🏛️ 5A National Attractions
Last verified 22 Jul 2025
Yangzhou is compact but carries two nationally-rated 5A scenic areas—one a classical lake-garden ensemble beloved by Qing emperors, the other a next-gen museum anchoring the Grand-Canal UNESCO corridor.
1 Quick Metrics
Total 5A sites
2
UNESCO link
1 / 2 sites form part of the Grand Canal of China World-Heritage listing
Ticket range
Free (Grand-Canal Museum) → ¥100 peak (Slender West Lake day pass)
Real-name QR
Required for both sites via WeChat mini-programs
Downtown reach
Each lies ≤ 15 min by taxi from the historic Guangling core
2 Why It Matters
Living scroll-painting — Slender West Lake threads pavilions, moon bridges and Ge-Garden bamboo courts into a kilometre-long brush-stroke; its skyline still matches 18th-century court panoramas.
Canal story hub — The brand-new China Grand-Canal Museum turns 2 500 years of water-trade history into 8 immersive halls, VR boat rides and a 24 m holographic lock-gate show.
Dual-day loop — Morning lake mist, afternoon bamboo maze, sunset canal lights—both 5As sit on opposite banks of the same ancient waterway, linked by bike lane and bus 66.
3 Pro Tips
1
Slender West Lake – Book the 07 : 30 slot for empty Lotus Bridge photos; peak ticket ¥100 (Mar–May peony season) drops to ¥60 off-season.
2
Ge Garden bamboo maze – Included in the lake pass, but closes 17 : 30 sharp; enter before 16 : 30.
3
Grand-Canal Museum – Free; real-name tickets release 7 days ahead at 09 : 00 in the "中国大运河博物馆" mini-program. Friday night extends to 20 : 30 with rooftop light-show.
4
Bike the link – Scan a Meituan bike at Wenchang Ge; 4 km tow-path ride gets you from the Lake's south gate to the museum plaza in 25 min.
5
Combo hack – Bus 66 day-pass ¥8 covers both 5As, Guangling Old-City wall and Dongguan Street snack zone.
4 Full 5A List
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1 · Hanjiang / Guangling
Slender West Lake & Ge Garden Scenic Area / 瘦西湖—个园景区
100 ha Qing lake-garden; 24 bridges, Rainbow Bridge arch, Emperor Qianlong yacht route; ¥100 peak, ¥60 off-season; 07 : 30-17 : 30; mini-program "瘦西湖预约".
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2 · Guangling Sanwan
China Grand Canal Museum Scenic Area / 中国大运河博物馆旅游区
80 000 m² museum, 360° dome cinema, canal-lock plaza & night fountain show; free but real-name QR; Tue-Sun 09 : 00-17 : 00 (Fri night 20 : 30).
Plot these two anchors into one leisurely day—classical pavilions before lunch, holographic lock-gates after dusk—No Tourist Traps. No BS.