Things to do in Dongtai

Go at the right time, and you absolutely must see the Eye in the Sky (I think that's the name, I've forgotten). The view from above is absolutely breathtaking. I highly recommend this place; we went twice.

A breeze sweeps across Jinxi, where the chinaberry trees are in full bloom. Clusters of pale purple blossoms, like clouds and mist, fall softly onto the bluestone slabs, a gentle letter from spring to early summer. The ancient town is sparsely populated, the flowing water shimmers, and white walls and black tiles reflect the purple glow of the trees—every frame is an unfiltered, poetic scene of Jiangnan.

This morning I started from Anting West, first transferring at Haian Station, then going to Dongtai. The bus was late. I tried to take the rural bus 201/210, finally finding the waiting area. A bus going to Hougang arrived, probably the 210, but I hesitated and it drove off. At 11:16, the 201 (to Qionggang) arrived. I boarded and said I wanted to go to Anfeng Old Station. The driver said it was 3 yuan, and I could pay by scanning a QR code. Along the way, several passengers left their belongings on the bus, paid the fare, and got off. The bus company even delivered their items. I arrived at Anfeng Old Station at 11:57. Entering the ancient town, I bought a combined ticket to visit four scenic spots. Honestly, it didn't matter whether I visited them or not; the museum was small and nothing special. The cloth shoe shop and the barbershop were more interesting. This barbershop's layout and orientation were somewhat similar to the one near the No. 10 Bridge on Waiqingsong Road when I was a child. My grandmother used to take me there, and after getting a haircut, we'd buy an ice cream. Since we were already paying for all four attractions with the combined ticket, we decided to visit them all. We couldn't find the Bao's Building at first, so we had to go back and look for it again. When we got to the hotel, we discovered that the photo watermark function was disabled, so we couldn't organize the timeline.

Shanghai After Dark — The Bund Never Sleeps ✨“Where the river reflects a thousand city lights and the future rises above a timeless waterfront. The Bund is more than a view — it’s Shanghai at its most magical, where elegance, ambition, and endless dreams meet.” 🌃❤

It was truly an amazing experience! ✨🏰 The 10th anniversary celebration of Shanghai Disneyland, plus all the Halloween vibes! 🎃👻✨ It felt like a real-life movie! 🎆

My second visit to West Lake was great; the boat tour was excellent. The dock was easy to find, the staff were very friendly, provided clear explanations, and helped with any issues. There were also sightseeing buses, which were nice but a bit pricey. Taking the boat tour and then walking around was both perfectly fine.

I took advantage of the weekend break and drove with friends to Zhenhu Lake in Taizhou to relax. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city and breathing in the fresh air, I felt much more relaxed. I even saw some Père David's deer up close. I think this trip was really great!

You’ll get an Incredible experience if you plan to get closer with Chinese cuisine from absolutely different provinces but in very aesthetic way 🌆

The ancient town is very old, with ancient camellia and banyan trees. My child, just over 1.4 meters tall and wearing sneakers, was charged at some attractions, but was allowed to pass through Zhenhu Lake without paying. Another unique feature of Taizhou is its paid parking; street parking is also quite expensive, especially during holidays.

At the summit, there's just a rock and a flat area, nothing special. On the other side, there's a temple to the God of Wealth with 1399 steps. You need to be very sincere to reach the top. Below are various Buddhist halls and temples, as well as some stone carvings of Buddha statues. The scenery is pleasant, with mountains, water, and forests.