Plan at a glance
Riverfront area and visit length
Haohe Scenic Area sits around Nantong's old city, with the main visitor centre at No. 17 Qixiu Road, Chongchuan District. Haohe is an open riverfront area with several public entrances and piers. The riverfront itself is open all day; museums and memorial halls along the river usually open from 09:00 to 17:00 and close on Mondays, with possible holiday changes.
A short walk around the main riverfront and landmarks takes about 1–1.5 hours. To combine a cruise, Nantong Museum and Zhang Jian Memorial Hall, allow 3–4 hours. The full river loop is about 10 kilometres, so most visitors should walk in sections or use a boat between piers rather than walk the entire loop.
Free riverfront, cruises and museums
The Haohe riverfront is free to enter, with no general scenic-area ticket. Day sightseeing cruises are about CNY 60 for adults and CNY 30 for children, with departures roughly every 30–45 minutes. The Haohe Night Painting cruise is about CNY 98–128, with schedules and prices changing by season. Some piers rent self-drive boats for about CNY 70–80 per 30 minutes, but their operating range is limited.
The museums and memorial halls along the river set their own reservation, ticket and opening rules. Free access to the riverfront does not set the same rules for indoor venues or cruises.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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Riverfront landmarks and city views
Haohe is a good place to see the scale of Nantong's old-city waterfront, including the Clock Tower, Wenfeng Pagoda and the exterior of Nantong Museum. Wuting Inviting the Moon, Shuangxi Pavilion Friendship Bridge, the Wenfeng Pagoda riverside path and Nantong Museum's red walls are useful photo locations. The hour after sunset often gives the water and lights good depth.
City-walk visitors can walk one section and then take a boat to another part of the river. Early morning suits reflections and mist; evening suits the lights and riverside activity, but the night cruise requires a separate ticket.
Museum connections and suitable visitors
Museum-focused visitors can add the Chinese Abacus Museum, Nantong Museum, Zhang Jian Memorial Hall and Shenxiu Museum as separate stops. Families can choose a free museum and a short riverfront section. Visitors who want a lighter outing can walk from the visitor centre toward Nantong Museum and use a cruise for the remaining distance.
Build your day
About 1–1.5 hours: a short riverfront route
Start at the Haohe Scenic Area visitor centre and walk to the Chinese Abacus Museum for a quick visit of about 15 minutes. Continue along the south-bank path to Nantong Museum for exterior photos, then walk to Clock Tower Square before returning to the visitor centre.
This route keeps the most recognisable Haohe landmarks and suits visitors with limited time or anyone looking for a short city walk. On Mondays, indoor venues may be closed, so use the riverfront and building exteriors as the main stops.
About 3–4 hours: a land-and-water route
Start at the visitor centre with the Chinese Abacus Museum, then take a daytime cruise and get off at Nantong Museum Pier. Spend about 1.5 hours at Nantong Museum, walk to Zhang Jian Memorial Hall and the Shenxiu Museum area, then continue along the river to Wenfeng Pagoda before returning to the visitor centre or eating in the old city.
Cruise piers, museum entrances and river paths serve different purposes. Adjust the order to the day's boat departures and museum opening times. If the museums are your priority, place the indoor venues with fixed hours first and use the river walk to fill the remaining time.
About 2–3 hours: an evening route
Arrive at the visitor centre in the evening to buy or exchange your cruise ticket, then take the Haohe Night Painting cruise for about 1–1.5 hours. After disembarking, walk for about an hour along the west and south waterfront paths, passing Wuting Inviting the Moon and the Cultural Plaza before leaving from the most convenient road.
Night-cruise departures, light shows and prices change with the season. If you want water-and-light photographs, use the riverside walk after the cruise rather than planning around one fixed departure time.
Get there
Visitor centre, metro and walking
The main visitor centre is at No. 17 Qixiu Road. Other access points include Nantong Museum Pier and Bonsai Garden Pier. Nantong Metro Line 1 or Line 2 can take you to Heping Bridge Station or Wenfeng Station, from where you can walk into the central riverfront. You can also start at the visitor centre and decide between walking and a cruise.
Driving and moving through the old city
The old-city roads are narrow and riverfront parking is limited. If driving, park first at the Haohe Scenic Area visitor-centre car park, then walk or use a shared bicycle. If it is full, consider a nearby shopping-centre car park instead of repeatedly driving through the old-city lanes.
Know before you go
Reservations, closures and boat schedules
The riverfront is open all day, while most nearby museums usually open 09:00–17:00 and close on Mondays. Popular venues such as Nantong Museum may require real-name reservations, and cruises are sold separately; treat river access, museum entry and boat tickets as separate arrangements.
Day boats depart about every 30–45 minutes. Night cruises and self-drive boats can change their schedules, operating areas and prices. Before renting a self-drive boat, confirm where it may travel and how the 30-minute charge is calculated.
Walking and food
The full Haohe loop is about 10 kilometres. Wear comfortable shoes for longer sections and use a cruise to reduce backtracking. Parking, museum queues and venue hours can all consume time, so families travelling with children or older adults can shorten the route to the visitor centre, Nantong Museum and one riverfront section.
The riverfront connects with Si Street, South Street and local snack shops. Prices and guided-tour services vary between shops, so confirm the contents and cost before buying local products or using a guide.