Plan at a glance
Street district, admission and opening hours
Haizhou Ancient Town (海州古城) is in Haizhou District, about 5 kilometres from the city centre, and has more than 2,000 years of local history. The present streets mainly use a Ming-and-Qing-style reconstruction completed on the original site in 1991, with Zhongdajie and other historic lanes forming the walkable core. The street district is free and open all day with no reservation. Individual exhibition halls and special displays may have their own hours and charges.
How much time to allow
Allow about 2 hours for the archway, Quyang Gate, the Bell and Drum Tower and Zhongdajie. A first visit is better with 2–3 hours, adding Shuanglong Well, Kong Lane, Haizhou Confucian Temple or Chenghuang Temple. The lit-up streets are most suitable for a relaxed evening walk and late food stop.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
View Visit Optionsvia Trip.comChoose your visit
Quyang Gate and the Bell and Drum Tower
Quyang Gate is the southern gate of the old town. From across the road, you can frame the red gate, the old wall and the hills behind it in one photograph. The Bell and Drum Tower is the central landmark; from the top, you can look over the tiled roofs, especially attractive when the late sun reaches the buildings.
Shuanglong Well, Zhongdajie and Kong Lane
Shuanglong Well dates from the Ming period and is now surrounded by an open classical garden. Zhongdajie is about 375 metres long, with traditional-style shops on both sides. Kong Lane is better for small street details, craft shops and old-style architecture. These areas suit history enthusiasts, hanfu photography, students and visitors who like a slower city walk.
Haizhou Confucian Temple and Chenghuang Temple
The longer route can add Haizhou Confucian Temple and Chenghuang Temple after Zhongdajie and Kong Lane. They suit visitors interested in local history and traditional buildings. You do not need to rush through the lanes just to complete every stop in one visit.
Build your day
A 2-hour quick route
Haizhou Ancient Town Archway → Quyang Gate → Bell and Drum Tower → Zhongdajie food street → Shuanglong Well. The compact walking route gives a quick sense of the town layout and leaves time for a meal or another nearby stop.
A 3-hour heritage-and-food route
Archway → Quyang Gate → Zhenyuan Tower (the Bell and Drum Tower) → Shuanglong Well → Zhongdajie and Kong Lane → Haizhou Confucian Temple → Chenghuang Temple. Take your food and small-shop stops in Zhongdajie and Kong Lane, then keep the temples for the later part of the route.
An evening route
Early morning is good for empty streets and gates, while late afternoon works better for Quyang Gate, the tower and the evening lights. You can continue to Yanhe Lane for late food. If you want to visit an exhibition hall, put it in the daytime route; an all-day street district does not mean every indoor hall is open all day.
Get there
High-speed rail, bus and short-distance movement
From Lianyungang Railway Station, a taxi ride takes about 15 minutes. You can also take buses 24, 25 or 27 to the Gulou stop. Buses 6, 9 and 15 serve the Haizhou Ancient Town and Haizhou Experimental Middle School stops. Inside the old town, walk; a shared electric bike is useful for longer connections outside the lanes.
Parking
Navigate to “Haizhou Ancient Town Archway” or Zhongdajie in Haizhou District. Parking is available around the town, including Baihu Mountain car park; some spaces are free or low-cost. The lanes are narrow, so leave the car outside the old-town core.
Know before you go
Stone paving, repairs and light
The old town has uneven stone paving, so flat non-slip shoes are more comfortable. Some sections of the wall or lanes may be under repair; keep away from construction barriers when taking photographs. Early morning and evening have softer light, while midday is more exposed.
Exhibition halls and food timing
The street district is free, but an indoor hall or special exhibition may charge separately and follow its own hours. Small snacks are inexpensive, so buy in small portions as you walk. Xiangji Hand-pulled Noodles may change its opening pattern, so do not rely on it for a fixed dinner stop.
Local food
Da Ma Cold Noodles, Qin Ji Roujiamo, Huang Ji Fried Noodles, Hongxia Rice Noodles and Jiang Ji Fried Snacks fit naturally into a walking-food route. For a seafood meal, Lanzhili Seafood Rice and other local seafood dishes are listed options; arriving before 17:30 can reduce the queue. Yanhe Lane has seafood stalls and local snacks for an evening finish.