Wenzhou
Discover Wenzhou
Wenzhou (温州 Wēnzhōu) is a city in Zhejiang Province. Wenzhou is not on many China tour itineraries and despite being a Chinese cultural hotspot, it is not the most foreigner friendly of cities (compared with Hangzhou and Ningbo, for example). However, there are plenty of things to do and see should you find yourself with time on your hands in Wenzhou. Wenzhou is the third city of Zhejiang Province and one of the economic power houses of the region. Famed for its businessmen and women of the night (and the Wenzhou model of business), Wenzhou is frequently used by Western media as a barometer of the Chinese export economy; among other things, Wenzhou manufactures around 90% of the world's spectacles and massive quantities of shoes. The city has a resident foreigner community that is below average for the city's size (100-200), although foreign businessmen often pass through.
What to Experience in Wenzhou
Taste of Wenzhou...
Do not miss out on the locally brewed delight, Double Deer Beer, ¥2-2.5 on the streets. Also, do not forget to look under the cap for a free beer or ¥1 refund. Known as Shuan1 Lu4 in Chinese. It also has a more expensive, premium light counterpart. Xialü Waterfront (下吕浦 Xiàlǚpǔ) is the area where most foreigners live and some bars have sprung up around; bear in mind that it is not a waterfront in the traditional sense (there is no water, nor front). Jiangbin Road (The River) (江滨路; Jiāngbīnlù) plays host to some of the biggest clubs, bars and restaurants in town. The main strip is on Wangjiang Road (望江路), but taxi drivers regard the whole area as Jiangbin Road. Shuomen Old Street (朔门街 Shuòménjiē) is a hip and happening part of town set back from Jiangbin Road, off Jiefang Road (解放路). New bars open every week as well as strange little shops and board game bars. Renmin Road (人民路 Rénmínlù) is the main road of Wenzhou and hosts a few massive clubs, though definitely not a place for a quiet (or cheap) drink. There are no hostels in Wenzhou, but couch-surfing is a valid option with a large number of Wenzhou residents registered to welcome travelers. There are also some budget hotels around: Wenzhou is not a dangerous city for foreigners, especially foreigners that are careful.
Climate
Wenzhou is a city with frequent rains, and the average annual temperature is around 17 °C. The highest temperature in summer reaches 39 °C As of the end of 2022, Wenzhou City administers four districts: Lucheng District, Longwan District, Ouhai District, and Dongtou District, as well as five counties: Yongjia County, Pingyang County, Cangnan County, Wencheng County, and Taishun County. It also oversees three county-level cities: Rui'an City, Yueqing City, and Longgang City. Although Mandarin is widely spoken, the local dialect is Wenzhounese (温州话 Wēnzhōuhuà) and is regarded by Chinese nationals as one of the most difficult dialects in the country, so much so that Wenzhounese speakers were used by the Chinese resistance in World War II to communicate under the noses of the Japanese. You can get from the airport to the city center by taxi or bus.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsYou can get from the airport to the city center by taxi or bus. Taxis are the most expensive and you should bargain hard; if they do not like the price you are offering they laugh at you and start shouting Bus!. If a taxi driver offers you a ride under ¥100 it can be regarded as a good deal. Taking the bus is now much easier due to a ticket desk in the new terminal opposite the exit gate. The bus costs ¥12 and drives through New City (新城; Xīnchéng), Xialüpu (下吕浦 Xiàlǚpǔ) and finally stops at a depot on Nanpu Road (南浦路 Nánpǔlù). 27.980324120.6850922 Wenzhou railway Station (温州站; Wēnzhōuzhàn) serves most cities throughout China, although because of Wenzhou's mountains, train journeys are sometimes much longer than their bus counterparts. The train station is at the major junction of Wenzhou Avenue (温州大道 Wēnzhōudàdào) where it meets Chezhan Avenue (车站大道 Chēzhàndàdào). 27.969353120....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Although there is two metro line, the Wenzhou Metro (WZ-MTR) is its useful to travelers. Line S1 connects the two train stations, the city centre and the airport. The first phase of Wenzhou Rail Transit Line S2 starts from Xiatang, Chengdong Street, Yueqing City in the north and ends in Ruian City in the south. The line length is 63 kilometers and intersects with Line S1 at Lingkun Station. Line S2 will be opened to traffic in August 2023 Buses cost ¥1.5-2.5 within the city and can be very useful once you figure what number goes where. Useful buses include the 81 that goes between the old train station and the new south train station (¥2). The price is listed on the outside of the bus and on the bus stop sign. The bus stop sign also lists the stops on one side and shows a map on the other. Strangely, you will not find this in Beijing or Shanghai.
Where to Stay
There are no hostels in Wenzhou, but couch-surfing is a valid option with a large number of Wenzhou residents registered to welcome travelers. There are also some budget hotels around: Wenzhou is not a dangerous city for foreigners, especially foreigners that are careful.
Money & Budget
There are no token "Wenzhou" things that you need to buy (though Wenzhou is apparently known locally for high-quality shoes), but there are many things made in Wenzhou, so if you look and bargain well, you can buy them at very cheap prices. This section is helpful if you are looking for something that would be easy to find in a western city, but you are unsure of where to find it in a Chinese one. Do not miss out on the locally brewed delight, Double Deer Beer, ¥2-2.5 on the streets. Also, do not forget to look under the cap for a free beer or ¥1 refund. Known as Shuan1 Lu4 in Chinese. It also has a more expensive, premium light counterpart.
Language & Talk
Although Mandarin is widely spoken, the local dialect is Wenzhounese (温州话 Wēnzhōuhuà) and is regarded by Chinese nationals as one of the most difficult dialects in the country, so much so that Wenzhounese speakers were used by the Chinese resistance in World War II to communicate under the noses of the Japanese. You can get from the airport to the city center by taxi or bus. Taxis are the most expensive and you should bargain hard; if they do not like the price you are offering they laugh at you and start shouting Bus!. If a taxi driver offers you a ride under ¥100 it can be regarded as a good deal. Taking the bus is now much easier due to a ticket desk in the new terminal opposite the exit gate.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Wenzhou is not a dangerous city for foreigners, especially foreigners that are careful.
Glimpses of Wenzhou
“夏至”(Summer Solstice), The hottest days of summer begin after the Summer Solstice.The days begin to draw in after the Summer Solstice. - is the tenth solar term.
Hiking to villages in mountains
江心屿
An old building with a blue sign in front of it
A large white building with lots of windows next to a bridge
A group of people walking down a street next to tall buildings
A parking lot filled with lots of parked cars
A busy city street with tall buildings in the background
A group of cars parked next to each other in a parking lot
A body of water surrounded by tall buildings
“夏至”(Summer Solstice), The hottest days of summer begin after the Summer Solstice.The days begin to draw in after the Summer Solstice. - is the tenth solar term.
Hiking to villages in mountains
江心屿