Pizhou Travel Guide
City City in Jiangsu province, China
Pizhou anchors agricultural Jiangsu plains; travelers pass through for regional food stalls, busy wet markets and access to nearby Xuzhou’s Han-era sites and local pottery workshops.
Why Visit Pizhou? #
Experience rural Jiangsu life and hearty Huaiyang cuisine in a place where seasonal markets and temple fairs shape the local rhythm. Walk through busy county markets, sample regional snacks like braised meat and savory dumplings, and explore nearby countryside temples and burial mounds that hint at long local histories. Quiet streets and low-rise neighborhoods make it an approachable stop for travelers curious about everyday Chinese provincial culture.
Who's Pizhou For?
Quiet, affordable and safe for short stays, Pizhou has parks, local museums, and family-run eateries. It’s a practical base for exploring nearby Xuzhou by train, with budget hotels and easy access to day trips into Jiangsu’s countryside.
Jiangsu home cooking dominates menus: simple noodle shops, dumpling stalls and family restaurants stock affordable tastes. Night markets and regional snacks are plentiful, though serious regional dining requires a short trip to Xuzhou for finer Jiangsu cuisine.
Local economy mixes agriculture and small manufacturing; logistics firms and wholesale markets serve the county area. Good road and rail links to Xuzhou make Pizhou useful for regional trade, though corporate facilities remain basic compared with provincial hubs.
Surrounding farmland, small lakes and river channels offer simple rural walks, birdwatching and cycling. The countryside is best explored by bicycle or short drives; for major scenic parks you can reach larger Jiangsu nature reserves from Xuzhou.
Top Things to Do in Pizhou
All Attractions ›
- Xuzhou Museum - Comprehensive regional museum with Han Dynasty artifacts, including notable terracotta figures and local history.
- Guishan Han Dynasty Terracotta Museum - Displays life-size terracotta warriors and funerary goods unearthed from nearby Han tombs.
- Yunlong Lake Scenic Area - Popular lakeside park with walking paths, pagodas, and panoramic city views over water.
- Xuzhou Hexi Canal Scenic Belt - Riverside promenades and small parks stretching along restored canal sections, good for cycling.
Plan Your Visit to Pizhou #
Best Time to Visit Pizhou #
Visit Pizhou in spring (March-May) or autumn for the mild temperatures and clearer skies that make outdoor exploring pleasant. Summers bring hot, humid weather with frequent monsoon rains, while winters are cold and relatively dry.
Best Time to Visit Pizhou #
Pizhou's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical (Dry Winter) - Humid Subtropical (Dry Winter) climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 31°C. Moderate rainfall (727 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 5°C and lows of -4°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -2°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 3°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (33 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 20°C. Significant rainfall (125 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is the hottest month, feeling like 30°C due to high humidity. The wettest month with heavy rain (184 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 22°C). Significant rainfall (141 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 18°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 11°C. The driest month with just 16 mm and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 4°C. Light rainfall.
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December
December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -2°C. Light rainfall.
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How to Get to Pizhou
Pizhou is best reached by rail or via nearby airports in Xuzhou (Xuzhou Guanyin, XUZ) or Nanjing (Lukou, NKG) with onward train or coach connections. Pizhou Railway Station (邳州站) provides the most direct and frequent connections to the regional rail network.
Xuzhou Guanyin Airport (XUZ): Xuzhou Guanyin is the nearest commercial airport to Pizhou and handles many domestic flights. From XUZ you can take the airport shuttle or a taxi to Xuzhou city; shuttle buses to Xuzhou city centre typically cost around CNY 25-35 and take about 40-60 minutes. A direct taxi from XUZ to Pizhou will generally take around 60-90 minutes and commonly costs in the range of CNY 200-350 (prices vary with time of day and highway tolls).
Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG): Nanjing Lukou is a larger hub used for more flight connections; from NKG take the airport express or bus to Nanjing South/ Nanjing railway stations and continue by high-speed train toward Xuzhou, then transfer on to local services to Pizhou. Expect the airport transfer to the station to take ~30-50 minutes and the rail journey Nanjing→Xuzhou→Pizhou to take several hours in total; combined costs typically run from approximately CNY 100-250 depending on train class and transfers.
Train: Pizhou is served by Pizhou Railway Station (邳州站) with frequent regional services that connect to Xuzhou and neighbouring cities; there are both conventional and faster CRH/EMU services on regional corridors. Short regional trips (for example Xuzhou→Pizhou) commonly take under an hour and cost roughly CNY 10-40 depending on train type; longer connections (from Nanjing or other provincial hubs) require transfer at Xuzhou and can take several hours with prices varying by seat class.
Bus: Long-distance coaches run to and from Pizhou’s long-distance coach station and link the city with Xuzhou, Lianyungang, Linyi and nearby counties. Single-ticket coach journeys to nearby regional centres typically cost CNY 15-50 and travel times are route-dependent (often 1-2 hours to nearby cities). Within the city, local buses are very cheap (usually CNY 1-3) and cover most neighbourhoods and industrial areas.
How to Get Around Pizhou
Pizhou is easiest to navigate by a mix of regional trains, local buses and taxis - trains for intercity travel, buses for cheap local coverage and taxis for convenience. Walking and shared bikes work well for short distances around the centre; plan transfers via Xuzhou if you are coming by air.
- Intercity train (CNY 10-120) - Regional and intercity trains are the most reliable way to reach and move between Pizhou and larger hubs such as Xuzhou. Services at Pizhou Railway Station include conventional trains and some EMU/CRH services; short trips to Xuzhou take under an hour. Book tickets via 12306 or at stations; expect prices from about CNY 10 for slow services to a few dozen yuan for faster trains.
- Long-distance coach (CNY 15-50) - Coaches serve routes not covered by direct rail and can drop you closer to smaller towns and industrial parks around Pizhou. Buses depart from the long-distance coach station; journeys to nearby cities are affordable but slower than high-speed rail and subject to traffic. Carry cash and check departure times in advance, as frequency varies by route.
- Local buses (CNY 1-3) - City and suburban buses are the cheapest way to get around Pizhou, with routes covering residential areas, markets and industrial zones. Fares are low (usually CNY 1-3); buses can be crowded at peak times and signage may be primarily in Chinese. Use local enquiry or hotel reception to confirm routes if you do not read Chinese.
- Taxi / Didi (CNY 10-350) - Taxis and app-based ride-hailing (Didi) are convenient for door-to-door travel, especially at odd hours or when carrying luggage. Short in-city trips are inexpensive; intercity rides (for example from Xuzhou airport or station) are significantly more costly - plan for CNY hundreds for longer transfers. Insist on the meter or confirm a price in advance for long-distance trips.
- Bicycle / e-bike sharing (CNY 1-5) - Shared bikes and electric scooters are available in many parts of Jiangsu and are handy for short hops, markets and last-mile connections. Pricing is typically per ride or per minute (common single-ride costs CNY 1-5); availability fluctuates, so have a backup plan for rainy days or late evenings.
- Walking - Pizhou's town centres and markets are compact and walkable; many attractions, shops and restaurants are best reached on foot. Walking is also the best way to explore neighbourhoods and side streets, but use caution on busy roads and at night. Comfortable shoes and a map app are recommended.
