Avoid crowded "Instagrammable" streets in Jinhua on rainy days | Local's firsthand experience: a cultural and artistic route to avoid getting wet and stylish.

In Jinhua, the more it rains, snows, or the temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius, the less likely locals are to go to the open alleys of the ancient city to get soaked – this is not being pretentious, but a lesson I learned from being stuck under the Bayong Tower for half an hour during a thunderstorm.

Online travel guides always only mention sunny days for good vantage points, but no one tells you that Jinhua has such a high density of cultural venues that you can go a whole day without getting wet or getting your shoes wet. I accompanied a friend on the following route last winter when the temperature was below -3 degrees Celsius. The entire route is indoors or semi-indoors, and you can even catch a Wuju opera performance in the evening.

In the morning, we'll first explore Jinhua Light City Exhibition Hall and Science and Technology Museum, where we can easily spend two and a half hours.

Don't mistake the "City Exhibition Hall" for the kind of exhibition hall only visited by leaders. The City Exhibition Hall in Jinhua Light Center presents a giant sand table of the three rivers and six banks, and viewing the sand table on a rainy day is even clearer than climbing up on a sunny day. Plus, the science museum has many interactive installations, so it's comfortable to visit with kids or on your own. Allocate at least two hours for this stop; it's entirely indoors, with direct elevator access from the underground parking garage, so even a downpour outside won't bother you.

Reservations are required in advance via the official WeChat account. The museum is closed on Mondays, except for public holidays. The easiest way to eat nearby is at the casual dining and coffee shops inside the Cultural Square; the prices are only a few tens of yuan per person, and you don't need to leave the ground level. If you're out until 11:30 AM, I suggest eating there first, then returning to the City Bookstore and the temporary exhibitions.

Don't leave the ground at noon; have lunch and study at the library in the cultural square.

Many people are unaware that Jinhua Lighthouse houses a city library. While its collection isn't large, it's less crowded and offers comfortable seating. Window seats are especially sought after on rainy days, offering a chance to gaze at the rain-shrouded Yanweizhou Island. Spending half an hour browsing after a meal is far more worthwhile than waiting in line at a trendy restaurant in a shopping mall.

The library section does not require a separate reservation, but security checks are required to enter the Cultural Square itself. It's closed on Mondays and open until evening on other days. For lunch, we recommend the Chinese casual dining or noodle shops in the Cultural Square; the prices are around a few tens of yuan per person, and while the food isn't amazing, it's reliable. After lunch, you can take a stroll along the indoor walkway to digest, without needing an umbrella.

In the afternoon, we visited the Jinhua Museum and the Prince Shi's Mansion. The semi-indoor route was more rain-resistant than I expected.

From Jinhua Light, take a taxi or drive to Wuzhou Ancient City and park in the underground parking lot near the museum. Jinhua Museum is free, but advance reservations are required; it's closed on Mondays. The Wuzhou Kiln and Ancient Books exhibitions are worth taking your time to explore, requiring at least an hour and a half. Pay special attention to the temporary exhibitions on the second floor, which often feature unconventional themes curated by local curators.

After leaving the museum, walk along the covered walkway to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Prince's Mansion. Unless it's a typhoon, you'll generally stay dry. The murals and stone carvings in the mansion are truly underrated; you can see everything in about 40 minutes. Nearby restaurants are concentrated in Xichun Lane and Bayong Road, with prices ranging from tens to hundreds of yuan per person. It's recommended to choose local restaurants with indoor corridors and avoid outdoor seating.

In the evening, we moved to the cultural and creative inner street of Jiufang Lane, where the rain actually enhanced its beauty.

Jiufang Alley is located on the north side of the ancient city. The narrow alley has continuous covered corridors on both sides, and you can walk along the edge the whole way when it's not raining too much. The cultural and creative shops, handicraft studios and cafes in the alley are quieter than on a sunny day. The owners have time to talk to you about the glaze of Wuzhou kiln instead of being busy greeting tourists taking photos.

No reservation is needed here. Most shops only open in the afternoon on Mondays, so it's recommended to go after 5 PM. An hour is enough to explore. You can pop into a street-side cafe, order a hot drink, and watch the rain. For food nearby, you can continue back to Xichun Lane or walk to the Bayong Tower area for snacks; you can eat a very local meal for just a few dozen yuan per person.

Go see a play at the Wuju Opera House in the evening; bad weather is the real enjoyment for the locals.

If you're tired from walking around during the day, the best thing to do in the evening is to spend an hour and a half at the China Wuju Opera House. The high-pitched singing and rhythmic storytelling of Wuju Opera sound completely different on a rainy night, much more enjoyable than rushing around to see the sights during the day. The opera house is right next to Jinhua Light, and the building itself is a scenic spot. It's a quick taxi ride from Jiufang Lane.

Performances are not held every day; there are usually more shows on weekends, and almost no shows on Mondays. You need to check the schedule and buy tickets in advance on the official platform. There are affordable ticket options, ranging from tens to hundreds of yuan per person. After the performance, you can go directly back to the Cultural Square to pick up your car through the theater's underground passage, without getting wet in the rain. If there is no performance that evening, you can visit the indoor art pop-up exhibition area at Jinhua Shimao City Plaza for an hour to finish.

Evening snack: a shop-style experience at an art gallery, a perfect way to end the evening without getting your shoes wet.

Jinhua Shimao City Plaza is not far from Wuzhou Ancient City. Its indoor area features art pop-up exhibitions and a collection of local designer brands. The shops are constantly updated, so there's always something new to see. It's not a traditional tourist attraction, but it's perfect for strolling through an art-themed shopping mall on a rainy evening, and you can grab a late-night snack while you're there.

This place is open year-round, no reservations required, and offers a wide variety of dining options, with prices ranging from tens to hundreds of yuan per person. I recommend allowing an hour and a half to explore from the basement supermarket to the third-floor cultural and creative area, following the "exhibition route"—it adds a curated feel compared to shopping on a sunny day. Afterwards, I left directly from the underground parking garage, without ever opening my umbrella.

In conclusion

First, don't ask what the locals didn't tell you: Jinhua Light and Jinhua Museum are both closed on Mondays. Avoid traveling on Mondays if the weather is bad, otherwise you may find them closed.

Second, don't ask what the locals didn't tell you: Wuju Opera performance schedules change frequently, so don't wait until you get there to buy tickets. Confirm the showtimes and discounted tickets on the official platform two days in advance.

Third, don't ask what the locals didn't tell you: many popular shops in the old town only open for half a day or even close on rainy days, so don't treat "must-visit" spots as a guaranteed option on rainy days.

Fourth, don't ask what the locals didn't tell you: In winter, when the temperature drops below zero or after heavy snow, the stone-paved roads in Wuzhou Ancient City are prone to becoming slippery. Prioritize taking routes with eaves and corridors, such as those leading to the wine shops and museums.

5. Don't ask what the locals didn't tell you: If you're traveling with elderly people or children, the indoor corridors of Jinhua Light and the museum are more practical than rushing to other attractions. Don't be fooled by the "Sunny Day Travel Guide".