[2025 Dongtai Attraction] Travel Guide for Dongyong Seven Fairies Culture Park (Updated Jul)

📌Destination: Yancheng · Dongtai City (Yangtze River Delta Ecological Leisure Town) 🏙️City Impression: The Poetry of Wetland Cranes and Ancient Salt Fields ▶️Dongtai lies by the river and sea, boasting the rare global combination of intertidal wetlands and plain forests, along with a 2,000-year heritage of sea salt culture. Free from the hustle of popular cities, here you can watch migratory birds fly together, explore forest oxygen bars, and savor fresh river and sea delicacies. It’s the ideal "light vacation" destination in the Yangtze River Delta. 🏞️Must-Visit Attractions: A Duet of Nature and Culture 【Ecological Wonders】 1️⃣ Yellow Sea Seaside National Forest Park 🌟Highlights: The largest artificial Metasequoia forest in East China, with over 90% forest coverage and an abundance of negative oxygen ions. 🛝Activities: Cycle along the 5 km rainbow boardwalk, enjoy the misty forest light show, and check in at the Treehouse of the Cedar Tribe. 🏔️Tips: The Metasequoia forest turns golden-red in October-November, perfect for photography; a small train inside the park costs 30 RMB per person. 2️⃣ Tiaozi Ni Wetland (Core Area of World Natural Heritage) 🌟Highlights: The largest migratory stopover for the endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper globally, with a unique "tidal forest" landscape. 🛝Activities: ▶️Tide pooling and shell collecting (tools available for rent at 10 RMB/set) ▶️Birdwatching tower for photographing "thousands of birds returning to roost" (best time: 2 hours before high tide) 🏔️Tips: Check daily tide times on the "Dongtai Culture & Tourism" WeChat official account; free admission (shuttle bus 20 RMB mandatory). 【Cultural Exploration】 1️⃣ Xixi Tourism and Cultural Scenic Area ▶️Dong Yong and the Seven Fairies Cultural Park: Han-style architecture recreating the legend of the celestial couple; the nighttime live show "The Celestial Fate" is a must-see (ticket 80 RMB). ▶️Haichunxuan Pagoda: The oldest Tang dynasty pagoda in Jiangsu, standing for a thousand years without a foundation, free to visit. ▶️Limu Street: A Ming and Qing dynasty old street by the Salt Transport Canal, experience traditional salt making and straw weaving crafts. 2️⃣ Anfeng Ancient Street ▶️Salt Course Office: Exhibition on the salt transport history of the Ming dynasty’s Huaihai region, revealing the glory of the "World’s Salt Warehouse." ▶️Bao’s Mansion: Huizhou-style salt merchant residence, a treasure trove of brick carvings and woodwork art. 🍔Food Guide: A Feast of River and Sea Freshness 【Three Must-Try Dishes】 ✅ Dongtai Fish Soup Noodles ▶️Essence: Wild crucian carp and eel bones simmered for 3 hours, producing a milky white broth that is neither fishy nor greasy. 🏪Recommended Restaurants: Xu He Fish Soup Noodles (old brand, average 15 RMB per person) Red Lantern Noodle House (open 24 hours, crab roe adds extra flavor) ✅ Chenpi Wine Braised River Fresh ▶️Specialty: Local intangible cultural heritage chenpi wine used to cook pufferfish or shad, the wine aroma removes fishiness and the meat is tender. 🏪Recommended Restaurant: Haiwangfu Restaurant in Jianggang Town (pufferfish requires 1-day advance reservation). ✅ Qindong Crab 🕜Golden Season: September to November, blue shell, white belly, yellow hair, and golden claws, rich roe and full yellow. 🍽️How to Eat: Steamed with ginger vinegar dip, or as crab roe soup dumplings (recommended at Jinshuiwan Grand Hotel). 🕋【Snacks and Souvenirs】 🛍️ Fu’an Su’er Cake: Crispy pastry with red bean paste filling, sweet and savory flavors (made on-site in Fu’an Ancient Town). 🛍️ Spicy Shrimp Sauce: Fermented wild small shrimp, perfect for mixing with noodles (available at "Haisheng" supermarket). 🚄Transportation Guide: Seamless Green Travel 🚇External Transport High-speed rail: Shanghai/Nanjing → Dongtai Station (1.5-2.5 hours), 10-minute taxi to downtown. 🚘Self-driving: Exit "Dongtai" on Shenhai Expressway (G15), clear signs to attractions. 🛺Internal Transport 🚌Direct shuttle: High-speed rail station → Yellow Sea Forest Park / Tiaozi Ni (departures daily at 8:30/14:00, 15 RMB per person). 🛵Shared electric scooters: "Miaozou Travel" electric bikes cover the city, 3 RMB/20 minutes. 🚍Charter service: One-day wetland + forest tour car rental about 300 RMB (recommended via "Dongtai Changxing" platform). 🏯Accommodation Recommendations: From Forest Cabins to Ancient Town Inns ✅Forest-style Vacation ▶️Yellow Sea Forest Meiju Hotel: French resort style, window views of cedar forest (600 RMB and up, includes breakfast for two). ▶️Elf Guesthouse: Treehouse cluster deep in the forest with starry skylights (family-friendly, from 400 RMB). ✅Ancient Town Charm ▶️Xixi Caoshi Street Guesthouse: Song dynasty style courtyard, very convenient for night tours (200-350 RMB). ▶️Anfeng Ancient Town · Yanguan Inn: Century-old salt merchant residence converted, experience night patrols (from 150 RMB). ✅City Center Value ▶️All Seasons Hotel (Dongtai City Center): Walking distance to food street, free parking (under 200 RMB). 🏞️Travel Tips: 3 Days 2 Nights In-Depth Itinerary ✅Day 1: Wetland Ecological Adventure Morning: Tide pooling and birdwatching at Tiaozi Ni (bring waterproof shoe covers) Afternoon: Cycling and forest class at Yellow Sea Forest Park Overnight: Forest Meiju Hotel ✅Day 2: Salt Culture Time Travel Morning: Anfeng Ancient Street (Salt Course Office + Bao’s Mansion) Afternoon: Xixi Scenic Area (Haichunxuan Pagoda + The Celestial Fate show) Overnight: Caoshi Street Guesthouse ✅Day 3: Dongtai on the Palate Morning: Make Su’er cakes and buy spicy shrimp sauce in Fu’an Ancient Town Noon: Eat chenpi wine braised pufferfish in Jianggang Town Before departure: Take away fish soup noodles from "Red Lantern" in the city 📜Avoid Pitfalls and Seasonal Tips 🎫Ticket Savings Buy the "Dongtai Combo Ticket" (Xixi + Anfeng + Forest Park) on Trip.com one day in advance to save 30 RMB. Keep the shuttle bus ticket for Tiaozi Ni; multiple entries allowed on the same day. 🔆Best Seasons April-May: Fat razor clams at Tiaozi Ni, blooming Chinese violet cress in the forest. September-November: Peak birdwatching season + crab availability + Metasequoia color change. ⚠️Important Reminders Some protected areas in Tiaozi Ni require permits; do not enter core zones without authorization. Choose qualified restaurants for pufferfish (look for "Pufferfish Cooking License"). 📌The beauty of Dongtai lies in the flocks of birds soaring over the mudflats, the calls echoing from the millennia-old salt fields, and the warmth of a steaming bowl of fish soup noodles. Avoid the crowds and come to this underrated "Pearl of the Yellow Sea" to feel the healing power where nature and civilization intertwine!

| Eastern romance in an ancient town. Who can relate? I recently discovered a hidden gem in Dongtai, Jiangsu, which is like a real-life paradise! It is home to the beautiful love story of Dong Yong and the Seventh Fairy, and is a charming and unique place. The ancient town is full of the charm of Jiangnan, and the atmosphere is lively. I really regret not coming here sooner. 😭 📍Location: Dongtai Xixi Tianxianyuan Scenic Area 🚄Transportation: Take the high-speed train to "Dongtai Station" and take a taxi for about 15 minutes to get there. 🚗Self-driving: 3 hours from Nanjing, 3.5 hours from Shanghai, 4 hours from Hangzhou. The scenery along the way is also beautiful, making it perfect for a road trip! 🎫Tickets: The scenic area and night market are free, but you need to buy a separate ticket for the "Tianxianyuan" performance. 🌟[Must-visit attractions] 1. Limu Ancient Street: The ancient street is full of the charm of Jiangnan, with small bridges and flowing water. Every step feels like walking into a Jiangnan ink painting, and every photo is stunning! 2. Haichunxuan Tower: Known as the "First Tower of Jiangsu," it was built during the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, almost 1,400 years ago. The sense of history is overwhelming! 3. Caoshi Street: A paradise for food lovers! It gathers 128 kinds of special snacks from all over the country. Eating all the way down the street is like experiencing the taste of China, and your stomach will be full. 😋 4. Wenyan Tea House: If you get tired of walking, come here for afternoon tea and take a break. The cultural and creative products in the store are also exquisite, and it's a good idea to pick a few as souvenirs to take home. 5. Houhai Sanxiangge Art Museum: If it rains, it's a great idea to visit the art museum and see the exhibitions. The exhibitions are rich in content and full of artistic atmosphere. 6. Dong Yong and the Seventh Fairy Cultural Park: This is the birthplace of the love story of Dong Yong and the Seventh Fairy, full of filial piety culture and romantic legends. The old locust tree and Dong Yong Temple carry the love that transcends time and space. 💓 There is also a live performance of "Tianxianyuan," with fireworks and light effects that are immersive and shocking! 📌[Travel tips] 1. During the Spring Festival, there are New Year performances and folk performances at different times, which are lively and not to be missed! 2. Because of the legend of Dong Yong and the Seventh Fairy, you can register for marriage at the Civil Affairs Bureau in the ancient town. How romantic! Couples, come and experience this sweetness. 3. Be sure to try Dongtai's morning tea. The "Dong Gege" pork buns are handmade, and paired with the special fish soup noodles, they will satisfy your appetite! If you're still wondering where to go for the holidays, don't hesitate! Come to Dongtai Xixi Tianxianyuan Scenic Area and experience this unique Eastern romance. 💕

During the season of gentle summer breezes, I wandered around the outskirts of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, and stumbled upon a secret paradise. The breath of the forest, the whispers of the wetlands, the tranquility of the old street, and the weight of the ancient town, all weave together to form a stunning tapestry—Dongtai Xixi, this hidden gem of a thousand-year-old town. 🌟 Stepping into this mysterious land, I felt as though I had traveled through time, back to that ancient era. Xixi Ancient Town and Dong Yong Seven Fairies Cultural Park together create the unique charm of the Tianxian Yuan scenic area. 🏯 Haichun Tower Garden, this millennium-old architectural wonder, has witnessed countless historical changes. Standing at the base of the tower, I could almost hear the echoes of time and feel the depth of culture. Here lies the symbol of the ancient town and the witness to history. 🍃 Following the Yanxi River, I walked into Limu Old Street. Between the green tiles and blue bricks, every step revealed a new vista, as if I were in a flowing ink painting. The river meandered, wooden boats gently rocked, and the lanterns swayed in the night, each snapshot a magnificent scene. 🍜 Caoshi Street is a food street brimming with the flavors of life. It gathers local delicacies, with aromas wafting through the air, tempting passersby. As night falls, thousands of lanterns light up, transporting you back to the bustling markets of the Tang Dynasty. 🎭 Dong Yong Seven Fairies Cultural Park brings to life the ancient mythological love story. Within the complex of antique buildings, shops dazzle the eye, with crowds of visitors during the day and spectacular live performances at night, making one feel as though they are part of that beautiful mythological world. 🌸 Dongtai Xixi Ancient Town, this unassuming millennium-old town, exudes a unique charm of intangible cultural heritage. It awaits us to explore, to savor, and to experience the ancient and simple customs.🌸

Dongtai Dong Yong and the Seven Fairies Cultural Park is located in the Xixi Tourism and Culture Scenic Area of Dongtai City, Jiangsu Province, covering an area of 143 acres. The entire project plans and constructs 24 attractions including Dong Xiaoxian Shrine, Ancient Stage, Celestial Teahouse, Eighteen Mile Pavilion, Old Locust Tree, Phoenix Pond, and Silk Reeling Well. The overall style is Han and Tang Dynasty, focusing on the themes of filial piety culture and love legends. It fully excavates the historical and cultural origins of Dongtai City and strives to highlight the local characteristics of Xixi ancient town. Although it is a man-made landscape garden, the scenery is still quite nice, with the feel of a Jiangnan garden featuring small bridges and flowing water. The evening performances are great!

Two Days and One Night in Dongtai, Yancheng. It seems that I have always liked the destinations that Xianxian suggests. The places we visited before were always surrounded by clouds and mist, like something out of a fairy tale. It wasn't until our recent trip to Dongtai in Yancheng that I realized the search for fairy-like beauty isn't about towering mountains or deep waters, but about the presence of people that brings a place to life. This place, which is full of fairy-like charm, is the hometown of Dong Yong, a paragon of filial piety from the Eastern Han Dynasty, and the birthplace of the legendary love story of 'The Fairy Couple' that has been sung about for a thousand years. Because of its convenient transportation, complete amusement facilities, and a variety of wonderful performances, it is very suitable for couples to travel and for family vacations. The Xixi Scenic Area in Dongtai is divided into several parts. The first part is the Dong Yong and the Seven Fairies Cultural Park. During the day, it is an ancient-style garden with various scenes from the legend of Dong Yong and the Seven Fairies restored, such as an ancient street in the Han Dynasty style, an old locust tree, and the Temple of the Matchmaker. At night, it becomes the venue for the 'Fairy Love' real-scene light show. It's worth noting that those who have bought tickets for the evening show can enter the park in the afternoon, so you can reserve the time from evening to the performance for this place and enjoy it continuously. The second part is the Xixi Ancient Town area. Here, there is the Li Mu Street, which restores the prosperity of Dongtai in the past; the Grass Market Street, which gathers intangible cultural heritage foods from all over the country; and the Hai Music Bar Cultural District. There is a large Hanfu (traditional Han clothing) shop here, offering both rentals and sales. Fairies who need to change outfits can come here. In the afternoon, there is also a traditional Hanfu wedding around the street, which is very interesting and worth setting aside time to watch. The third part consists of the Huguo Taishan Temple and the Haichunxuan Tower. The ancient temple and tower are quaint and have a large area with relatively few people, making it a leisurely place to walk around. If you're tired, you can go to the Yanxi Bookstore under the Haichunxuan Tower to read books, drink coffee, and practice calligraphy. It's not just a bookstore; there are cultural activities and salons to participate in. For family trips, parents can take their children to the nearby Xixi Botanical Garden, which has lakes and islands and fresh air, making it suitable for leisurely walks. At the far west is the Happy Farm, where persimmons are in season for picking, and soon the winter jujubes should also be ripe, offering a chance for a hands-on experience. For accommodation, I recommend the Limu Inn on the side of the food street. It is divided into two parts: the hotel part is right by the food walking street, with the advantage of being conveniently located and inexpensive; the inn part is closer to the Limu Street near the temple, with quaint wooden buildings and courtyards, quiet and full of charm, and of course, the price is also higher. The most famous local delicacy is the fish soup noodles, which is only available in the morning. It is not served at lunch or dinner, so remember to have a bowl at the century-old shop on the east side of the ancient town's central axis in the morning. Lunch and dinner can be taken care of on the food street.

Legend has it that the Seven Fairies were deeply touched by Dong Yongs hard work and filial piety. One day, with the help of the sisters, he took the crane to the world, and the seven fairies took the place of the crane. He was named He Tulun, now Tainan Towns Dongdong Village. Dongzhuang is called "Hedong" and Xizhuang is called "Hexi". After the Seven Fairies descended, they met Dong Yong in the "eighteen estuary" on the south side of Xixi, and later under the old banyan tree near the "eighteen estuary". People have become pros in the world. Over the long days, the village next to the 18th Li River has become the "Hekou" village.