Agreed on skipping the zoo. I would also add that the Salt Industry Museum on Day 3 is worth a full hour and a half if you read the English panels. They have a really detailed model of an old salt evaporation field that explains the whole process better than any of the other museums in town. The Confucius Temple next door is small, maybe 20 minutes, but the old ginkgo tree in the courtyard is supposedly over 300 years old and it is a nice quiet spot.

For the night market, the salt-baked chicken is the real standout but the stall two rows back from the main entrance does a better version than the ones at the front. It is slightly more expensive at ¥25 but they use free-range chicken and the skin is properly crispy.

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The guide is solid but I would skip the zoo on Day 1 if you are visiting the Crane Park on Day 2. The Crane Park is much more impressive and the zoo is pretty standard. Instead, use that afternoon to walk along the old city moat near Water Street. There is a nice shaded path with locals playing cards and fishing, and it gives you a better feel for everyday Yancheng life than the zoo does. The fried tofu at Shuijie is good but the stall near the south gate of the Confucius Temple makes a better version with a thinner, crispier batter.

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I have done this exact itinerary and it works well, but I would adjust the timing on Day 2. The wetland reserve is bigger than it looks on the map and the boardwalk loop takes a solid two hours if you actually stop at the viewing platforms. I made the mistake of rushing through and missed the eastern section where the heron nesting colony is. That part is about a 15 minute walk past the main crane viewing area and most people skip it.

For the night market, the grilled eel skewers the other person mentioned are worth tracking down, but bring cash. That stall has been cash-only for years and the nearest ATM is a 10 minute walk back toward the main road. Also the market gets noticeably busier after 19:30 when the office workers show up, so if you want to eat without standing in long lines, aim for 18:00.

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honestly this guide is pretty solid, i've lived here a few years and it nails the big stuff. one thing i'd mention that nobody else has is the yancheng sports center area on jiefang road, there's a massive park behind it with these random exercise equipment setups and local grandmas doing tai chi at sunrise, it's free and gives you a real slice of daily life here. also for the saltwater duck, laoyuan is good but my local friends swear by the one at shuixiang duck restaurant on wenhua road, it's a hole in the wall but the skin is way crispier and it's like 50 rmb.

for connectivity, if you're staying more than a week the china unicom tourist sim at the airport is fine but i'd actually recommend grabbing a china mobile one from their shop on renmin road instead, they have a 30 day plan for 150 rmb with 30gb and it includes some free didi ride credits which is clutch. the airport ones are fine but the activation can be a pain if your phone isnt fully unlocked.

the public bus thing is real, routes are a mess and the stops are only in chinese on most of them. i gave up after my first week and just use didi for everything, it's like 10-15 rmb to get anywhere in the city center and you dont need to talk to anyone. the high speed rail tip is spot on

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yeah this guide is spot on for the basics. one thing i'd add is the yancheng museum is free with just your id, and they have this cool exhibit on the yellow sea salt farming history that really ties the city together. also for getting around, the city bike share is super underrated, 1 rmb for 30 mins and there's bike lanes everywhere once you're off the main roads. the milu deer reserve is great but honestly the dafeng reserve has a better boardwalk setup for walking, less crowded too. and if you're into night markets, the one near jiefang road south has the best grilled squid i've had anywhere, like 10 rmb a skewer

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good guide, pretty thorough. one thing i'd add is the yancheng water street at night, it's free and really comes alive with the lights on the old buildings, way more charming than during the day. for food, the saltwater duck is solid but honestly the best thing i ate was the braised eel at a tiny spot called laowei seafood on wenfeng road, it's about 80 rmb and locals pack the place. also, the bus app is a lifesaver if you download it, but i just used didi for everything and it was like 15-20 rmb per ride in the city, cheap enough.

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