Just got back from Yangzhou, and I'm here to convince everyone to go!

Hey guys! Just returned from a leisurely trip to Yangzhou, and I was truly healed by this "slow city" vibe. Don't be scared off by the crowded scenes online—avoid the tourist traps and follow this guide to unlock the gentle charm of the "Pearl of Huaiyang"! 🌿 Must-Do List | Local Hidden Gems • **Slender West Lake**: Skip the morning rush! Arrive after 3 PM when the sunset gilds the White Pagoda and Five-Pavilion Bridge. A boat ride through the willow-lined shores 🌿 is 10 times more magical than battling daytime crowds. Enter via the West Gate to avoid the main entrance crowds and head straight to Fishing Terrace for the iconic "three-scene frame" shot—it’s breathtaking! • **Geyuan Garden**: The pinnacle of Qing Dynasty salt merchant gardens! Ditch the rushed guided tours and wander at your own pace: admire bamboo shadows in Spring Hill, listen to cicadas in Summer Hill’s stone caves, climb Autumn Hill’s paths for sky views, and bask in Winter Hill’s "snowy" rocks reflecting sunlight ❄️—every step oozes Jiangnan poetry. • **Dongguan Street**: Skip the overhyped spots! Veer into nearby Dongquanmen or Pishi Street. For authentic Yangzhou breakfast, hit the old-school **Yechun Teahouse**—sip *Lüyangchun* tea with *Sandingbao* buns and emerald *shaomai* dumplings while eavesdropping on locals’ chatter 🥟. That’s the soul of "steamed buns and tea" culture! ☀️ **July Weather | Comfort Outfits** • **Temperature**: 25°C - 32°C, occasional thunderstorms 🌦️, but super breezy under tree shades! • **Outfit Tips**: 👗 Flowy linen dresses or tees + wide-leg pants (breathable and photogenic); 👟 Light canvas shoes (blister-free for cobblestone streets); ☂️ Pack a foldable umbrella (sun/rain shield + cute prop for *qipao* photos). 🚗 **Transport Hacks | No Detours** • **Getting There**: High-speed rail to **Yangzhou East Station** (20-min taxi to downtown); driving? Parking is just ¥10/day! • **Getting Around**: Rent e-scooters 🛵! Yangzhou is compact—15 mins from Slender West Lake to Dongguan Street, with scenic breezes better than any taxi. 🍜 **Food Guide | Skip the Tourist Traps** • **Breakfast Musts**: Yechun’s emerald *shaomai* (wild chive filling!), Garden Teahouse’s silky *Tofu Threads*, and Gonghechun’s shrimp-roe wontons (umami explosion!). • **Lunch/Dinner**: Shiweitian’s **Yangzhou fried rice** (each grain perfect!) or Lu’s Mansion’s melt-in-your-mouth **lion’s head meatballs**. • **Hidden Snacks**: *Huangqiao sesame cakes* (flaky perfection!) at Dongguan Street’s end, or spicy-sweet *Jiangba Guai ginger candy* in alleyways. 🏡 **Stay Like a Local** • **Old Town B&Bs**: Book a **refurbished salt merchant house** near Dongguan Street—wake to birdsong and brick-tiled roofs, with attractions 10 mins away. • **Slender West Lake**: **Yingbin Hotel’s** lake-view rooms! Open your window to the White Pagoda, and stroll their lotus ponds at dusk—serener than the park itself 🌙. I started missing Yangzhou the moment I left—the morning teahouse steam, the lantern-lit canal boats at dusk, the "slow time" in ancient alleys ✨. Visit in July (no crowds, no rush), follow this guide, and you’ll see why "Yangzhou in March" is famous, but **July’s Yangzhou is pure magic**.