In Dongluo Village and across Xinghua, history, nature, and tradition blend in an irresistible seasonal tapestry that invites discovery and delight year-round.
Nestled in Jiangsu province’s Taizhou region, Xinghua is a place where history and nature gracefully intertwine. Recently, Dongluo Village in Xinghua was honoured as one of UN Tourism’s 2025 “Best Tourism Villages” — an accolade that shines a deserved spotlight on this remarkable corner of China’s countryside. This marks the third world-class award recognising Xinghua’s unique cultural and ecological heritage, celebrating its identity as a “city of dual heritage.”
Xinghua’s story is as rich as the landscape itself. Founded over a thousand years ago, it has long been regarded as the hometown of Chinese literature and arts, famously linked to the Qing dynasty scholar and painter Zheng Banqiao (known as 鄭板橋). Zheng’s enlightened spirit and distinctive calligraphy still inspire visitors today at the memorial hall that preserves his legacy.
The city’s traditional architecture and ancient streets like Jindongmen Old Street carry whispers of history, while the vibrant cultural creativity ensures these tales remain alive, not relics of the past.
The ecological backdrop is equally captivating. Fields, wetlands, forests, and islets form a lush mosaic that frames the lives and livelihoods of the locals. Particularly striking each spring is the sea of golden rapeseed flowers in the Qianduo area. These vast duotian — raised fields surrounded by streams are a testament to a thousand-year-old agricultural ingenuity, where human care has harmonised with nature to create extraordinary beauty.
Each season invites a new exploration: In spring, visitors can join rice planting festivals; summer offers tranquil cycling routes and traditional boatbuilding; autumn’s chrysanthemums and red-roe hairy crabs tempt the senses; and winter’s snowy reeds provide a quiet backdrop for tea rituals and intimate heritage fairs.
Dongluo Village exemplifies rural revitalisation, blending small-scale renovation with ecological preservation, driven by supportive local governance.
The culinary heritage, often overlooked but no less enticing, offers a genuine taste of local life. Farmhouse full-fish banquets brim with freshness, Shagou’s fish balls delight with their tender bounce, and the morning tea culture is an everyday celebration featuring hot dried tofu shreds, crab-roe buns, and comforting fish soup noodles — simple pleasures that echo the land and sea.
For the curious traveller, three themed routes offer ways to immerse fully in the region’s layered beauty. The “Ecological Secrets” route explores the water forest and scenic fields, the “Cultural Discovery” trail leads through villages and historic halls, and the “Gourmet Journey” promises a feast of local flavours you won’t soon forget.
Xinghua’s charm is not just in its landscape or history, but in its lived culture and enduring spirit. Here, every corner tells a story, inviting visitors to find a connection and create memories amid the harmonious blend of heritage and nature.
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