Meet Changzhou with Ancient Canal Cruise Tour 古运河游船之旅，邂逅别样常州

Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal running through Changzhou, thousands of years, the ancient canal is the mother river in Changzhou.  With rich in human environment and many historical sites, It is a witness of Changzhou historical and cultural collections.  Nowadays, ancient canal in Changzhou is becoming a tour corridor that incorporates a blend of scenic spots and historical cultural landscape.

Changzhou city section comprises a 23 km section of the canal which passes through Comb Lane (篦箕巷)and reaches Dongpo Park(东坡公园) in the north. It illustrates a typical landscape of the canal in the setting of a large city.

京杭大运河在常州穿城而过，千百年来，古老的运河是常州的母亲河，人文资源丰富，名胜古迹众多，是一部承载常州历史文化的宝典。当今的常州古运河，正成为一条融风景名胜和历史人文景观于一体的旅游景观走廊。

江南运河常州城区段西起篦箕巷向东横穿市区到东坡公园，长约23公里，是江南运河穿越南方城区的典型段落。

Curise on a classical and comfortable boat is a major feature of Changzhou Grand Canal, which walk you our history.  It is the ancient canal of the classic tour line for about 10 km within 1.5 hours in a return tour trip.

Either you can float over canal to enjoy beautiful views on both banks, or you can walk along the canal in a street.  Without doubt, combination of both two is most wonderful.

常州古运河水上游是一大特色，载客的画舫船古典又舒适，在平稳的行驶中带你走进历史。西起篦箕巷，东至东坡公园，全程往返约10公里，行程约1个半小时，是古运河的精典游线。

你可以选择乘坐游船，在悠悠的运河水上观赏两岸风景，也可以选择穿街走巷，在斑驳的古建筑中感受历史。当然，两者结合才最为美妙。

Due to the recent development of the subway construction, the ancient canal cruise route has been changed to Dongpo Park - DeanBridge - Baijia hall in about 40 minutes.  Although the trip was shortened, it is still a chance to encounter a different view of Changzhou.

由于近期地铁工程的开展，古运河水上游线路已经改为东坡公园——德安桥——白家祠堂，往返约40分钟。虽然行程被缩短，但是仍不失为邂逅别样常州的心动首选。

Cruise Line: Dongpo Park - Dean Bridge - Baijia Hall (round trip)

游船线路：东坡公园——德安桥——白家祠堂（往返）

Cruise time(航班时刻): 9:30, 10:30, 13:30, 14:30

Note: Curise is not available on Monday except holidays such as labor day. It means you can still enjoy ancient canal cruise trip on next Monday(May 1st).

特别提醒：周一停航，节假日除外即下周一（5月1日）照常出航。

Round-trip fare: 30 rmb (no one-way ticket now)

往返票价：30元 （无单程票价）

Free policy: 1.2 meters (including) the following children free of charge.

免票政策：1.2米（含）以下儿童免票。

Preferential policies: 1.2 (excluding) -1.4 m (inclusive) children 10 yuan / person; special coupons for 60 years of age (inclusive) or older, active military personnel, disabled (please hold the corresponding valid documents).

优惠政策：1.2（不含）-1.4米（含）儿童10元/人；特殊优待票适用于60周岁（含）以上老人、现役军人、残疾人（请持相应的本人有效证件购票、登船）。

Tickets: Dongpo Park East Gate Ticket Office, Dongpo Park Royal Pier Ticket Office

买票地点：东坡公园东大门售票处、东坡公园御码头售票处

Boarding location: Dongpo Park Royal dock ticket office

登船地点：东坡公园御码头售票处

篦箕巷

Comb Lane

Comb Lane, which used to be called Flower Market Street, as it was also the place to buy artificial flowers, is located in the western part of Changzhou beside the Grand Canal.  Early in the Ming and Qing Dynasty, it was the manufacturing and selling center for both combs and artificial flowers, two of Changzhou’s most well-known traditional arts.  By the Qing Dynasty, it was reputed that every family in Comb Lane was making a living by producing combs. It has since become a very popular tourist destination, where visitors can peruse ancient classical Chinese buildings and picturesque comb stores.

常州篦箕巷又称“花市街”，篦箕巷位于常州古运河畔，是古毗陵驿所在地，曾经十分繁华古时，巷中店铺常连夜赶工著名的篦箕和宫花，“篦梁灯火”是常州胜境。常州自古以来就一直以制作篦箕和木梳而闻名，素有“宫梳名篦”和“常州梳篦甲天下”之盛誉，而这里整条街巷，家家户户都以制作梳篦为生。现在可看到大码头牌坊、皇华亭、亭内的毗陵驿石碑以及古运河畔的大码头、文亨桥。据史料记载，乾隆南巡经常州时，有三次就是从这个大码头登岸进城的。

文亨桥 

Wenheng Bridge

Wenheng Bridge by the side of the Comb Lane was established in the 27th year during the Jiajing Emperor’s Reign in Qing Dynasty (AD 1548) and rebuilt in the 33rd year of the Qianlong Emperor’s Reign in Qing Dynasty (AD1768). In ancient times, it was an important bridge for traffic here. 

The Wenheng Bridge is the 3-arched stone bridge, arranged in opposition and constructed with bluestones. A big square stone with lotus embossment is placed in the right center on the surface and the stone rails and columns with cloud embossments on the top are erected on both sides in the east and west. It is a famous scene named as “Wenheng through Moon”. In the ancient times, the emperors should pass this bridge on their Southern China Inspection Tours.

皇华亭旁的这座古桥就是文亨桥，它始建于明嘉靖二十七年（公元548年），在清乾隆三十三年（公元1768年）时重新修建，因此俗称新桥，旧时这里舟船穿越，为交通要道。

明城墙

City Wall of the Ming Dynasty

东坡公园

Dongpo Park

南大街

Nandajie 

A walkway next to grand canal connects Biji Lane and Dongpo Park, and Wuyue International Plaza and Nandajie also sit nearby. You can walk slowly in the street and enjoy tasty food whenever you want.

常州古运河旁边有健身步道，从篦箕巷一直沿着古运河到东坡公园，不紧不慢感觉也是极好的，而古运河旁边就是吾悦国际广场和南大街商圈，有很多小吃，累了就可以去吃东西。

Photos in this artilce is  authorized by 斜刘海、白衬衫, a travel lover from mafengwo.cn.  本文所有图片经由马蜂窝旅行爱好者斜刘海、白衬衫授权发布。

Special thanks to 斜刘海、白衬衫 in mafengwo.cn. 

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