A roughly 2.5-hour bullet train from Shanghai leads to Taizhou in the Zhejiang Province, a city of mountains and seas boasting with enchanted landscapes and abundant natural resources.
Bordered by the East China Sea to the east, the coastal city comprises 691 islands along an about 650-kilometer coastline, wherein the largest island, Yuhuan, connects to the mainland. Both the northern and the southern areas are embraced by mountain ranges, most notably Mount Tiantai and its Buddhist temple, Guoqing Temple.
Richly endowed by nature and a 5,000-year civilization, Taizhou nurtures splendid culinary traditions. Despite its hidden treasures, the city remained under the radar until the man Yong Zhang and his star-studded restaurant group Xin Rong Ji emerged.
His success in redefining Taizhou cuisine earns him the title of the man holding the most Michelin stars in Greater China, propelling Taizhou into national and international popularity.
Taizhou’s best bits? Here’s a whopping 48-hour guide for you to pick off:
Long Yan Restaurant Group
Hardly anybody exceeds the chef-turned-restaurateur Jinbao Wang on the insights of the Taizhou cuisine and the local catering market, owing to an extensive knowledge acquired over his 30-year expertise. Under him, the restaurant group dubbed Long Yan has enjoyed a respectful business.
Located in the downtown area, Longyan·Seafood has thrived on premium seafood from local waters since its inception in 2004.
A magnificent range of diverse live catches swimming in water tanks is the sign that greets you arriving at the doorstep of the restaurant, of which the fish you know or barely know glut your eyes. Respecting freshness, dishes prioritize original flavors, as seen in poached pork with soy sauce, braised ribbon fish with aged ginger, and white gourd with ham dressing.
Long Yan· Seafood
Address: South gate, High street, Jingzhong Rd, Jiaojiang district, Taizhou, Zhejiang
Tel: +86 0576 89675777
Moving to the adjacent district finds its sibling restaurant driven by Taizhou local cuisine. Maintain the authenticity with a twist is satisfactory, attributing to which is the locally sourced and seasonal food ingredients. In particular, leveraging micro-seasonality is a bonus.
Seafood alone, a dazzling array of seafood is available all year long, namely each month has over three varieties in season, and in June, 10 seafood options can rotate such as mackerel, green crab, grouper, and razor clam.
Distinct flavor profiles is also a signature – original flavor, ginger flavor, bouquet flavor, fermented grains flavor, umami flavor and sauce-braised flavor, making the long-running culture more accessible and enjoyable, for instance, both the octopus in chicken broth settled with Chinese chives, sour soup with seafoods splendidly translate the alluring savory sensation.
Long Yan· New Taizhou Cuisine
Address: No.888, South Laodong Rd, Huangyan district, Taizhou, Zhejiang
Tel: +86 0576 89825777
Du Pin Wei Zhuang
A 2-hour drive from central Taizhou to Xianju County rewards visitors with this unassuming family-run gem. Nestled in a residential building, it’s arguably the best Chinese restaurant in the county.
It excels in delectable food which fits what you can tell about a great restaurant, from excellent food ingredients, sophisticated and honest cooking, to unpretentious flavor. All marks it off from its fellow restaurants in the outside world. Among the highlights include stir-fried shrimps, topmouth cutler fish blended with dry Da Hong Pao tea leaves, and steamed chicken. Advance reservations essential.
Du Pin Wei Zhuang
Address: No.207, Houxi Rd, Xianju County, Taizhou, Zhejiang
Tel: +86 0576 87718593
Waxberry Harvest
June heralds peak season for Chinese waxberries, and the Xianju County which is hailed as the home of waxberry bustles with harvest activity. Upon arriving the mountain areas, along the roadsides local farmers are a bit hectic for selling their home-grown waxberries.
The crowd surges as approaching to the waxberry auction center, and then mountains covered with waxberry trees are just within easy reach. Want to go try waxberry picking? The golden time is either late at night or before dawn.
Museum of Contemporary Art, Taizhou
Renovated from factories and warehouses in the former Soviet Union style, this cultural and creative park is transformed into a community striving to be dynamic and innovative. Certainly, the contemporary art museum occupying a total of 2,450 sqm is the most prominent force.
Eight exhibition rooms of different floors design with a spatial transparency, creating you with a compelling effect. Exhibitions are diverse that cover calligraphy, watercolor and ink-water painting.
Museum of Contemporary Art, Taizhou
Address: No.5, Shamen Grain Depot Cultural and Creative Park, Fengshan Rd, Taizhou, Zhejiang
Tel: +86 1318568 9674
Huayuan Wet Market
A popular wet market in the old town is breathing new life. Not in a huge size, it’s all inclusive, complete with shops and eateries offering all sorts of local food, home-made rice cake, rice dumpling, pan-fried bun, noodle with ginger soup, and stewed duck soup included.
Huayuan Wet Market
Address: Huayuan Residential Community, Taizhou, Zhejiang
Tel: +86 13456477767