Historic canal city in central Jiangsu, a trading hub since the Sui dynasty when the Grand Canal was cut through. Famous for Slender West Lake (
瘦西湖), Ming-Qing salt-merchant gardens (e.g.
个园,
何园), Huaiyang cuisine, and of course
扬州炒饭 (Yangzhou fried rice). Also home of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou (
扬州八怪), a Qing-dynasty school of painters.
