Wuxi is a city in southern Jiangsu Province. The city lies in the southern Yangtze Delta and borders Lake Taihu, known as the “Pearl of Lake Taihu” in China. Usually, travelers who come to Shanghai for the second time will start to explore the attractions in nearby cities. Wuxi, which is adjacent to Shanghai, is one of the new tourist areas that has been discovered in recent years. Travelers will stay in Wuxi for 1-2 days. This article will introduce some of the well-known attractions. I believe it will bring inspiration to your journey.
What you need to travel to Wuxi
First time traveling to China? Here is a complete travel guide!
Transportation to Wuxi
It is recommended to take the China High-speed Railway, the fastest and most convenient option.
Shanghai – Wuxi: 130KM
30 minutes by China High-speed Railway.
From Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station and Shanghai Railway Station to Wuxi Railway Station and Wuxi East Railway Station, within 1.5 hours. You can get to Wuxi from Shanghai and the fastest trains take only about 30 minutes. It is the most recommended travel way.
Suzhou – Wuxi: 50 KM
10 minutes by China High-speed Railway.
It is extremely convenient to travel from Suzhou to Wuxi. The fastest one takes only 10 minutes.
Nanjing – Wuxi: 200 KM
1 hour by China High-speed Railway.
From Nanjing Railway Station or Nanjing South Railway Station to Wuxi Railway Station or Wuxi East Railway Station.
Hangzhou – Wuxi: 200 km
1.5 hours by China High-speed Railway.
From Hangzhou East Railway Station (a few from Hangzhou Railway Station) to Wuxi Railway Station or Wuxi East Railway Station.
Hotels in Wuxi: Trip.com | Expedia
Discounted Air Tickets: Trip.com | Expedia
SIM/eSIM:
China eSIM | Day Pass/Data Package | 1-30 days | QR code
China | High-speed eSIM without having to bypass the firewall
Turtle Head Island (Yuantouzhu)
Of course, when coming to Wuxi, you must visit Lake Taihu, one of the five largest freshwater lakes in China. And Yuantouzhu Scenic Spot is the number one spot nearby. It is a peninsula located on the northwest shore of Lake Taihu. It is like a huge stone standing in Lake Taihu. The name means turtle with its head raised and lying in the water, the literal meaning in Chinese is Turtle Head Island.
In 2012, Yuantouzhu was promoted to AAAAA Tourist Attractions of China. Yuantouzhu is a garden more naturally formed than man-made. In history, numerous refined scholars and poets came to Yuantouzhu because they regarded it as a peach garden far away from the madding crowd. Later, they began to build gardens in the nearby area. With local countryside scenery and landscape gardens in southern Chinese style, Yuantouzhu is a top attraction you should pay a visit to in Wuxi.
Especially from March to early May every year, Yuantouzhu cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Clusters of cherry blossoms are pale red and pink, and they are particularly beautiful against the backdrop of Lake Taihu. Yuantouzhu International Cherry Blossom Festival will be held bringing in people from all over the world to enjoy the flowers. Another famous cherry blossom spot is Nianhua Bay, but I haven’t had the chance to there yet, so I won’t introduce it today.
Take a ferry from Quay to the Fairy Islands of Lake Taihu, which is also one of the main attractions in Yuantouzhu. There are many round-trip ferries, and each trip only takes around 10 minutes. The Fairy Islands of Lake Taihu gave me the feeling that everything around me suddenly slowed down as if I had left the noisy city and familiar life and come to a certain island, a feeling that I was finally on vacation.
Eating in the scenic area is also very convenient. There are many restaurants near Ferry Quay. The most distinctive foods in Wuxi are xiao long bao and whitebait wontons. Wuxi Xiao Long Bao has its characteristics. It is larger than ordinary Xiao Long Bao and is full of meat fillings. The local taste in Wuxi is sweeter.
Recommend Tour Route: Chongshan Gate > Elegant Scenery Hiding Behind Chongshan Hill > Greeting the Rising Sun on Luding Hill > Turtle Head Peninsula in the Spring Waves (Lighthouse & Ferry Quay) > Take a Ferry to Fairy Islands of Lake Taihu > Travel to remaining spots depending on time
Address: No.118 Dafu Chongshan Village, Hubin District, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province
Opening Hours: 08:00~16:00 (Monday~Friday); 08:00-16:30 (Saturday~Sunday)
How to get there: Bus K1 and K87 are available to reach Turtle Head Island. Both stop at the Chongshan Gate of the attraction.
Wuxi Three Kingdoms City (Film and Television)
Located beside Lake Taihu, Wuxi Three Kingdoms City is China’s first ultra-large-scale fully immersive film and television shooting and tourism base. It attracts hundreds of team crews to produce more than 1,000 TV series and movies every year. More than 3 million tourists come here every year to explore the mysteries of film and television production and travel. It is known as the “Hollywood of the East”. It is a film and television city integrating film, television production, and tourism functions.
China’s Three Kingdoms era is a well-known dynasty. There were many famous strategists and generals during this era, it was adapted into novels during the Ming Dynasty. It has always been a popular dynasty adapted into TV series and games. In this TV city, you can find many famous scenes, such as Red Cliff, Cao Cao’s military camp, the city gate where Zhuge Liang used the Empty Fort Strategy, etc.
“Three Heroes Battle Lubu” is the largest and most exciting performance in the Three Kingdoms City. There are two performances every 10:00 and 16:00 It tells the story of the Eighteenth Route Princes’ Alliance to crusade against Dong Zhuo and encountered obstacles in front of Hulao Pass. Many generals lost to Dong Zhuo’s general (and adopted son) Lu Bu. Finally, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei team up together to defeat LuBu.
The program applies the filming plot of the 84-episode TV series “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms” and condenses the storyline into 15 minutes. It shows the spectacular scenes of ancient Chinese wars, as well as equestrian stunts and other requirements. It is a must-see program in the Three Kingdoms City.
Address: Lake Taihu, Shanshui West Road, Binhu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province
Opening hours: 08:00-17:30
How to get there:
Bus 82 from Wuxi Railway Station and get off at Sanguocheng Station. Bus 82 can be found at the Dongguangchang (East Square) Bus Station near the railway station’s South Square.
Xihui Park
Xihui Park is in the west of Wuxi City. The park is named after Mount Xi. Xi (锡) means tin in Chinese, it is said that tin mines were rich in the Zhou and Qin Dynasties, and by the Han Dynasty, the tin was mined out (No more tin, Wu = no Xi= tin). The name of the city of Wuxi also comes from Mount Xi.
Entering through Guhuashan Gate is the Jichang Garden, which was built in the early Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. It is well preserved and is the most famous Jiangnan Garden in Wuxi. You can see the Longguang Pagoda on Mount Xi in the distance reflected in the pond in the park.
There are also stone plaques in the garden with imperial letters written by Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. Going south, there is Ruins of Huishan Temple, which was built in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. The Chinese people are familiar with the Tang Dynasty poet Li Shen’s “Compassion for the Farmers” which was written here.
In addition, there are many famous scenic spots in Xihui Park, such as the Second Spring in the World. If you are interested, be sure to allow enough time to visit. Back at the entrance of the park, there is a shopping street. It mainly sells various specialties such as Huishan pancakes, Wuxi xiao long bao, Wuxi pork ribs, etc. However, Wuxi dishes tend to be sweet, which may not be used by travelers
Address: Xihui Park, Binhu District, Wuxi City
Opening hours: 8:00-17:30
Nanchang Street
Wuxi not only has scenic sightseeing activities but also lively shopping streets. Nanchang Street is an ancient street that has been in Wuxi for many years. It is located from the south gate of Wuxi Old City to Xinguang Road, with a total length of 5.5 km.
Nanchang Street is built along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. One is a waterway, and the other is a shopping street. The night view here is more beautiful than during the day, so remember to go at night. Usually, you will enter from the entrance of Yongle Road, and you will see an archway. Next to it is a small bridge called “Qingming Bridge”, which is also a historical building. You can take photos on the bridge with the canal as the background, and then start your trip to Nanchang Street.
There are many restaurants on Nanchang Street with various styles. You can always find the dishes you want here. In the buildings full of traditional design, many new or foreign brand stores have opened, and Starbucks is one of them. A combination of old and new culture with Chinese and Western elements, it feels quite special but very coordinated. You can enjoy your dinner here, whether it’s Chinese food, spaghetti fries, or sucking cats at the cat café, there will always be a choice that suits you.
After dinner, you can stroll along Nanchang Street or go sightseeing by boat. Just return to the Qingming Bridge Guyunhe Boat Ticket Office near the archway. Keep following the ancient canal, crossing the historic ancient bridge, and next to it are various modern shops on Nanchang Street, just like being at the junction of ancient times and the future.
In addition, the nearby Nanchan Temple Pedestrian Street. It is also a lively shopping street. Compared with the tourist formula of Shanghai City God Temple, this is a shopping street that is closer to the life of Chinese residents. If you have time, you can also go shopping here.
Address: Nanchang Street, Liangxi District, Wuxi City
How to get there: Wuxi Metro Line 1, get off at Tanduqiao station. Then go to Exit 3.
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