Couples Travel Destination | Two Days and One Night in Dongtai, Yancheng

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.