Taierzhuang Ancient Town

Taierzhuang stood on the Grand Canal and prospered as a transit town until 1938, when a month-long battle here left it almost entirely destroyed. From 2008 the local government rebuilt it: some two square kilometres of canals, bridges, guild halls, temples and streets constructed in eight regional architectural styles reflecting the merchants who once traded here, with a few surviving walls and battle-scarred structures incorporated. It is unambiguously a reconstruction, marketed as the ancient town of a thousand years, and it works best at night when the lanterns are lit and boats run the canals. A memorial museum covers the 1938 battle separately.

What you actually see

• The canal quarter - rebuilt streets, bridges and guild halls over two square kilometres.
• The night lighting - lanterns and boats along the waterways after dark.
• The surviving fragments - original walls with battle damage incorporated.
• The eight styles - architecture reflecting the merchant communities that traded here.

When to go

April to June and September to November; evenings are when the town is at its best, and a night ticket is cheaper. Holidays bring heavy crowds. Summer is hot and humid.

Honest expectations

Almost everything is new construction, which some visitors find hollow. Entry is expensive and additional attractions charge inside. The scale means a lot of walking.

Nearby

Zaozhuang lies north; the Grand Canal runs through the town.