuanglong Lake Wetland Park (双龙湖湿地公园), ☏ +86 632-6679020. 08:00-18:00. Shuanglong Lake Scenic Area is a tourist destination that integrates natural landscape and cultural history. It is famous for its unique wetland resources and charming lake and mountain scenery. The scenic area is named after two winding rivers that converge into a lake, like two dragons playing with a pearl. Shuanglong Lake Scenic Area has a vast wetland ecosystem, where the water is clear, the banks are green, the reeds are rippling, and a variety of rare birds such as egrets and wild ducks live, like an ecological painting. From Zaozhuang High-speed Railway Station, you can take bus K108 directly to Taierzhuang Ancient City, and then transfer to bus T5 to Shuanglong Lake Wetland Park. The whole journey takes about 1 hour. free. (updated Nov 2024)
• 4 Taierzhuang Canal National Wetland (台儿庄运河国家湿地). 08:00-18:00. Shandong Taierzhuang Grand Canal National Wetland Park is mainly composed of river wetlands such as the lower reaches of Taogou River, the lower reaches of Yicheng Shahe floodway, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal section between the two river mouths. The plane layout is an oblique "U" shape, surrounding the Taierzhuang urban area, and is a typical river wetland. The total planned area is 2,592 hectares.In 2013, Shandong Taierzhuang Canal National Wetland Park was rated as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. free. (updated Nov 2024)

Do

Movie theaters

• China Film Space Cinema (Taierzhuang), West Zone, 4th Floor, Guicheng Neighborhood Center, Jiandao Street (next to Lanqi Garden), ☏ +86 632 7085678. ¥20. (updated Dec 2024)
• Taierzhuang Beike Cinema (Ginza Branch), West Zone, 4th Floor, Guicheng Neighborhood Center, Jiandao Street (next to Lanqi Garden), ☏ +86 32 6660521. ¥20. (updated Dec 2024)

Sport

• 1 Taierzhuang District Sports Center Stadium, No. 178, Wenhua Road, ☏ 0632-6611418NOCC. (updated Dec 2024)

Buy

• 1 Ginza Shopping Plaza (银座购物广场). (updated Dec 2024)

Eat

Typical foods

• Vegetable pancake‌: This is a classic snack in Taierzhuang, with a crispy taste and endless aftertaste. Recommended shops include Jia Erjie Vegetable Pancake and Taicheng Yao Vegetable Pancake.
• Yellow Flower Beef Noodles‌: Made from top-quality day lily and local yellow beef, the soup is rich and the noodles are chewy. Recommended shops include Song Shifu Yellow Flower Beef Noodles and Li Ji Clay Pot Noodles.
• Spicy Chicken‌: Taierzhuang's spicy chicken uses local free-range roosters, stir-fried with a lot of fresh peppers and rice vinegar, and tastes delicious. Recommended shops include Sun Meili Spicy Chicken and Lanqi Banquet Hall.
• Canal Carp‌: Use carp from the local Grand Canal section, which can be cooked spicy or onion-flavored, and the fish meat is extremely delicious.
• Duck Egg Vermicelli‌: The fragrance of duck eggs and the glutinous vermicelli are perfectly combined, with a rich taste.
• Stone Pancake‌: A traditional handmade pancake, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a mellow taste.
• Mutton Soup‌: Made from top-quality goats and paired with secret seasonings, it tastes delicious.

Restaurants

• 1 Li Family Courtyard (李家大院). A store with good taste and color, located in a busy traffic area. ¥100. (updated Dec 2024)
• 2 Canal Fish House (运河鱼馆), ☏ +86 1558823115. Yunhe Fish Restaurant is a home-style restaurant in the ancient city of Taierzhuang. It is very busy. The fish is very tender and has no fishy smell. The spicy chicken with Taierzhuang characteristics is also very delicious and worth tasting. ¥85. (updated Dec 2024)
• 3 Dongwangfu Spicy Chicken (东王府辣子鸡), ☏ +86 15163230123. Authentic Shandong cuisine, the fish is very fresh and big, the spicy chicken is also delicious, there is a parking space at the door, it is worth a try. (updated Dec 2024)
• 4 Muslim Shunhe Spicy Chicken Restaurant (清真顺和辣子鸡馆), ☏ +86 15588478088. 10:00-22:00. ¥100. (updated Dec 2024)

Drink

• Kudi Coffee (库迪咖啡), ☏ +86 17763213399. A famous coffee shop chain located on Linyun Road. (updated Dec 2024)
• 1 Xijiangyue Music Bar (西江月音乐酒吧), ☏ +86 6326651777. This is a bar where you can drink and eat. The restaurant environment is good, clean and tidy. (updated Dec 2024)

Sleep

• 1 Wanjia Courtyard Hotel (万家大院酒店), ☏ +86 13306378178. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Located inside the ancient city of Taierzhuang, it is convenient to visit and cheap. ¥160. (updated Dec 2024)
• 2 GreenTree Inn Shell Hotel (格林豪泰贝壳酒店), ☏ +86 15665269681. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. It is a Chinese chain hotel. If you are looking for a chain brand, you can choose this hotel. It is quiet and close to the scenic spot. It is convenient for sightseeing and comfortable for accommodation. ¥100. (updated Dec 2024)
• 3 Taierzhuang Ancient City Dream Garden Holiday Villa (台儿庄古城梦里田园度假别墅), ☏ +86 17663285129. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. High-end accommodation, villa-style resort hotel, family and friends can live together, warm and spacious, very close to Taierzhuang Ancient City Scenic Area. ¥550. (updated Dec 2024)
• 4 Taierzhuang Hotel (台儿庄大酒店). Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. It is 950 meters away from the Taierzhuang Battle Memorial Hall, about 12 minutes away. Located in the center of Taierzhuang, it has convenient transportation. ¥190. (updated Dec 2024)