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Best Food in Gaoyou (2026)
Gaoyou is famous for its duck noodle soup, a rich broth served with tender duck slices and fresh wheat noodles. Try the version at Laozhen Noodle House on Zhongshan Roadβ¦ π Signature Noodle Dishes
Gaoyou is famous for its duck noodle soup, a rich broth served with tender duck slices and fresh wheat noodles. Try the version at Laozhen Noodle House on Zhongshan Road, open daily from 6:30 AM to 2 PM. A bowl costs about 15 to 20 RMB, and locals often add a spoonful of chili oil for extra kick.
π₯ Must-Try Dumplings
The city's pan-fried dumplings, known as guotie, are crispy on the bottom and juicy inside. Head to the stall at the corner of Renmin Road and Jiefang Street, which operates from 5 PM until sold out, usually around 8 PM. Eight dumplings cost 10 RMB, and they are best eaten hot with black vinegar.
π¦ Duck Specialties
Beyond noodles, Gaoyou's salted duck is a local delicacy, cured and boiled to a tender finish. The most respected vendor is Gaoyou Salted Duck Shop at 88 Wenhua Road, open from 8 AM to 7 PM. A whole duck costs about 60 RMB, while a quarter is 15 RMB, perfect for a picnic by the Grand Canal.
π‘ Street Snack Spots
For a quick bite, wander the night market on Dongmen Street, where vendors sell stinky tofu, grilled skewers, and sweet rice balls. Try the sticky rice cakes stuffed with red bean paste at Auntie Chen's stall, a local favorite for over 20 years. Prices range from 5 to 15 RMB per snack, and the market buzzes from 6 PM to 11 PM.
π΅ Tea House Culture
After a meal, join locals at the historic Yucheng Teahouse on South Street, which has been serving since the Qing dynasty. A pot of Biluochun green tea costs 25 RMB, and you can order small pastries like sesame cakes for 8 RMB. The teahouse opens at 9 AM and closes at 9 PM, offering a peaceful break from sightseeing.
π° Budget and Prices
Eating in Gaoyou is remarkably affordable, with most street snacks under 15 RMB and sit-down meals for two ranging from 50 to 100 RMB. A hearty breakfast of noodles and soy milk costs about 10 RMB, while a full duck dinner at a mid-range restaurant like Canal View Restaurant on Yanhe Road runs 80 RMB per person. Cash is widely used, but mobile payments via Alipay or WeChat are accepted everywhere.
πΆ Food Tour Route
Start your day at Laozhen Noodle House for duck noodles, then walk south to the morning market on Wenhua Road for fresh fruit and salted duck. In the afternoon, visit the teahouse for a break, and finish with dinner at the Dongmen Street night market. This route covers about 3 kilometers and takes roughly 4 hours, allowing plenty of time to taste and explore.
ya'll are sleeping on the late night wonton spot on dongmen street, the one with the red lantern out front, it opens at 10pm and runs till like 2am. the wontons are hand folded right there, pork and shrimp filling, and they float in this clear broth with a lard slick on top. 8 yuan for a big bowl, and the guy running it has been doing it since the 90s, his hands move so fast u cant even follow.
also the guide says cash is widely used but honestly most places now take alipay even the tiny carts, but the old teahouse still only takes cash or wechat, so if ur phone's dead u might be stuck. bring a 50 or two for the smaller stalls, they never have change for anything bigger. and if u're there on a rainy day, skip the canal walk and hit the covered market on zhongshan road instead, there's a stall selling fried river shrimp that's like 12 yuan a plate, they eat them whole, shell and all, with some salt and pepper. perfect with a cold beer while u watch the rain come down.
good tips all around, but nobody mentioned the breakfast congee spot on beimen street, just past the old city wall. it's a tiny place, no sign, just a big iron pot out front, and they do a duck egg and preserved veg congee that's 5 yuan a bowl. go around 7am when the old ladies are there, they'll tell u to add the fried shallots and it changes everything.
also for the grand canal picnic idea, skip the picnic, there's a little pavilion near the north gate where the fishermen sell their morning catch around 9am. buy a live carp, take it to the grill stall on the corner of wenhua and renmin, they'll cook it for u for 10 yuan. tastes better than anything u'll get at a restaurant, and u get to watch the boats come in while u wait.
honestly the budget section undersells how cheap breakfast can get if u skip the sit-down spots. grab a soy milk and a jianbing from the cart outside the east gate of the old town, that's like 4 yuan total and it'll hold u till lunch. also the canal view restaurant is fine but if ur already on dongmen street at night, the grilled squid vendor two stalls down from auntie chen's does this cumin-spiced version that beats anything on the menu there. and fwiw, the teahouse gets packed with tour groups around 2pm, go at 4pm instead, the light hits the old wood beams real nice and the old guys playing chess wont mind u watching.
3 Days in Gaoyou: Itinerary 2026
Start your trip in Gaoyou's historic core, the Old Town, which is compact and walkable. Begin at the South Gate (Nanmen) and stroll north along the ancient city wall, which offeβ¦ πΊοΈ Day 1: Old Town
Start your trip in Gaoyou's historic core, the Old Town, which is compact and walkable. Begin at the South Gate (Nanmen) and stroll north along the ancient city wall, which offers views of the canal. Visit the Gaoyou Museum (open 9:00-17:00, closed Mondays) to see artifacts from the Han Dynasty. For lunch, try the local specialty, Gaoyou salted duck eggs, at a small eatery near the North Gate.
ποΈ Day 1 Afternoon: Wenyou Tower
After lunch, head to Wenyou Tower, a Ming Dynasty landmark located on the eastern edge of the Old Town. Climb the tower for panoramic views of the city and the Grand Canal. The tower is open until 17:30, and admission is 30 RMB. In the late afternoon, walk along the canal promenade, where locals gather to fish and play chess. End the day with dinner at a riverside restaurant, trying the freshwater fish dishes.
π Day 2: Canal and Lakes
On day two, take a bus (line 1 or 2) from the city center to the Gaoyou Lake area, about 30 minutes away. The lake is famous for its lotus flowers in summer, but the scenery is beautiful year-round. Rent a bike at the lake entrance (20 RMB per hour) and cycle along the dikes, stopping at the bird-watching platforms. For a longer excursion, hire a boat for a two-hour tour of the lake, which costs around 150 RMB per boat.
ποΈ Day 2 Afternoon: Riverside Park
Return to the city in the early afternoon and visit Riverside Park (Binhe Park), located just south of the Old Town. The park is free and features a long walking path along the canal, with pavilions and gardens. It's a peaceful spot to relax after the morning's activities. In the evening, explore the night market on Renmin Road, which opens around 18:00 and offers street food like stinky tofu and grilled skewers.
π² Day 3: Countryside Temples
On your final day, rent a bicycle (available at many hotels for 30 RMB per day) and head to the countryside west of Gaoyou. The ride to the Zhenguo Temple takes about 40 minutes along flat roads. This ancient temple, dating back to the Tang Dynasty, is a peaceful retreat with a towering pagoda. Admission is 20 RMB, and the temple grounds are open from 8:00 to 17:00. Continue cycling to the nearby Shouxi Lake, where you can have a picnic lunch.
ποΈ Shopping and Souvenirs
Before leaving, pick up some local specialties to take home. The Gaoyou salted duck eggs are a must-buy, and you can find them at the morning market on East Street, which runs from 6:00 to 10:00. Also look for dried lotus seeds and lotus root starch, both produced locally. For a unique souvenir, visit the Gaoyou Paper-Cut Shop on Zhongshan Road, where artisans sell intricate paper cuttings for 10-50 RMB.
π Getting Around
Gaoyou is a small city, and most attractions are within a 20-minute walk of the Old Town. For longer distances, use the local bus system (2 RMB per ride) or hail a taxi (starting fare 8 RMB). The high-speed rail station is about 15 minutes from the city center by taxi, with frequent trains to Nanjing and Shanghai. If you're driving, note that parking in the Old Town is limited, so it's best to park at your hotel and walk.
π‘ Practical Tips
The best time to visit Gaoyou is from April to October, when the weather is mild and the lotus flowers are in bloom. Bring cash, as some smaller shops and street vendors do not accept credit cards. English is not widely spoken, so it's helpful to have a translation app on your phone. Finally, be sure to try the local breakfast dish, 'gaoyou noodles' with a fried egg, at any of the small noodle shops near the South Gate.
I like the ferry idea from the other reply, that's a good call. another thing nobody mentioned: the Gaoyou Museum is small, like you can do it in 45 minutes, so don't block out a whole morning for it. spend the extra time just wandering the alleys off the main north-south street in the old town, there's a bunch of crumbling Ming-era houses and little courtyards that aren't on any map. the locals will wave u over if they're drying duck eggs on bamboo trays, they're usually happy to chat even with a translation app.
also for day 2, if you're at the lake and the lotus are out, buy the fresh lotus pods from the old women at the bike rental spot, not the ones near the boat docks. they charge half the price and the seeds are sweeter, they pick them that morning. and if u get tired of cycling the dikes, there's a small teahouse on the northeast corner of the lake, it's got a deck that hangs right over the water, perfect spot to just sit and watch the egrets.
the day 2 bus thing is accurate but honestly just take a taxi to the lake, it's like 15 yuan and saves u the hassle of figuring out which stop. the bike rental at the entrance is fine but the dikes get crowded with fishing guys on weekends, so go on a weekday if u can.
for the night market on renmin road, skip the stinky tofu near the main entrance, the stall halfway down on the left, next to the fruit stand, does a better version with more pickled veggies. also the grilled skewers are cheaper if u walk to the far end, same quality, like 2 yuan less each.
one thing the guide missed: the paper-cut shop on zhongshan road closes for lunch around 12:30 to 14:00, so don't plan to swing by midday. the old lady who runs it is nice but she won't open early for anyone, i tried once lol. grab the lotus root starch at the east street market instead of the tourist shops, it's half the price and u can taste it before buying.
Both replies nailed the practical stuff, so I'll add something for the food side. The guide mentions gaoyou noodles, but the real move is to order them "dry" (ganban) instead of in soup. The sauce sticks to the noodles better and the fried egg gets a crispy edge. Ask for extra lard if they have it, the old-school stalls near the South Gate still render their own.
Also, if you're there in late summer, look for the little stalls selling fresh lotus root juice along the canal promenade near Wenyou Tower. It's sweet, slightly earthy, and cold, perfect after climbing those stairs. They only set up when the lotus harvest comes in, usually late August through September, so it's a seasonal thing you won't find in any guidebook.