Tai'erzhuang Ancient City Scenic Area (1) Start from the East Gate: View the river, bridges, and street scenery

Tai'erzhuang Ancient City is located in Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province, at the junction of Shandong, Jiangsu, Henan, and Anhui provinces, at the central point of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, on the north bank of the ancient canal. It is a distinctive oriental ancient water town. Passing through the East Gate archway inscribed with 'Purple Aura from the East,' one enters the ancient city scenic area. The streets paved with stone slabs, mostly lined with shops and residences built along the river, reflect the grandeur and simplicity of northern architecture as well as the cleverness and elegance of southern architecture. The Dayamen Street runs through the east and west gates and serves as the main street of the entire scenic area. With canals running north and south and interconnected by variously shaped stone bridges, nearly a hundred water streets and lanes are strung together, surpassing the density of Suzhou's ancient city water network. No wonder Emperor Kangxi once praised it, saying, 'The scenery is no different from the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River.' The 'Fuxing Building' in the center of the ancient city is the first on the mainland built for cross-strait exchanges. In front of the towering Fuxing Building, Fuxing Square is a place for displaying the heritage of folk culture and arts, while the surrounding area features a street with characteristics of the Republic of China era. Not far away, the 'Boat-shaped Street' with strong ethnic characteristics has buildings on both sides arching over the middle's huge 'dragon boat,' as if 'sailing on a great river,' a wonderful conception that makes visitors linger.