Yancheng is beautiful, but I don't recommend it—going in October is "suffering."
Because the aftereffects are too strong; after coming back, everything else just feels wrong 😭
Let's be honest: Yancheng in October is indeed a bit "tough." The seepweed on the Yellow Sea mudflats is as red as fire, covering the entire wetland like an endless crimson carpet—you won't be able to look away. The nearly 30,000 mu of dawn redwood forest in the Yellow Sea Forest Park is turning from green to golden, then burning into ochre red; walking along the redwood corridor feels like falling into a fairytale tunnel. Thousands of acres of lilies are in full bloom at the Dutch Flower Park, and during the National Day holiday, a symphony orchestra performs right in the flower fields.
What's even "tougher" is that for the 2026 autumn season, Yancheng has launched the "Eight shades of Yancheng red" theme: Iron Army Red, Wetland Red, Redwood Red, Flower Sea Red, Short Drama Red, Crab Season Red... there are so many activities you won't be able to keep up.
This so-called "suffering" is actually just having too much autumn scenery to see, too many fat crabs to eat, and too many activities to fit into your schedule. A 3-day, 2-night trip costs about 500–800 yuan per person, letting you pack the most intense autumn of the Yellow Sea coast into your suitcase 🍂
🚄 How to get there?
🚅 High-speed rail: Take a high-speed train to Yancheng Station from anywhere in the country. It takes about 1.5 hours from Shanghai and about 2 hours from Nanjing.
🚙 Local transport: Yancheng's attractions are scattered, so renting a car or driving yourself is highly recommended. It's about 1.5 hours from the city center to the Yellow Sea Forest Park and about 2 hours to Tiaozini.
💡 In 2026, 3 tourist shuttle routes have been launched, connecting city hubs with key attractions like the Red-crowned Crane Nature Reserve and the Chinese Milu Deer Park. If you aren't driving, you can take these shuttles, but the schedule is limited.
🗺️ 3-day, 2-night itinerary
📆 Day 1: Wetland red beach route
Morning: Tiaozini Wetland (Free entry before 7:30 AM; otherwise, tickets are 24 yuan/person. Be sure to book in advance via the scenic area's official WeChat account. See the endless red mudflats covered in seepweed, where hundreds of thousands of migratory birds stop to rest) → Noon: Have a bowl of fish soup noodles in Dongtai → Afternoon: Yellow Sea Forest Park (Adults 50 yuan, approx. 43 yuan if booked online in advance; students/ages 60–69 are 25 yuan; free for those under 1.4m/ages 70+). The 13km green tunnel of the redwood corridor, and the 41m glass tower "Eye of the Forest" for an aerial view of the red forest) → Evening: Stay near the forest park or in Dongtai city
📆 Day 2: Flower sea & crane route
Morning: Dutch Flower Park (Thousands of acres of lilies in full bloom. From October 1 to 3, the Jiangsu Brahma Symphony Orchestra will perform in the flower fields; from October 4 to 5, the provincial community education excellent art exhibition will be held in the park. The Lily Culture and Tourism Season continues until October 31) → Afternoon: Red-crowned Crane Wetland Ecological Tourism Area (Tickets 40 yuan, sightseeing bus 15 yuan one way. There are flight displays at 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM, where dozens of cranes fly overhead. During peak season weekends, you must book 2 days in advance via the official WeChat account; limited to 500 people per day) → Evening: Return
📆 Day 3: Ancient town & crab season route
Morning: Zhuxi Ancient Town or Xixi Celestial Fairyland Scenic Area (From September 25 to October 7, the "Song Dynasty moon & Xixi reunion" Mid-Autumn & National Day series of themed activities will be held, featuring immersive challenges and Song-style markets) → Noon: Find a local restaurant to eat Dazong Lake hairy crabs (approx. 20+ yuan/crab for about 3.5 taels, approx. 40 yuan for 4 taels to half a jin; production and quality are better than previous years) → Afternoon: Buy souvenirs like Wuyou drunken snails, Funing cake, and Yancheng egg pancakes → Return
🍜 Must-try food:
🦀 Dazong Lake hairy crabs—Yancheng's autumn star, full of roe and fat. Steamed and dipped in ginger vinegar is the freshest way to eat them. Prices are lower than last year, with a mainstream range of 15–45 yuan/crab, offering plenty of choices.
🐟 Dongtai fish soup noodles—The broth is as white as milk, fresh without being fishy. A bowl will warm you up from head to toe.
🥘 Yancheng eight bowls—Braised pork belly, red-braised sticky rice balls, fried egg cake, radish with dried seafood—authentic Yancheng flavor.
🐚 Wuyou drunken snails—A century-old intangible cultural heritage; the snail meat is soaked in wine, fresh, sweet, and chewy.
🌮 Yancheng egg pancakes—A street food locals grow up eating; savory, fragrant, and fluffy.
🍡 Jianhu lotus root starch balls—Soft, sticky, and sweet; an intangible cultural heritage snack.
🍵 Binhai white atractylodes—A Yancheng specialty that can be used in dishes or brewed as tea; perfect for autumn nourishment.
🏨 Where to stay?
⛺️ Near Yellow Sea Forest Park: Wooden cabins or forest-style hotels; open the window to see the forest, approx. 300–500 yuan/night. Book 3 days in advance during peak season.
🏘️ Dongtai city: Budget hotels 150–250 yuan/night, convenient for eating fish soup noodles.
🏤 Yancheng city: Chain hotels 200–350 yuan/night, suitable as a base to visit various attractions.
💡 Travel tips:
🌡️ Weather & clothing: Yancheng is 15–25°C in October; cool in the morning/evening, warm during the day. A light jacket + long pants are most practical. It's windy in the coastal wetlands, so a windbreaker is a must.
🎫 Booking & discounts: Book Tiaozini in advance via the scenic area's official WeChat account; for the Red-crowned Crane area, book 2 days in advance for peak season weekends, limited to 500 people per day. Yandu District has launched a "ticket stub economy" program—show your attraction ticket at over 100 affiliated merchants to enjoy exclusive discounts, and government consumption vouchers can be used on top of that.
🦀 Crab buying tips: Don't buy crabs at the entrance of scenic areas; it's more reliable to buy them at local wet markets or directly from crab farms. Ask for the price before weighing, and be clear about the weight of the binding rope. Hairy crabs are "cold" in nature, so avoid eating them with tea or persimmons.
🚫 Pitfall avoidance: Renting an electric scooter at Yellow Sea Forest Park is not cost-effective (80 yuan for half an hour); taking the sightseeing bus for 20 yuan with unlimited rides is a better deal. Staff clear the area promptly at 7:30 AM after sunrise at Tiaozini; if you want to see the sunrise for free, be sure to wake up early. Drones are prohibited in the reserve, and disturbing wildlife is forbidden.
🎯 Key takeaways:
The right way to experience Yancheng in October—see the red mudflats for free before 7:30 AM at Tiaozini, walk the redwood tunnel at Yellow Sea Forest Park for 43 yuan, listen to the symphony in the flower fields at the Dutch Flower Park during the National Day holiday, watch the 10:30 AM flight display at the Red-crowned Crane area, eat your fill of Dazong Lake crabs, and save money with the ticket stub economy and consumption vouchers. A 3-day, 2-night trip costs 500–800 yuan per person, letting you pack the most intense autumn of the Yellow Sea coast into your suitcase. While the seepweed is red, the lilies are fragrant, and the crabs are fat, it's time to go 🍂