After visiting Meihuazhou four times, I finally figured out how to fully enjoy it!

📍 Address No. 10, Sanxing Road, Fengqiao Town, Nanhu District, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. 🚗 Transportation 1. By car: - From Shanghai/Suzhou: Take G60 Shanghai-Kunming Expressway → Exit at Yuxin → Navigate to "Meihuazhou Scenic Area" (approx. 2 hours). - From Hangzhou: Take G60 Shanghai-Kunming Expressway → Exit at Yuxin (approx. 1.5 hours direct). - Parking: South Gate/West Gate parking lots, ¥10 per entry. 2. High-speed rail + bus: From Jiaxing South Station → Take Bus 221 (approx. 20 mins) to "Shifosi Station". 3. Night return: Last bus from train station (Bus 101) at 18:00, last bus from South Station (Bus 108) at 22:00. Mind the schedule. 📜 Introduction Meihuazhou is a 1,500-year-old hidden gem of Jiangnan, named after its five-petal plum-shaped terrain✨. Highlights: - Millennium-old Shifosi Temple: Ancient Southern Dynasty temple with serene morning bells and evening drums. - "Couple Ginkgo Trees": 1,250-year-old male and female trees facing each other across a river, golden leaves in autumn🍂. - "Three Steps, Two Bridges": Unique Tang Dynasty design—three steps span two bridges, a one-of-a-kind Jiangnan wonder. - Tranquil and uncrowded: Minimal commercialization, preserving authentic water-town charm. 🗺️ Itinerary One-day highlights: 1. Morning·Ancient Traces: Shifosi Temple (8:15 scripture copying) → Millennium Ginkgo Forest (must-photograph autumn gold) → Three Steps, Two Bridges (low-angle shots of bridge light/shadow). 2. Afternoon·Local Life: West Street snacks (plum blossom cakes, fried dough) → Fengshi Old House (shadow puppetry + Hui-style architecture) → Boat ride (¥20/person, traditional boats through canals). 3. Evening·Time Travel: "Moon Over Meihuazhou" light show (flower boats + guqin music) → Xianghua Bridge light trails (long-exposure night shots). Unique experiences: - Free entry in Hanfu: Rent Hanfu for free admission—oil-paper umbrellas + round fans make perfect props. - DIY workshops: Plum blossom cake making (¥15), bamboo bookmark carving, ginkgo leaf prints. - Seasonal: Strawberry picking (spring), grape harvesting (summer), ginkgo photography (autumn), plum blossoms & snow (winter). ⚠️ Tips 1. Timing: - Allow 5 hours for in-depth visit; arrive before 9am to avoid crowds. - Night show is a must! Runs Fridays to Sundays. 2. Photography: - Wear light colors/Hanfu; misty/rainy days enhance ink-painting vibes. - Best spots: Ginkgo forest stone steps panorama, Xianghua Bridge light trails, Feng House geometric walls. 3. Avoid pitfalls: - Online tickets ¥44 (¥60 onsite), non-refundable same-day use. - "Trendy ice cream" inside is overpriced—skip it. 🍜 Food Recs - Plum blossom cakes: Crispy outside, sweet red bean paste inside—best fresh from West Street shops. - Chi cakes: Soft glutinous rice with bean paste—eat hot🎋. - Zhenzhen Laolao zongzi: Jiaxing’s famous salted egg yolk & pork sticky rice dumplings. - Meizhou Hotel: Melt-in-mouth fermented tofu pork, tender steamed Nanhu white fish. 🛏️ Stays 1. Inside·Immersive: - Shuixi Caotang: Riverside courtyard with boat views, 24 solar term themes (¥500-800/night). - Zitao Xuan: Zen-style B&B, morning bells & stargazing (¥400-600/night). 2. Outside·Budget: - Jiaxing Yunlai Resort: 10-min walk, modern amenities (¥300-500/night). - Fengqiao homestays: ~¥150/person for farmstay vibes (try "Pillow Water Jiangnan"). 🌊 Nearby Attractions 1. Combo tickets: Guoyu Ancient City (Ming-Qing houses) + Jiunv Fairy Lake (island views), valid 3 days. 2. Jiaxing classics: - Nanhu Scenic Area: Revolutionary "Red Boat" site, 30 mins from Meihuazhou. - Xitang/Wuzhen: 1.5-hour drive for bustling water-town nightscapes. 💡 Final Thoughts Four visits taught me Meihuazhou’s magic—its quietude is the canvas, details are the art! Dawn chants at Shifosi cleanse the soul, plum cake aromas warm the heart at noon, and Xianghua Bridge’s night lights transport you to antiquity✨. Unlike Xitang/Wuzhen’s crowds, this is a millennia-old poem waiting to be read: bridges whisper craftsmen’s wisdom, ginkgo leaves drop time’s secrets, even vine-clad walls murmur ecological philosophy. If crowds weary you, this is Jiangnan’s last poetic refuge.