Incorporating the two hills Xi Shan (Xī Shān, 锡山) and Hui Shan (Huì Shān, 惠山), Xihui Park (Xīhuì Gōngyuán, 锡惠公园) sits west of town. The top of Xi Shan is the highest point in the park, punctuated by Longguang Pagoda (Lóngguāng Tǎ, 龙光塔)—a rebuilt Ming Dynasty tower with great views of Tai Lake and the Grand Canal cutting through Wuxi. The peak can be reached by foot or by cable car. Atop Hui Shan is Hui Temple (Huìshān Sì, 惠山寺), built during the Six Dynasties Period, which is surrounded by an impressive azalea garden. Below sits classical Ming Dynasty Jichang Garden (Jìchàng Yuán, 寄畅园) with walkways winding around rockeries and pavilions and over ponds. Jiangsu guide | Wuxi guide Wuxi attractions | Wuxi flights | Wuxi hotels Tai Lake hotels | Wuxi on the China Travel Blog more >>

Situated between Wuxi's rolling hills and the shores of magnificent Tai Lake, the Plum Garden (Méi Yuán, 梅园) is a sprawling orchard that occupies a prime piece of scenic real estate. There ;are over 5,000 plum trees in the park, mostly planted in the early 20th century, though a few rogue peach trees date back to the Qing Dynasty. A thoroughly pleasant spot to visit at at any time of year, the Plum Garden really hits its peak in spring when those thousands of tree burst into million pink blossoms as far as the eye can see. The best views of this blooming carpet of color can had at the Nianqu Pagoda (Niànqú Tǎ, 念劬塔), with the the great lake and misty mountains beyond creating one of eastern China's finest vistas. Jiangsu guide | Wuxi guide Wuxi attractions | Wuxi flights | Wuxi hotels Tai Lake hotels | Wuxi on the China Travel ... more >>

Almost twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty, the Lingshan Buddha (Língshān Dà Fó, 灵山大佛) stands an impressive 88 m (289 ft) atop a rise 25 km (16 mi) outside of Wuxi. The statue is part of Lingshan Wonderland (Língshān Qíngjìng, 灵山甠境), a Buddhist-themed park that also includes temples and monuments inspired by Chinese, Tibetan and Indian Buddhist cultures as well as an art gallery and museum.  Built in the mid-1990s, the statue has its fair share of detractors who see it as more a tourist attraction—being one among several giant Buddha statues that went up around China over the past 20 years—than something culturally or religiously significant. While it may not have the historic relevance of the massive Leshan Giant Buddha, many travelers have been impressed by the statue and accompanying structures. Jiangsu guide | Wuxi... more >>

Turtle Head Isle Scenic Area (Yuántóuzhǔ, 鼋头渚) is really a narrow peninsula jutting into Tai Lake, which, if you use your imagination, looks like the long craning neck of a turtle. It's primarily a park with some nice, close-up views of the lake. Scenic walking paths, viewpoints, teahouses, boat rides on the lake and the Wuxi Film Studios theme park make up the bulk of the attractions here. The Brightness Pavilion (Guāngmíng Dǐng, 光明顶), sits on an hillside and from its slightly elevated position offers some of the best views on the "isle." There are some hotels and restaurants in the scenic area if you feel like sticking around and enjoy the scenery for a little longer or tucking in to some famous Tai Lake white fish. There's also a monorail (more like a toy train) that circles the park if you don't feel like walking. The entrance fee seems a bit pr... more >>

Three Hills Island (Sānshān Dǎo, 三山岛) is an island accessed by ferry from Turtle Head Isle. Each of the island's three peaks is dotted with a tall Buddha. Temples, pavilions, gardens and scenic lookouts over Tai Lake should occupy the better part of an afternoon. Jiangsu guide | Wuxi guide Wuxi attractions | Wuxi flights | Wuxi hotels Tai Lake hotels | Wuxi on the China Travel Blog more >>

Consisting of a number of separate themed "towns", the CCTV Wuxi Movie/TV Base-operated Wuxi Film Studios (Wúxī Yǐngshì Jīdì, 无锡影视基地) is China's answer to Universal Studios. Opened in 1987, the site sits on the shore of gargantuan Tai Lake, with each town serving as both tourist attraction and working movie set. There's Tang Dynasty Town (Táng Chéng, 唐城), Three Kingdoms Town (Sānguó Chéng, 三国城) and Water Margin Town (Shuǐhǔ Chéng, 水浒城), each of which is tailored to a particular style of film. For example, Tang Town is the setting for great Tang Dynasty period dramas and features large-scale Tang-era architecture with replicas of the Royal Garden, Chenxian Pavilion and Huaqing Pool. Most of China's period dramas are filmed here, so the sets are very exciting for devoted Chinese fans who will recognize every palace, ... more >>

An enormous body of water spanning 2,338 sq km (902 sq mi), Tai Lake (Tài Hú, 太湖) is the third largest freshwater lake in China. Almost circular in shape, it is said to have been created by the impact of a meteorite some 70 million years ago with the resulting sea gradually becoming de-salinated as the Yangtze and Qiantang rivers sealed it off from the coast. Located in the southernmost reaches of Jiangsu Province,Tai Hu's southern shoreline forms the border with neighboring Zhejiang. The lake is the source of numerous rivers including Suzhou Creek which runs into Shanghai, and also forms part of the Song Dynasty Grand Canal that stretches all the way from Hangzhou to its south, up to Beijing in the north. Sadly, Tai Lake's waters have been subject to much pollution in recent years, particularly in areas surrounded by the heavy industry that drives much of the local... more >>