Jinhua 金华

Do you like travelling but you are tired of hearing always about the same destinations? Today you can read about a non-popular locality but that has a lot to offer to visitors, we are talking about Jinhua, in Chinese, 金华.

Jinhua has been created during Ming dynasty, more than 650 years ago. The original wall of the town has been destroyed in 1952, but the valleys and streets built during Ming and Qing dynasties were luckily maintained, letting us the possibility to walk around the old street of the ancient town. The city is less crowded than Hangzhou and this fact will allow you to visit the touristic spots quietly and enjoying them in all their beauty, without the need of worry about the crowd. The city is also known thanks to the presence of the second most rated university in Zhejiang, second only to the浙江大学 . For sure you will be amazed to see all the trees and flowers that are there, it is a green and natural city.

You may think there is nothing to do or to visit in that small city, but, as any travellers know, you could find beautiful things also in the smallest place in the world, where you never expected, so, it is time to discover what you can find in this unremarked spot.

The first thing that everyone notices is the green colour of the city, especially if you come from a big city like Shanghai or Hangzhou, nature is all around, colourful flowers will welcome you at the entrance of the city. Going around you will see the majestic canal that cross all the city, it is truly something impossible for your eyes to miss. The canal is that big that there are isles and fountains inside. One of the most popular pictures regarding Jinhua is representing one of the fountains in the canal, with golden fish.

Walking from the city centre to the old town you can follow the canal and enjoy the amazing view that it offers. Before reaching the historical district, you will have the chance to see and have a walk on the famous Rainbow Bridge, that connect the shore to a famous theatre. The Rainbow Bridge is well known for its shiny colours. At sunset time it will light up and recall, of course, rainbow’s colours.

After the rainbow bridge we go ahead and we turn left, following beautiful stairs that will lead us to a stunning statue and, most of all, to the entrance of the amazing old town. The old streets are full of colourful lights that remark the story of the place and, getting inside, there are a lot of food stands. These stands sell typical Jinhua’s food, from mint cakes, to different kinds of 饼, and they are all delicious, get ready to try different things and eat a lot, because, trust me, it is worth it. Walking and eating you will probably meet, as Chinese tradition says, music and people dancing around and suggesting you which kind of food try next.

Going ahead you will see the stunning Bayong Tower, famous for its golden buddhas. It is possible to visit the tower only during daytime, but, if you go there at evening, you can enjoy the view of the lights that light up the tower itself and the little square under it. I could not visit the tower because I went there at evening, but, for sure, I will next time. 

Jinhua is easy to reach, it takes only half an hour by 高铁. Regarding the coronavirus checks, Hangzhou’s green code should be fine, but if you are a foreigner they could ask for the specific one of Jinhua and make you scan a QR code for another green code that looks like an arrow, be sure to take your passport. The request of the specific green code is going to be for sure if you will to stay in a hotel, it could take a bit of time, but do not worry.

Have a nice trip!