A Stroll in Suzhou Taihu Lakeside National Wetland Park

Date: May 2021

Route: Suzhou Taihu Lakeside National Wetland Park – Bao Dai Bridge

Route: Dongshan loquat picking – Suzhou Garden Museum

Suzhou Taihu Lakeside Wetland Park

Address: Inside Suzhou Taihu Lakeside National Wetland Park, at the intersection of Xuxiang Road and Huan Taihu Avenue, Wuzhong District, Suzhou

Admission: 10 yuan

While waiting for a friend to finish some business, and seeing I had time, I went to the nearby Suzhou Taihu Lakeside National Wetland Park on the north shore of Taihu Lake. Actually, I just wanted to find a place to see Taihu Lake up close. The park is right beside the lake-ring road; walking from west to east along Huan Taihu Avenue, you can see this lush park stretching along the lake.

One side follows Huan Taihu Avenue, the other faces the vast Taihu Lake. I entered through the east gate. You need to scan a QR code to buy a ticket – 10 yuan. Inside, wooden boardwalks are built over the water. The one on the right hugs the highway and heads west.

Another boardwalk leads straight into the lake; I chose that one first to get closer to the beauty.

Dense reeds by the lake

A little pavilion on the boardwalk over the water

Boats hide among the reed beds

The winding boardwalk glides over the lake like a long dragon

The boundless water lifts the spirit

There's a large landmark in the lake – a water windmill – visible from far away.

The boardwalk curves around the windmill

It traces graceful arcs across the water

The vast emerald lake, distant peaks faintly visible, and clusters of reeds like little islands close by

You can't tell whether the bridge is embracing the green-reed islets or the reed beds are embracing the boardwalk

The lush reed beds are just like green islands in the lake

On these green islands, besides reeds, there are tall, upright trees

A small house deep in the green sea is the visitor center

Walking from east to west, I looked back at the big windmill, with shimmering Taihu Lake as the backdrop, boardwalk and boats in the distance... The water windmill was so beautiful, I felt like I was in a painting.

White pleasure boats on the lake

The vegetation along the shore is rich and varied, with ups and downs, layers of texture. The pointy-roofed wooden cottage in the greenery looks like a fairy-tale house.

This is a typical lakeside wetland ecosystem, made up of shallow lakes, lakeshore wetlands, and riparian woodland, representative of the wetland ecosystems around Taihu Lake.

Trees and lawns have been planted along the shoreline.

You can see the tall water windmill from many angles in the park; this landmark makes the scenery even more beautiful and distinctive.

Clusters of reeds form different shapes; up close by the shore, lush reeds sway their slender figures.

The lake is boundless, ringed with thick layers of reeds, and the boardwalk traces its own elegant path on the water.

The landmark windmill and the wooden walkway create a picture of windmill and butterfly shadows, exploring the hidden charms of the boardwalk.

A boardwalk right next to the shore runs from east to west. On one side, tall willows are neatly lined up; on the other, the lake, wetlands, and rich aquatic vegetation.

City dwellers step into the landscape of Taihu, a green corridor close to nature, enjoying the gift of a natural oxygen bar.

A wooden boat rests quietly here, a picture of peaceful time

Waterways meander, the reed planting naturally dividing different channels

I happened to meet a couple in Han dynasty costumes – for a moment I felt transported to another era

This scene was so captivating, my eyes followed them.

Row after row, layer upon layer of tall pine trees stand on the shore

A grandfather and grandmother walked ahead with their little grandson. The mischievous boy would jump off the boardwalk to fish something out of the water, then scramble back up, busy and happy.

Reeds escort the flowing water. The lake ripples gently, reeds rustling softly, like tender whispers. A small fish or a wild duck suddenly splashing seems to startle their murmurs.

Where the water surface opens wide, the diversity of vegetation is even more striking. The overwhelming green spreading everywhere brings calm and peace to my walk.

A few kids were fishing for tiny fish and shrimps with the simplest tools.

A lonely young pine tree by the water, somehow separated from the rest. Maybe it was too playful and wanted to get closer to this beautiful lakeshore?

The winding boardwalk along the shore

Wetland scenery on one side

On the other side, a stone path winds through the pine forest on the bank

A dreamy, ethereal atmosphere made me a little dazed

All along the walk, clear, green, and quiet beauty accompanied me

Lush, shady reeds cover the water surface, turning the whole wetland into a green ocean. The breeze passing through makes the green waves ripple, stirring endless imagination.

The lake surface is as calm as a mirror, gathering in the sky and the lakeside scenes one by one.

The reeds are not just a background; they sway with emotion, their undulations echoing the stirrings of your heart.

I reached the western part of the park. Originally there was an exit here, but it was closed, so I had to turn back and leave through the east gate. I happened to meet two security guards, whose job was to clear the park. They went from west to east, checking if any visitors were still inside. So I followed them back.

This is just a piece of wetland by Taihu Lake; because the view is blocked by vegetation, I didn't see the vastness I imagined. Behind the tall reeds, you could glimpse masts; you have to let your imagination feel Taihu Lake!

This ecological reed wetland stretches for dozens of miles, a unique location surrounded on all sides by water, forming a natural, exquisite landscape painting.

On the boardwalk there's an open space where visitors can gather and rest.

The two guards split up: one walked on the boardwalk, the other through the forest path on shore, reminding visitors to leave. I walked with one guard, who was quite chatty. His home was a county near Chengdu, in his forties. His son had gotten married and needed an apartment, leaving some debt, so he came out to work. I asked why he didn't work in Chengdu. It turned out the wages here were higher, so he came. After a few months, he hadn't been anywhere besides the dormitory and work. Jiangsu's location and wages attract workers from all over the country. A while ago in Huai'an, I also met many workers from far away.

Looking at the beautiful scenery before my eyes, it's no wonder people from all over come here in different ways.

Looking at the park's panoramic map, it's shaped like a shuttle

Small chrysanthemums at the park gate.

The beautiful Huan Taihu Avenue

On the taxi back to the hotel, I chatted with the driver. There's a saying, "dark under the lamp" – Suzhou locals aren't very enthusiastic about the famous sights that outsiders know; for leisure, they go to call Dongshan or Xishan a holiday. But he mentioned a bridge called Bao Dai Bridge. I've been to Suzhou many times, visited quite a few places, but I'd never seen or even heard of this bridge, which made me very curious. After dinner, I dragged my companion along, searched for Baodaiqiao Park, and we took a taxi there.

Address: Donghuan Road, Wuzhong District, Suzhou

We got off doubtfully at the head of a bridge. It looked like an ordinary neighborhood park, and indeed there was a stone tablet for Baodaiqiao Park. But we couldn't see the multi-arched stone bridge the driver mentioned! I asked a local taking a stroll, and he told us you can't get close to Bao Dai Bridge from here, and he didn't know how to reach it. Full of doubt – isn't this Baodaiqiao Park? He pointed in a direction and told us to try and see if we could spot it. So we walked along the riverbank and finally, from a distance, saw this legendary Bao Dai Bridge.

I zoomed in with my camera. Wow, no wonder the driver mentioned it especially. This is the most-arched stone bridge I've seen so far in China. I looked it up: Bao Dai Bridge is one of China's top ten famous bridges, 316.8 meters long, 4.1 meters wide, with 53 arches. It is one of the oldest and longest ancient multi-arch stone bridges still standing in China. Built between 816 and 819 during the Tang Dynasty, legend says it was funded by Wang Zhongshu, the prefect of Suzhou, who donated his precious belt to create it. To commemorate his charitable act of building the bridge for the people, it was named Bao Dai Bridge (Precious Belt Bridge). It is ranked alongside Zhaozhou Bridge, Lugou Bridge, and others among China's top ten famous bridges.

Viewed from afar, the bridge looks like a delicate, graceful jade belt floating on the emerald waves.

In front of Bao Dai Bridge is the busy Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

Even at this hour, boats on the canal come and go in an endless stream.

Bao Dai Bridge lies across the Grand Canal and the beautiful Dantai Lake, at a strategic spot, once vital for north–south traffic. The cityscape around is glamorously lit at night, but why isn't this magnificent Bao Dai Bridge illuminated? Maybe they want to keep its ancient, rustic character?

The Xiegang Bridge on the east bank of the Grand Canal looks alluring under its decorative lights.

We could only gaze at Bao Dai Bridge from the footpath of Baodaiqiao Park. Calling this place Baodaiqiao Park is really misleading. While writing this travelogue, I carefully studied the map. Bao Dai Bridge sits in the middle of the Grand Canal; to get close to it, you should navigate to Dantai Lake Park, right? Today was a bit of a disappointment, but to catch a glimpse of it in the twilight was some consolation. I will come back to Bao Dai Bridge, to get close and take a good look.