Changzhou Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 常州 (cháng zhōu)
Population: 4,736,000
Area: 4,375 square kilometers (1,689 square miles)
Location: in the south of Jiangsu Province, east China
Administrative Division: 5 districts (Jintan, Wujin, Xinbei, Tianning, Zhonghlou); 1 county-level city (Liyang)
Area Code: 0519
Zip Code: 213000
GDP (2019): CNY 740.09 billion (USD 107.27 billion)

Changzhou lies in the south of Jiangsu Province, Yangtze Delta area, neighboring Taihu Lake and Shanghai to the east, Nanjing to the west, and shares the boundary with Anhui Province to the south. Changzhou has developed national high-end manufacturing industries including new energy vehicles and auto core parts, smart grid and new material industries, especially the graphene technology is leading in the world.

In the process of more than 2,500 years, many historical sites are left in this city. You can appreciate ancient buildings, a wonderful chimes performance in the China Spring and Autumn Yancheng Scenic Area and brick carvings in the Tianning Temple. As Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal passes through the central Changzhou, you can take a cruise ship to appreciate the city and know its history and culture. Besides, you can also visit the China Dinosaurs Park, a large dinosaur culture-themed amusement park. Also surprisingly, Changzhou is a food paradise which offers all kinds of cakes, snacks and dishes such as Steamed Buns, Wanton, Silver Noodles and Shrimp Cake. The fish from Tianmu Lake and hairy crab from Changdang Lake should not be missed.

It is a large dinosaur theme park in the Universal Dinosaur Town, consisting of a dinosaur museum and six entertainment areas with various recreational facilities. Tourists can not only learn more about dinosaurs in the museum, but can relax themselves in the exciting activities.
 

This historical site was the only ruins of Chinese old town with three city walls and three moats kept from the Spring and Autumn Period. Three thousands years of history not only left people the enigma about the town's ruler but also gave the town big reputation.
 

Built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the temple has more than 1,300 years' of history being one of the most famous Buddhist sites in Southeast China. The Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) visited Tianning Temple for three times. Apart from halls and towers, the brick carvings of the Five Hundred Disciples of Buddha and twelve jade Buddhas add much luster to the temple.

Admission Fee:	CNY 80 (including temple and ascending to the pagoda)
Transportaton:	take bus no. 11, 23, 25, 53, 62, 78, 80, 220, 902 or 903 to get off Tianningsi Station.

The lake is located at the north of the Tianmu Mountain, one hour's drive (in Liyang City) from the downtown Changzhou. It is formed by the construction of reservoirs in this region. The lake perfectly complements the surrounding natural sceneries.
 

Comb making brought the city great fame since a long time ago. Every family in the Combs Alley made a living as combs maker in Qing Dynasty. Built on the side of the Grand Canal, courier station was established in the alley in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Other Scenic Area: Maoshan Mountain

Changzhou Benniu Airport is located in Xinbei District, 18 kilometers (11 miles) from the city center, and operating flights to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shenyang, Harbin, Dalian and Xiamen. Visitor can take airport buses from the ticket office in the city's Civil Aviation Building (Min Hang Da Sha).

There are Changzhou Railway Station and Changzhou North Railway Station in the city and they operates both ordinary and high speed trains to/from Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Hefei, Changsha, Wuhan, Qingdao and so on.

 See detailed Changzhou Train Schedule, Beijing to Changzhou Train, Changzhou to Shanghai Train

Changzhou Bus Station is located at the north square of the railway station, where passengers can take bus from there to Shanghai, Wuxi, Nanchang and other cities.

 See also: Best Way to Travel between Changzhou and Shanghai

Changzhou enjoys a humid monsoon climate at the transition area between subtropical and temperate zones. The four seasons varies greatly during a year. Spring and autumn are moderate, while summer and winter go extremely opposite. Summer is torrid, but gathers majority of the rainfall. The plum rain period lasts from June to July. Also during the summer, rainstorm and typhoon are more likely to happen.

 When to Go: The best time to visit Changzhou is in mid-spring and early autumn, for moderate temperature and less rainfall.

 History: This area was initially recorded as Yanling in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC), and the name was continued to be used for about 350 years. It was changed successively into Piling later on. It gained the name of Changzhou in the Sui Dynasty (581 - 618).

 Physical Features: Due to the location in the Yangtze Delta area, fluvial plain constitute the main landform of the city. But the terrain seems more complex. To its west and south are the Maoshan Mountain and Tianmu Mountain. Generally, the land slops slightly downward from the northwest to the southeast with the Grand Canal passing through the city.

 Special Local Products: Artware: random stitch embroidery, combs, paper-carving in Jintan