Understanding Taizhou's Layout
Taizhou (台州) in Zhejiang Province is a geographically dispersed coastal prefecture-level city rather than a single compact urban core. It is made up of three urban districts — Jiaojiang, Huangyan and Luqiao — plus three county-level cities (Linhai, Wenling and Yuhuan) and three counties (Tiantai, Xianju and Sanmen). Attractions are spread across historic cities, mountain valleys, fishing villages, offshore islands and coastline, so choosing the right gateway station or airport and planning your transfer can save hours.
Public transport works well in the Jiaojiang–Luqiao–Wenling urban corridor, which is served by the S1 municipal railway. For destinations such as Shenxianju, rural Tiantai Mountain, Kuocang Mountain, coastal Wenling, Yuhuan and rural Sanmen, a rental car, chartered vehicle or organised transfer is generally more efficient.
Rail: High-Speed Trains and the S1 Municipal Railway
Taizhou is served by high-speed rail, and which station you use depends on where you are heading first:
- Taizhou Railway Station (台州站): the main central station, useful for Jiaojiang, the city centre and Luqiao, and it interchanges with the S1 line.
- Taizhou West Railway Station (台州西站): serves Huangyan District and the western urban areas; it was formerly known as Taizhou Railway Station.
- Linhai Railway Station: the preferred gateway for historic Linhai, Taizhou Prefecture City and Kuocang Mountain transfers.
- Tiantaishan Railway Station: for Tiantai county town, Guoqing Temple and Tiantai Mountain Waterfall; continue by tourist bus, local bus, taxi or chartered vehicle.
- Xianju Railway Station: for Shenxianju, Danzhu, Potan Ancient Town and Xianju County; a road transfer is still required for Shenxianju.
- Wenling Railway Station: for Wenling city, Changyu Dongtian, Shitang and Xiaoruo Village; it connects with the S1 line.
- Sanmen County Railway Station: for Sanmen county town, Shepan Island and coastal Sanmen; continue by county bus, taxi or private vehicle.
The Hangzhou–Wenzhou High-Speed Railway has improved rail access to Tiantai and Xianju. A Wenling–Yuhuan extension of the Hangzhou–Taizhou High-Speed Railway was still in its final opening phase, with new Wenling West and Yuhuan stations described as "about to open." Confirm via China Railway 12306 before planning around Yuhuan Station; until then, reach Yuhuan via Wenling Railway Station, Taizhou Railway Station, Luqiao Airport or intercity road transport.
The S1 municipal railway is the only operating municipal railway line. It runs north–south through the main urban corridor, connecting Taizhou Railway Station, Jiaojiang, Luqiao, Wenling Railway Station, central Wenling and Chengnan. It is the fastest public-transport option for many journeys between central Taizhou and Wenling, and is useful for getting from Taizhou Railway Station into urban Jiaojiang or Luqiao, or on to Wenling. Note that it does not reach Luqiao Airport, Huangyan, Linhai, Tiantai, Xianju, Sanmen or Yuhuan — those require buses, trains, taxis or road transfers.
An S2 line is under construction, planned to connect Huangyan, Taizhou West Railway Station, Taizhou Railway Station, the eastern urban area and the coastal development zone. It is not operating, so do not confuse future S2 maps with the current network.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Taizhou has no metro or tram system; public buses are the backbone of public transport. The bus network is extensive, linking the main urban areas with surrounding towns and scenic spots. Major bus hubs sit near Taizhou Railway Station, the intercity coach terminals and the downtown commercial districts, and these serve as transfer points.
- Fares: typically a small cash amount per ride, with longer routes costing slightly more.
- Payment: cash (exact change), the Taizhou Public Transport Card, or mobile payment via Alipay or WeChat Pay.
- Operating hours: generally from around early morning to roughly 9–10 PM.
- Frequency: varies by route and time of day, with shorter intervals during peak hours.
- Accessibility: limited wheelchair accessibility on most buses.
- Navigation: Baidu Maps or Gaode Maps (Amap) provide real-time bus information.
Jiaojiang, Huangyan and Luqiao have interconnected urban bus networks, while Wenling, Linhai and the county towns have their own local systems. Scenic-area routes and holiday shuttles may link railway stations, passenger terminals, parking areas and major attractions. Search using attractions' Chinese names, since some scenic areas have multiple entrances and visitor centres.
Long-distance coaches connect Taizhou with Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Shanghai and nearby Zhejiang cities. They are useful for destinations without direct rail access, for inter-county travel and for passengers with large luggage. Hubs serve Jiaojiang, Huangyan, Luqiao, Linhai, Wenling, Tiantai, Xianju, Sanmen and Yuhuan, but terminals and schedules change — search using Chinese destination names and confirm the arrival point, which may be a county terminal, a railway station or a spot near a scenic area.
Other options are limited. Dedicated hop-on-hop-off tour buses for international tourists are scarce, city water transport is limited (though ferry services run to nearby islands such as Dachen Island), and cable cars operate at some mountainous scenic locations such as Shenxianju for panoramic views.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are widely available around the airport, railway stations and central urban districts, and are useful for the final leg to hotels, old streets and attractions that are not beside a station. Licensed taxis have distinct colours, roof signs and meters. You can hail one on the street, at designated stands, or through ride-sharing apps. Payment by cash or mobile payment (Alipay/WeChat Pay) is preferred, with credit cards occasionally accepted. Use licensed metered taxis and avoid unlicensed "black cabs."
DiDi Chuxing is China's dominant ride-sharing app, similar to Uber. Registration requires a Chinese phone number, though you can link overseas credit cards, and some app versions have English interfaces. Service tiers include Express (standard private car), Premier (higher-end vehicles) and Taxi (booking licensed taxis via the app). The app shows fare estimates upfront, driver and vehicle details, and real-time trip tracking. Drivers are registered and their details recorded; verify the car model and licence plate before entering.
Availability is more limited in remote mountain villages, coastal communities and after the last ferry or tourist bus. For rural Xianju, Tiantai, Sanmen and western Linhai, arrange a return vehicle in advance.
Driving, Car Rental and Shared Bikes
Self-drive rental is limited for international tourists: a valid Chinese driving licence is required, and foreign licences and International Driving Permits are not recognised. A practical alternative is to hire a car with a driver through hotels or local tour operators. Self-driving is not recommended for visitors because of communication and traffic conditions. Traffic drives on the right, speed limits and drunk-driving regulations are strictly enforced, and major highways and urban roads in and around Taizhou are generally well maintained. Parking is available at commercial centres and attractions, usually paid, and free parking is scarce in busy areas.
Motorcycle and scooter rental requires an appropriate licence and local registration, and is generally uncommon and not advised for tourists due to heavy traffic and differing driving habits. Bicycle sharing is available via HelloBike and Meituan Bike, but requires app usage and a Chinese phone number.
Private cars account for a large share of holiday movement within the city, and the highway network links all nine county-level divisions, making it the most flexible way to combine mountain and coastal attractions. Corridors connect Taizhou with Ningbo, Hangzhou, Jinhua, Wenzhou and the coastal expressway network. Mountain and fishing-village roads can be narrow, and traffic controls are common around major attractions during public holidays.
Walking and Cycling
Walking is best inside historic areas — for example, Ziyang Street, East Lake and sections of the ancient city wall in Linhai can be combined on foot, though the wall has steep stairs and elevated sections. Be aware that electric scooters and bicycles often share pedestrian paths, and bike lanes are frequently shared with scooters and pedestrians, so caution is required. Major highways and tunnels are generally off-limits to pedestrians and cyclists, and main roads can be challenging due to dense traffic. Avoid earphones, wear bright clothing at dusk and night, and travel in groups where possible to improve visibility.
Accessibility
Accessibility infrastructure is generally limited on public transport and at older attractions. Modern hotels and major train stations may have better facilities, so check with your accommodation or tour provider in advance.
Getting from Luqiao Airport into the City
Taizhou Luqiao Airport (HYN), in Luqiao District, is the principal air gateway; its expanded terminal entered service in December 2024. It has a domestic network, with destinations and frequencies varying by aviation season. There is no direct municipal-railway station at the airport, so onward travel is by airport express bus, city bus, taxi, ride-hailing or private transfer.
- Jiaojiang, Taizhou Railway Station, Huangyan and Luqiao hotels: a taxi or prearranged vehicle is easiest.
- Wenling: transfer by road to an S1 station, or take a taxi directly.
- Tiantai, Xianju, Linhai and Sanmen: a direct road transfer, or travel to the appropriate rail or coach hub, is usually more efficient than entering central Taizhou first.
Choosing Your Gateway by Destination
- Jiaojiang District: Taizhou Railway Station or Luqiao Airport; then S1, city bus, taxi or walking. Sights include central Taizhou, Baiyun Mountain, the Jiaojiang waterfront and the Dachen Island ferry.
- Huangyan District: Taizhou West Railway Station; then city bus, taxi, rental car or chartered vehicle. Sights include Huangyan old city, Jiufeng Park, Changtan Reservoir and the western mountains.
- Luqiao District: Luqiao Airport, Taizhou Railway Station or S1; then S1, city bus, taxi or walking. Sights include Shili Long Street and urban Luqiao.
- Linhai City: Linhai Railway Station; then city bus, taxi, scenic shuttle or car. Sights include Taizhou Prefecture City, Ziyang Street, East Lake and Kuocang Mountain.
- Wenling City: Wenling Railway Station; then S1, bus, taxi, chartered car or self-drive. Sights include Shitang, Xiaoruo Village, Changyu Dongtian and the coastal roads.
- Yuhuan City: Wenling Station until Yuhuan rail service is officially bookable; then intercity bus, taxi, chartered car or self-drive. Sights include Taizhou No. 1 Highway, Xuanmen Bay, Dalu Island and coastal Yuhuan.
- Tiantai County: Tiantaishan Railway Station; then tourist bus, taxi, shuttle or private vehicle. Sights include Guoqing Temple, Tiantai Mountain Waterfall, Shiliang and Huading.
- Xianju County: Xianju Railway Station; then tourist coach, taxi, chartered car or self-drive. Sights include Shenxianju, Danzhu, Potan Ancient Town and rural Xianju.
- Sanmen County: Sanmen County Railway Station; then county bus, taxi or private vehicle. Sights include Shepan Island, coastal villages and seafood-tourism areas.
Access Notes for Major Attractions
- Taizhou Prefecture City / Ziyang Street: train to Linhai Railway Station, then city bus, taxi or ride-hailing to the Taizhou Prefecture City Cultural Tourism Area. During major holidays, dedicated visitor buses, temporary parking and shuttle circuits may connect peripheral parking with Xingshan Gate, Lansheng Gate, Ziyang Street and other entrances. Walking is best inside the historic area. Drivers should use designated parking, as holiday road controls vary with traffic.
- Tiantai Mountain: train to Tiantaishan Railway Station, then tourist bus, taxi or chartered vehicle. Guoqing Temple and Tiantai Mountain Waterfall are relatively convenient from the county town, while Shiliang Waterfall, Huading National Forest Park and remote sections require longer road journeys. The attractions are not in one enclosed park, so a vehicle is much more efficient for combining Guoqing Temple, the Grand Waterfall, Qiongtai Xiangu, Shiliang and Huading. Holiday traffic controls may require stopping at a lower parking area and transferring to a scenic shuttle when upper-mountain parking fills. Avoid planning several distant Tiantai attractions in one day without a private vehicle.
- Shenxianju Scenic Area: the preferred route is high-speed train to Xianju Railway Station, then tourist coach, taxi or chartered vehicle to the Shenxianju visitor area. There are separate northern and southern access areas; the correct entrance depends on your planned hiking direction, cableway operation and scenic shuttle arrangements. Visitors doing a north-to-south or south-to-north traverse should confirm return arrangements in advance.