Xinghua
Introduction
Xinghua is a county-level city in the central part of Jiangsu Province, administered by Taizhou. It sits between Yancheng, which borders it to the north and east, and Yangzhou to the west, placing you in the heart of the province rather than on its coast or edges.
Before you go
Xinghua sits at the northern end of the Yangtze Delta region, and the city was once known by the names Zhaoyang and Chushui. It is best known for its aerial views, so plan your trip around seeing the landscape from above rather than treating it as a stop for other sights.
Getting there
Xinghua's bus station sits in the southeast of the city and has regular connections to major cities in the area, making it the practical arrival point if you're coming in overland. From the terminal you can continue into the city centre and on to the surrounding towns and sights.
Getting around
First, confirm which Xinghua you are visiting. The name is a pinyin transliteration shared by several places, including a historical prefecture in what is now Putian, Fujian, and Xinghua Bay beside it, as well as subdistricts, towns and townships from Guangzhou and Shenyang to Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Gansu and Guizhou. This guide covers Xinghua in Jiangsu; if your ticket says otherwise, the details below will not match.
Xinghua is a county-level city rather than a major metropolis, so getting around means short local trips rather than navigating a large transit system. Local buses are the main form of public transport, with low fares paid on board in cash or by mobile payment app or stored-value transit card. Taxis suit short trips and reaching the bus station with luggage, and ride-hailing apps are generally available; have your destination written in Chinese characters, since English is not widely spoken by drivers. Central Xinghua is compact enough to cover nearby streets, shops and waterfront areas on foot, but stay alert for scooters and e-bikes that share pedestrian space. There is no metro or tram network and no documented local rail service, so for longer-distance rail travel you would first reach a larger regional city and connect onward. If you arrive by air, you will land at a larger regional airport and continue overland by train or intercity bus to the bus station in the south east of town, then finish with a local bus or taxi, allowing extra time for the connection. Ask at your hotel or the bus station for current routes, fares and schedules, as these change.
Where to stay
For staying close to the Qianduo rapeflower fields, you'll find a small village of guesthouses just north of the fields' parking area. Note that it is uncertain whether these guesthouses accept foreign guests, so it's worth confirming before you plan around them.
More options are available in town, which makes a practical base if you want a wider choice of places to stay.
Food & drink
The source material for Xinghua contains no information on where or what to eat and drink, so there is nothing to describe in this section.What to see and do
The city's main draw is the rapeflower (canola) fields north of the centre, where canals thread between the blooms. The Qianduo Scenic Area is the place to head: a vast expanse of flower fields reached mainly by water, with trails and two lookout towers laid out for visitors, and boats running several standard routes through the blossoms. The rapeflowers bloom from late March through April, when a flower festival is held; the timing shifts with the weather, so plan around the season rather than a fixed date. During the festival, shuttle buses run from the major bus terminals in Taizhou and Xinghua, including the one next to Taizhou's high-speed rail station. The area is fairly developed as a tourist attraction, with more trails and boat routes under construction along with a shopping plaza at the entrance, but there is essentially no English information available anywhere, and foreign visitors are not a common sight. A basic grasp of the language is extremely useful for buying shuttle bus tickets or finding the bus at the end of the day.Three days in Xinghua
Day one: Start in central Xinghua, the city's core, and use it as your base for the days ahead. Local taxis are the simplest way to get around, though drivers may not speak English, so ask your hotel to write down place names in Chinese for you. Spend the afternoon getting your bearings on foot, and eat locally in the evening.
Day two: Head to the Qianduo Scenic Area, the reason most travellers come to Xinghua. The scenery is at its best in March and April, when the fields are in bloom; outside those months the area is quieter and you will have more of it to yourself. Arrange your transport back to central Xinghua before you set out, as options thin out later in the day.
Day three: Use your last day to explore more of Xinghua at an easy pace, or to push further into Jiangsu Province. Taizhou, Yangzhou and Yancheng are all within reach, and the wider Yangtze Delta region is well connected. If you are continuing onward, ask about connections before you leave central Xinghua.