🌸Tianjin in 1.5 hours! Experience spring like a Song Dynasty poem in Li Qingzhao's hometown!
"Do you know, do you know? It should be green leaves and red blossoms"—just 1.5 hours after the high-speed train leaves Tianjin, spring in Mingshui Ancient City, Zhangqiu, bursts into view. Here, spring water flows like a poem, cherry blossoms fall between the lines of poetry; a 2-day, 1-night journey is like opening a living anthology of Song Dynasty poetry.
🚅Spontaneous Transportation
▪️High-speed rail: Tianjin Station → Zhangqiu Station (8:10-9:46). A 10-minute taxi ride from the station to the ancient city, fare under 100 yuan, more convenient than driving.
▪️Return trip: Choose the 16:42 train, arriving home in the evening without delaying work the next day—perfect for a short trip.
🗺️2 Days 1 Night Itinerary: From Dawn to Nightfall
Day 1: Immerse Yourself in the Beauty of Springs and Poetry
▪️In the morning, enter the ancient city and climb the "City Wall." Standing high, you'll see white walls and black tiles bathed in the green spring water. The view from the second floor of the Guilai Academy is like a framed painting. The poetry and kite exhibition is in full swing. Make your own kite (30 yuan/kitten) and fly it in the east wind. You'll suddenly understand the joy of "flying kites in the east wind."
▪️In the afternoon, visit "Hongsheng Fabric Shop." The floral fabrics in the courtyard hang from the beams to the water's surface—red, blue, printed with Li Qingzhao's poems. Wearing a simple dress and standing in the middle, the wind makes your clothes dance with the fabric, as if you've stepped out of "Like a Dream."
▪️A must-see is "Li Qingzhao's Former Residence"! The five springs of Plum Blossom Spring bubble gently, while the waters of Jade Spring reflect the stone bridge. You might even encounter an NPC version of Li Qingzhao, who will smile and ask, "Do you know? Do you know?" Recite poetry with her (receive a bookmark if you complete three lines), and you'll instantly feel transported back a thousand years.
▪️Next door, the red walls of Longquan Temple complement the ink-black spring. The spring water is a deep, dark ink color, and you can drink large bowls of tea made with the spring water (5 yuan/bowl) on the bank. The tea is clear and refreshing, with a Zen-like fragrance.
▪️The highlight at night is the "Spring Show + Drone Show"! The lights turn the waterways into an ink-black hue, and performers on rowboats sing "Drunken Flower Shade." Suddenly, drones fill the sky, spelling out "To live, be a hero," which the entire audience whispers. The power of Song Dynasty poetry transcends time and space.
Day 2: From Morning Wine to the Sound of Oars
▪️At 7 AM, head to the "Morning Wine Market" (Fuqian Street). Locals drink bulk wine from enamel mugs, accompanied by pancakes (3 yuan) and Longshan tofu pudding (4 yuan). Lü opera is performed on the stage. For 30 yuan, you can sample five different dishes. An old lady says, "This is what a morning in Zhangqiu should be like."
▪️Mingshui Street hides intangible cultural heritage surprises: leaf carving masters can carve cherry blossoms into thin leaves (50 yuan/piece), hairpins from the flower shop gleam, and winning at the pitch-pot game allows you to sample roasted pork. The atmosphere is filled with ingenuity amidst the everyday life.
▪️Don't miss the "Yi'an Poetry Gathering"! Team up with other tourists to recite poems. Before you even finish "The west wind rolls up the curtain," someone else will respond with "Thinner than the yellow flower." Winning or losing isn't important; as you recite, the spring breeze brushes your cheek, like being patted on the shoulder by the poet. ▪️At noon, we satisfied our cravings at "Lao Zhangqiu Roast Pork Restaurant." The roast pork was fatty yet not greasy (45 yuan/serving), paired with lotus root boxes from the Lotus Banquet (20 yuan). The owner said, "It's made with water from Moquan Spring; Li Qingzhao might have loved it back then."
▪️Finally, we took a rowboat (80 yuan/boat) from the Lotus Banquet pier. As the boatwoman rowed, peach blossoms fell into the water from both banks. She said, "This water nourishes poetry and nourishes people." Indeed, even the ripples resembled the tones and rhythms of a poem.
📸9 photogenic spots, framing spring within the image of Song Dynasty poetry
1. Baihua Bridge (Photo ①): The bridge arch reflects the spring water and flowering trees. Wearing Hanfu for photos makes you feel like you're walking inside a poem title.
2. Lotus Pond on Fuqian Street (Photo ②): Koi swim around the flower shadows. Crouching down for photos, the water and sky blend into a pink and green hue. 3. North of the City Wall (Photo ③): The setting sun casts long shadows; shooting silhouettes against the light makes the cracks in the bricks of the city wall seem to hold stories.
4. Fox Fairy Street (Photo ④): The bluestone path paired with red lanterns creates a "rainy alley" feel, especially on a rainy day; an oil-paper umbrella is perfect.
5. Plum Blossom Spring (Photo ⑤): When the spring bubbles, squat on the stone bridge to take a picture; the water splashing on the lens resembles an ellipsis in a poem.
6. Ink Spring and Red Wall (Photo ⑥): With the red wall as a backdrop, holding a bowl of spring water tea, one experiences both Zen and the feeling of spring.
7. Near the Meng Family Courtyard (Photo ⑦): Old door panels paired with stone steps; sitting on the threshold to take a picture, sunlight streaming through the wooden window onto your face, creates a gentle scene reminiscent of "leaning against the door and looking back."
8. Rowing Boat (Photo ⑧): Shoot the bow from the stern; the sound of the oars shatters the reflections of flowers on the water's surface; hair tousled by the wind adds to the natural feel. 9. Second floor of Guilai Academy (Photo 9): The window frames the distant pagoda and flowering trees; taking a photo from the window makes it look like you're peeking out from a scroll of poetry.
💡Local Tips
▪️Stay at a guesthouse within the scenic area! Multiple entries are possible. The ancient town is deserted in the early morning, allowing you to enjoy the tranquility of Plum Blossom Spring alone. The shuttle bus is free—a blessing for lazy people.
▪️Wear light colors or Hanfu! They match perfectly with pink flowers, white walls, and clear water. There are clothing rental shops in the ancient town (100 yuan/day), and makeup and hair are included.
▪️Free admission for children under 6 and over 60; half price for students (49 yuan). Make a reservation in advance through the official WeChat account; just scan the code to enter.
On the way out, flipping through my photo album on the high-speed train, I suddenly understood why Li Qingzhao loved this place—the spring in Mingshui Ancient Town is the embodiment of "lush greenery and vibrant red blossoms," the words in the spring water, and the poetry in the shadows of flowers. Just 1.5 hours from Tianjin, you can immerse yourself in the world of Song Dynasty poetry – it's worth it!
🌸Tianjin, 1.5 hours direct! Experience spring like a Song Dynasty poem in Li Qingzhao's hometown.
"Do you know, do you know? It should be green leaves and red blossoms" – 1.5 hours after the high-speed train leaves Tianjin, spring in Zhangqiu Mingshui Ancient City bursts into view. Here, spring water flows like a poem, cherry blossoms fall between the lines of verse. A 2-day, 1-night journey is like opening a living anthology of Song Dynasty poetry.
🚅Spontaneous Transportation
▪️High-speed rail: Tianjin Station → Zhangqiu Station (8:10-9:46). A 10-minute taxi ride from the station to the ancient city, fare under 100 yuan, more convenient than driving.
▪️Return trip: Choose the 16:42 train, arriving home in the evening without delaying work the next day – perfect for a short trip.
🗺️2 Days 1 Night Itinerary: From Dawn to Nightfall
Day 1: Immerse Yourself in the Beauty of Springs and Poetry
▪️In the morning, enter the ancient city and climb the "City Wall." Standing high, you'll see white walls and black tiles bathed in the green spring water. The view from the second floor of the Guilai Academy is like a framed painting. The poetry and kite exhibition is in full swing. Make your own kite (30 yuan/kitten) and fly it in the east wind. You'll suddenly understand the joy of "flying kites in the east wind."
▪️In the afternoon, visit "Hongsheng Fabric Shop." The floral fabrics in the courtyard hang from the beams to the water's surface—red, blue, printed with Li Qingzhao's poems. Wearing a simple dress and standing in the middle, the wind makes your clothes dance with the fabric, as if you've stepped out of "Like a Dream."
▪️A must-see is "Li Qingzhao's Former Residence"! The five springs of Plum Blossom Spring bubble gently, while the waters of Jade Spring reflect the stone bridge. You might even encounter an NPC version of Li Qingzhao, who will smile and ask, "Do you know? Do you know?" Recite poetry with her (receive a bookmark if you complete three lines), and you'll instantly feel transported back a thousand years.
▪️Next door, the red walls of Longquan Temple complement the ink-black spring. The spring water is a deep, dark ink color, and you can drink large bowls of tea made with the spring water (5 yuan/bowl) on the bank. The tea is clear and refreshing, with a Zen-like fragrance.
▪️The highlight at night is the "Spring Show + Drone Show"! The lights turn the waterways into an ink-black hue, and performers on rowboats sing "Drunken Flower Shade." Suddenly, drones fill the sky, spelling out "To live, be a hero," which the entire audience whispers. The power of Song Dynasty poetry transcends time and space.
Day 2: From Morning Wine to the Sound of Oars
▪️At 7 AM, head to the "Morning Wine Market" (Fuqian Street). Locals drink bulk wine from enamel mugs, accompanied by pancakes (3 yuan) and Longshan tofu pudding (4 yuan). Lü opera is performed on the stage. For 30 yuan, you can sample five different dishes. An old lady says, "This is what a morning in Zhangqiu should be like."
▪️Mingshui Street hides intangible cultural heritage surprises: leaf carving masters can carve cherry blossoms into thin leaves (50 yuan/piece), hairpins from the flower shop gleam, and winning at the pitch-pot game allows you to sample roasted pork. The atmosphere is filled with ingenuity amidst the everyday life.
▪️Don't miss the "Yi'an Poetry Gathering"! Team up with other tourists to recite poems. Before you even finish "The west wind rolls up the curtain," someone else will respond with "Thinner than the yellow flower." Winning or losing isn't important; as you recite, the spring breeze brushes your cheek, like being patted on the shoulder by the poet. ▪️At noon, we satisfied our cravings at "Lao Zhangqiu Roast Pork Restaurant." The roast pork was fatty yet not greasy (45 yuan/serving), paired with lotus root boxes from the Lotus Banquet (20 yuan). The owner said, "It's made with water from Moquan Spring; Li Qingzhao might have loved it back then."
▪️Finally, we took a rowboat (80 yuan/boat) from the Lotus Banquet pier. As the boatwoman rowed, peach blossoms fell into the water from both banks. She said, "This water nourishes poetry and nourishes people." Indeed, even the ripples resembled the tones and rhythms of a poem.
📸9 photogenic spots, framing spring within the image of Song Dynasty poetry
1. Baihua Bridge (Photo ①): The bridge arch reflects the spring water and flowering trees. Wearing Hanfu for photos makes you feel like you're walking inside a poem title.
2. Lotus Pond on Fuqian Street (Photo ②): Koi swim around the flower shadows. Crouching down for photos, the water and sky blend into a pink and green hue. 3. North of the City Wall (Photo ③): The setting sun casts long shadows; shooting silhouettes against the light makes the cracks in the bricks of the city wall seem to hold stories.
4. Fox Fairy Street (Photo ④): The bluestone path paired with red lanterns creates a "rainy alley" feel, especially on a rainy day; an oil-paper umbrella is perfect.
5. Plum Blossom Spring (Photo ⑤): When the spring bubbles, squat on the stone bridge to take a picture; the water splashing on the lens resembles an ellipsis in a poem.
6. Ink Spring and Red Wall (Photo ⑥): With the red wall as a backdrop, holding a bowl of spring water tea, one experiences both Zen and the feeling of spring.
7. Near the Meng Family Courtyard (Photo ⑦): Old door panels paired with stone steps; sitting on the threshold to take a picture, sunlight streaming through the wooden window onto your face, creates a gentle scene reminiscent of "leaning against the door and looking back."
8. Rowing Boat (Photo ⑧): Shoot the bow from the stern; the sound of the oars shatters the reflections of flowers on the water's surface; hair tousled by the wind adds to the natural feel. 9. Second floor of Guilai Academy (Photo 9): The window frames the distant pagoda and flowering trees; taking a photo from the window makes it look like you're peeking out from a scroll of poetry.
💡Local Tips
▪️Stay at a guesthouse within the scenic area! Multiple entries are possible. The ancient town is deserted in the early morning, allowing you to enjoy the tranquility of Plum Blossom Spring alone. The shuttle bus is free—a blessing for lazy people.
▪️Wear light colors or Hanfu! They match perfectly with pink flowers, white walls, and clear water. There are clothing rental shops in the ancient town (100 yuan/day), and makeup and hair are included.
▪️Free admission for children under 6 and over 60; half price for students (49 yuan). Make a reservation in advance through the official WeChat account; just scan the code to enter.
On the way out, flipping through my photo album on the high-speed train, I suddenly understood why Li Qingzhao loved this place—the spring in Mingshui Ancient Town is the embodiment of "lush greenery and vibrant red blossoms," the words in the spring water, and the poetry in the shadows of flowers. Just a 1.5-hour drive from Tianjin, you can immerse yourself in the world of Song Dynasty poetry – it's worth it!
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