Spring Outing, Not Letting Spring Pass – A Cherry Blossom Season Note from Wuxi, Jiangsu, March 2023

📍 Nanjing · 👁 3300 reads · ❤️ 3 likes

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Cherry Blossom Valley

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Cherry Blossom Valley - Cherry Blossom Viewing Tower

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Cherry Blossom Valley

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Wu and Yue Baoyun Stone Carving

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Nianhua Bay

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Qingming Bridge Ancient Canal Scenic Area - Night View

In the warm spring of March, flowers bloom, and it's time for the annual flower-viewing season. In this beautiful season, we made a special trip to Wuxi, Jiangsu, to enjoy the renowned cherry blossoms of Wuxi, indulging in a romantic visual feast. Spring outing, seeking blossoms, not letting spring pass in vain.

This trip from March 18 to 21 was just four days long, with about a day and a half spent on round-trip travel, leaving only about two and a half days to explore Wuxi. But thanks to a compact and well-organized itinerary, apart from the highlight visits to the celebrated Taihu Yuantouzhu Scenic Area, praised as one of the "World's Three Great Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots," and the new cherry blossom destination Nianhua Bay, we also managed to visit Qingming Bridge Ancient Canal, Huishan Park, Huishan Ancient Town, Xue Fucheng's Former Residence, Qian Zhongshu's Former Residence, Gu Yuxiu Memorial Hall and other scenic spots. Time was short, but the rewards were rich; it broadened our horizons and lifted our spirits. Another short, fast, and happy trip!

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Changchun Bridge

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Cherry Blossom Valley

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Nianhua Bay

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Qingming Bridge Ancient Canal Scenic Area - Night View

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Huishan Ancient Town

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Xue Fucheng's Former Residence

First Stop: Qingming Bridge Ancient Canal Scenic Area (D1 March 18)

Flying from Shantou to Wuxi, we checked into the hotel at 5 PM. With no time for lunch earlier due to the flight, we quickly found a local restaurant to fill our bellies. Then, it was just a short walk to Qingming Bridge Ancient Canal Scenic Area.

Located in the city center of Wuxi, Qingming Bridge Ancient Canal Scenic Area combines antique-style water-town buildings with old residences from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It features attractions to visit, as well as bars, restaurants, and small shops. This is a typical Jiangnan water-town scene, with Ming and Qing architectural styles preserved along the canal.

Today is Saturday, and the scenic area was bustling with weekend visitors. As night fell, the old residences with their white walls and black tiles lit up along the ancient canal. Strings of red lanterns reflected on the water, and the replica ancient buildings on both banks, enhanced by the lights, looked especially beautiful, drawing many tourists to stop and admire.

1. The scenery at Qingming Bridge Ancient Canal Scenic Area is more beautiful at night than during the day. Arrive in the afternoon or early evening, see the daytime sights first, then enjoy the stunning night view.

2. During holidays, crowds can be overwhelming, especially around Nanchan Temple commercial street and the Qingming Bridge area. Opting for a boat ride is more relaxing and fun.

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Qingming Bridge Ancient Canal Scenic Area

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Qingming Bridge Ancient Canal Scenic Area - Night View

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Qingming Bridge Ancient Canal Scenic Area - Nanchan Temple - Night View

Second Stop: Nianhua Bay (D2 March 19)

Nianhua Bay lies to the west of Lingshan Grand Buddha Scenic Area, quite far from the city center. The town is built in an antique style, with rows of beige and white buildings topped by sweeping grey roofs. Doors and windows are mostly made of wood, and the town is dotted with small bridges, flowing streams, and garden vignettes—a perfect guesthouse town for a relaxing, rejuvenating getaway. Stepping into Nianhua Bay feels like entering a paradise, where everything seems both dreamlike and real. There are numerous little attractions and, along the "One Flower, One World" Xiangyue Flower Street, craft shops that will catch your eye and keep you wandering.

In spring, cherry blossoms and other flowers and plants are so plentiful and lovely, dressing the scenic area in stunning beauty. The place was bustling with visitors, a scene of peaceful joy. We started exploring around 9 AM and didn't leave until 4 PM, spending nearly seven hours covering a large loop. Here, the air is fresh, the surroundings are beautiful, and everything makes you feel relaxed and thoroughly content.

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Nianhua Bay

1. Nianhua Bay's cherry blossoms may not be as famous as those at Yuantouzhu, but there are plenty of cherry trees here. Set against small bridges, flowing waters, rural scenery, and various buildings, the views are truly beautiful and eye-catching—a great spot for cherry blossom viewing.

2. The adjacent Lingshan Grand Buddha Scenic Area is also a famous Wuxi attraction. If you have time, you can visit both together.

3. The town has various dining options. When you're tired, you can sit down and eat or drink, which is very convenient.

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Nianhua Bay

Third Stop: Xihui Park and Huishan Ancient Town (D2 March 19)

Leaving Nianhua Bay, we hailed a Didi to Huishan Ancient Town, but ended up being dropped at the main gate of Xihui Park. We went with the flow, entered the park, and walked all the way through to the other end, which turns out to be Huishan Ancient Town.

Xihui Park (Xihui Scenic Area) is a national key park, also known as the Xihui Scenic Spot, and a national key scenic area. Huishan Ancient Town boasts numerous cultural relics and beautiful landscapes of mountains, waters, forests, and springs. There are over 200 scenic and historical spots, including ancient streets, gardens, temples, springs, academies, poetry societies, and ancestral halls, spanning thousands of years of history. Within the park are famous sites like Jichang Garden and the Second Best Spring Under Heaven, which inspired the erhu masterpiece "The Moon Reflected in Er-quan."

1. Huishan Ancient Town itself is free, but Xihui Park and Huishan Temple (which contain Jichang Garden and the Second Best Spring Under Heaven, among others) require a ticket. If you have enough time, you can see both, but simply wandering around the ancient town is also very nice.

2. The Xihui Scenic Area includes the Huishan Historical and Cultural Block, Huishan Ancestral Hall Complex, Huishan Ancient Town, and Xihui Park—all connected together, making it very convenient to visit as a whole.

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Xihui Park

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Huishan Ancient Town

Fourth Stop: Taihu Yuantouzhu Scenic Area (D3 March 20)

Yuantouzhu is a peninsula on the north shore of Taihu Lake, shaped like a turtle raising its head. Surrounded by water on three sides, it offers both vast natural beauty with mountain and lake vistas and dotted sails, and idyllic scenery with small bridges and flowing water—truly the best place to enjoy the landscape of Taihu. Here, you can explore large garden complexes, take a boat to feel the boundless expanse of the lake, land on Taihu Immortal Island to uncover its mysteries, or come in spring to appreciate the cherry blossoms and experience the feeling of "the most beautiful spot of Taihu, after all, is Yuantouzhu." Every spring, the cherry blossoms here burst into full bloom, a spectacular sight complemented by a lively cherry blossom festival—making this Wuxi's most celebrated cherry blossom destination.

It is said that Yuantouzhu is home to more than 30,000 cherry trees of nearly 100 varieties. When they bloom, the blossoms resemble clouds and rosy mists, a profusion of flowers everywhere. A gentle spring breeze sends petals fluttering through the air, an utterly enchanting scene. Therefore, cherry blossom viewing at Yuantouzhu was the main event of our trip, and we set aside an entire day to explore and enjoy. With ample time, we could leisurely stroll and savor every detail. We arrived before 9 AM and didn't leave until nearly 5 PM, spending a full eight hours there. The only break was a quick bowl of pork rib noodles at Hengyun Noodle House near Cherry Blossom Avenue around noon.

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Chongshan Retreat

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Cherry Blossom Valley

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Wu and Yue Bao Yun

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Taihu Lake Scenery

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Guangfu Temple

1. The early cherry blossoms at Yuantouzhu usually begin to bloom in early March, mostly single or semi-double petals. Cherry blossoms are classified into early and late types based on flowering time. The early varieties have a short blooming period (from initial bloom, full bloom, to falling) of about a week. Late cherry blossoms can last 7–10 days. Depending on temperature, the gap between early and late blooming can be 5–12 days, during which some hybrid varieties flower.

2. Typically, the Somei Yoshino cherries enter full bloom in mid-to-late March, which is the best viewing period. But exactly when this happens depends on the weather; cold air could delay the peak. We visited on the 20th, and some blossoms were only partially open—probably still a few days from peak bloom.

3. During peak blooming, Yuantouzhu is packed with people, and on weekends it's even more crowded. The approach roads are often jammed. If possible, visit on a weekday to avoid the worst weekend rush.

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Cherry Blossom Valley

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Changchun Bridge

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Wanlang Bridge

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Yuantouzhu Scenic Area - Taihu Lake Scenery

Fifth Stop: Xue Fucheng's Former Residence, Qian Zhongshu's Former Residence, etc. (D4 March 21)

We had to catch a 4 PM flight back to Shantou, leaving just over half a day for sightseeing. We originally planned to visit famous spots like Li Garden or Plum Garden, but it was drizzly, making a long trip inconvenient. So we switched to nearby smaller sites: Xue Fucheng's Former Residence (one of modern China's notable thinke, diplomats, and early reformists), Qian Zhongshu's Former Residence (a modern Chinese scholar with mastery of both Eastern and Western learning, highly respected in academic circles worldwide), the Wuxi Stele Inscription Museum, the Wuxi Traditional Chinese Studies Memorial, and the Gu Yuxiu Memorial Hall (renowned for achievements in science, literature, education and more, one of Wuxi's famous modern figures). That made five spots in total.

Visiting these former residences (memorials) offers a window into the lives of historical figures—well worth it if you have the chance.

1. All these attractions are free, which is great! Among them, Xue Fucheng's Former Residence is quite large, and its garden is distinctly Jiangnan in style, very pleasing to the eye.

2. These spots are all within walking distance, so you can visit them one after another along the way—very convenient.

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Xue Fucheng's Former Residence

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Qian Zhongshu's Former Residence

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Wuxi Stele Inscription Museum

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Wuxi Traditional Chinese Studies Memorial

Jiangsu - Wuxi - Gu Yuxiu Memorial Hall