Featuring charming, tree-lined streets, a wealth of lush gardens and the famous Slender West Lake (Shou Xi Hu), Yangzhou is a quaint gem nestled in the Grand Canal region of Jiangsu province.  Considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Jiangsu, Yangzhou has a rich history which dates back to the Tang Dynasty, but maintains a modern reputation as a touristy getaway from urban centers like Nanjing and Suzhou, with its plethora of cultural relics, museums, and tombs.
 

Dating back to the "Spring and Autumn Period" (some 2,500 years ago), Yangzhou possesses a storied past, earning the distinction of being named one of the first Historical and Cultural Cities of China.

In addition to its Tang Dynasty origins, Yangzhou also has a noticeable Muslim influence, as exemplified by the Tomb of Puhaddin (a descendent of Mohammed who traveled to China during the Yuan Dynasty to spread his faith), and once, during the reign of Mongol Emperor Kubilai Khan, claimed Marco Polo as a municipal officer.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), Yangzhou was the site of several tumultuous upheavals, including the Ten-day Massacre of 1645 and the Yangzhou Riot (1868), but neither resulted in any serious casualties.

Despite its small size and population, Yangzhou has a celebrated history as an important city during many of China's greatest dynasties.

With an average annual temperature of 15-degrees Celsius, Yangzhou, like many cities on the Grand Canal, is humid and moderate during the summer (avg. temperature 27.6-degrees Celsius).  Its yearly rainfall is approximately 1030mm, most of which occurs in June and July.  Winters average 1.7-degrees Celsius, but temperatures have been known to drop to -19-degrees.