I thought Suzhou was the pinnacle of Jiangnan charm—until I stumbled into Yangzhou!

Yangzhou, planted in my mind by *Chang'an 30,000 Miles*, did not disappoint. Long heard of its slow-paced, healing lifestyle, I followed the trend to unwind here for a few days— and it was *absolutely* worth it. Now at its peak beauty, Yangzhou dazzles with peach blossoms and willow greens, breaking all rules of scenery! ✅ Soul-stirring Yangzhou scrubbing baths ✅ Jiangnan gardens where every step is a painting ✅ Breakfast tea so fresh it’ll knock your socks off—each one makes it hard to leave. 🏡 **Runde Phil Manor Hotel in Yangzhou** is *utterly* amazing 😍. High expectations were blown away—staying here taught me what "regret not meeting sooner" truly means! ✅ **A thousand-acre black pine forest** is a natural oxygen bar 🌲, with unbeatable summer retreat vibes. Super convenient for road trips from Shanghai or Hangzhou—perfect for a family summer getaway. ✅ **Full solid-wood interiors** exude luxury, with a panoramic gym for workouts 🏋️‍♀️. Even the mattresses are Waldorf Astoria-grade—sleep like a baby. ✅ **Breathe in pine-scented air**, fish 🎣, splash 💦—summer joy is all here! The flower fields are Instagram gold, and kids can play till dusk. A no-brainer for family trips. ✅ **15 mins to downtown, 30 mins to Slender West Lake**, and pet-friendly 🐶! Rumor has it 30% of guests bring their fur babies. For a summer escape near Shanghai/Hangzhou, just go! 👉 Click below for more details 👇 **Curated 2-day, 1-night in-depth guide**—ask me anything! ❓ 🚶 **My Hidden Gem Itinerary** **Day 1**: Slender West Lake ➡ Yiyuan Garden ➡ Siwang Pavilion ➡ Grand Canal Museum **Day 2**: Yanfu West Road ➡ Yechun Tea House ➡ He Garden or Ge Garden ➡ Pishi Street ⚠️ **Pitfall Avoidance Guide** ✅ **Breakfast tea? Pick wisely!** Tourists flock to Yechun and Yiyuan—**Yechun** wins for better ambiance and tastier dim sum. Skip Yiyuan unless you’re dead-set on Table 3’s Siwang Pavilion photo op (food’s mediocre). ✅ **Yangda yogurt** needs no hunt—grab it at any convenience store. Two cups are enough for the ‘gram. ✅ **Slender West Lake? Go early!** Dawn’s mist and sunrise are magical, minus the crowds. Post-8am? Packed and painful. ✅ **Grand Canal Museum** requires bookings, but skip the lines if just photo-hunting—the bridge outside is a golden sunset spot. 🚩 **Must-Do Attractions** 1️⃣ **Slender West Lake** Yangzhou’s crown jewel! Swans glide under the Twenty-Four Bridges at dawn, with misty sunrise vistas. For a bird’s-eye view? **Daming Temple’s Qiling Pagoda**. 2️⃣ **Yanfu West Road** Post-Yechun breakfast, stroll this breezy, waterside path—pure serenity. 3️⃣ **Pishi Street & Dongguan Street** Short but sweet, albeit touristy. Quirky shops and the "Yangzhou" wall mural await. 4️⃣ **Grand Canal Museum** *Book ahead!* Arrive early to dodge crowds. The exhibits are rich; save time for sunset and night views outside—speechless beauty. 5️⃣ **He Garden** Dubbed "Late Qing’s No.1 Garden," its East-meets-West style shines with spring magnolias and autumn maples. 6️⃣ **Ge Garden** Near He Garden—pick one if pressed for time. Its rockery maze is a masterpiece.