Twelve Hours of Wujiang – A 3-Day Self-Drive Guide to Suzhou Wujiang

With the National Day holiday just around the corner, here is a 3-day self-drive route recommendation for Suzhou Wujiang, perfect for the post-pandemic era. For those in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai area, many schools and workplaces discourage out-of-province or long-distance travel, making destinations like Wujiang ideal for current outings.

Self-drive route recommendation:

Day 1: Depart by car – lunch at Nanyuan Tea House – visit Tongli Ancient Town, stay overnight in Zhenze.

Day 2: Visit Taihu Snow Silkworm Cultural Park (hands-on experience + shopping) – lunch at Jiangcun Restaurant – afternoon explore Zhenze Ancient Town – night tour of Qipao Town, stay in the city center.

Day 3: All-day fun at East Taihu Tourist Area: sailing experience, cultural center, stay at Hualuxe Hot Spring Hotel.

Tired of the city's hustle and bustle, I came to Tongli Ancient Town to recapture a long-lost tranquility. Tongli is one of the famous Six Ancient Towns of Jiangnan, and if you love the charm of Jiangnan's ancient architecture, you absolutely cannot miss it!

When you're in Tongli, you must visit the Tuisi Garden. It's listed as a World Cultural Heritage site and is the only 'water-front garden' in China. Stepping inside, you're immediately captivated by the meticulous design—rockeries, flowing water, and a variety of plants and trees that create beauty everywhere. It truly lives up to its reputation of 'every step reveals a scene.' Small bridges over flowing streams, children playing—it's like a beautiful painting.

Tuisi Garden is not only open during the day; now they offer nighttime admissions. This was my first time experiencing a garden night tour. Starting with a 'moon' theme, enhanced by light and sound effects, the performance combines the garden's moonlit beauty to showcase a different side of Tuisi Garden by night. Little tip: nighttime tickets are only half the price of daytime ones!

True to its name, this place is a quaint little alley. The cobblestone paths and charming atmosphere make it a paradise for photography enthusiasts, especially those in traditional costumes or qipao. A random snapshot captures the gentle, graceful essence of a Jiangnan woman.

Visit Nanyuan Tea House, known as the 'Number One Tea House of Jiangnan.' Don't be fooled by its modest size—it has over a hundred years of history! The tea house has two floors: downstairs serves Tongli's special snacks and occasionally hosts tea art performances (don't miss them if you're interested!), while upstairs is for sipping tea, playing chess, and enjoying authentic Suzhou Pingtan storytelling.

Now, Nanyuan Tea House's first floor also offers meals. For your first meal in Tongli, you can enjoy authentic ancient town cuisine here—eel, fried meat, braised old goose, oil-drizzled chicken, and more, all signature dishes.

This is a Republican-era girls' school, still preserving its architectural style, with walls marked by the passage of time. Walking through the school, you can almost hear the students' recitations from a century ago. Sunlight on the white walls and black tiles creates a special charm.

Because the town is built along rivers and residents live by the water, there are many bridges here. The most famous are the 'Three Bridges.' For generations, Tongli locals have observed the custom of 'walking the three bridges' during celebrations like births, weddings, and birthdays. These little bridges carry countless joys and the passage of time.

Tongxiaoli is a derivative brand of Tongli Ancient Town. Their viral 'Nao Hong Yi Ge' ice cream is modeled after a scene from Tuisi Garden and comes in two flavors.

Taihu Snow Silkworm Cultural Park

When traveling to Suzhou, how can you miss its renowned silk? It's said that for Suzhou silk, look no further than Taihu Snow. The Taihu Snow Silkworm Cultural Park is the first silkworm-themed cultural park, a major local brand that has collaborated with the Suzhou Museum and even produced silk scarves for Hermès. In addition to educational displays, there are interactive silk and silkworm experiences.

The temperature-controlled silkworm room raises silkworms year-round for visitors to see. There's even a hands-on area where you can directly interact with these cute little creatures. I remember playing with silkworms as a child, but as I grew up, the environment changed and I rarely saw them anymore.

In the handicraft workshop, you can see colorful silkworm cocoons developed through genetic improvement, and even make your own cocoon flowers or home fragrance products.

The cultural and creative products here are also abundant. I, your shopping expert Yayatou, am back online to guide you through buying bags, scarves, and hand-tie-dyeing silk items. Definitely buy a top-grade spring cocoon silk quilt (A+ quality) to take home! If you visit in spring or summer when mulberries are in season, you can also enjoy picking mulberry fruits firsthand.

Jiangcun Restaurant is just outside the Silkworm Cultural Park, specializing in village delicacies and rustic flavors. The water and soil here are rich in nutrients, making the food especially delicious. You can also sample fresh catches from Taihu Lake.

People often say, 'All ancient towns are the same,' but that's not true. When you actually visit them, you'll find each has its own beauty, with unique local customs and history, waiting to be explored on foot and felt with the heart. Zhenze Ancient Town is a hidden Jiangnan town in Wujiang, Suzhou, which even nurtured a famous basketball star—Yao Ming. Having undergone over two thousand years of changes, it still retains a peaceful, timeless charm.

Tired of the urban clamor? Take a stroll here, listen to the ancient bells toll, and pause to hear your inner voice. Ciyun Temple is grand in scale and bustling with worshippers, with an endless stream of visitors coming to make wishes. The temple trees are adorned with red ribbons hung by faithful men and women praying for blessings, fluttering gently in the breeze.

If you come to Zhenze Ancient Town, you absolutely must not miss Shijian Hall. It's a classic Jiangnan architectural complex with over 200 years of history. Its name comes from the Records of the Grand Historian: 'May future generations learn from my frugality.' Exquisite carvings abound—brick, wood, and stone—everywhere you look.

'Four Bowls of Tea' is considered the epitome of Zhenze's tea culture. The four bowls are: water-poached egg, crispy rice tea, smoked green bean tea, and plain tea. Each bowl offers a different surprise. In this ancient town, gather a few friends, sip tea and play chess at a tea house, watch the clouds roll by, and enjoy a melodious Suzhou Pingtan performance, feeling time slow down.

At first, the name sounded like a road, but it's actually a Jiangnan village with little bridges, flowing streams, and flowers in bloom. Just a 5-minute drive from Zhenze Ancient Town, it's been selected as one of China's Beautiful Leisure Villages, with excellent ecology and a number of 'insta-worthy' spots. For example, the artsy Silkworm School, the scenic Su Xiaohua Field Picnic Bar, and the internet-famous afternoon tea spot Wumutian... Here you can enjoy pastoral views while savoring local delicacies. If you're lucky, you might even spot twinkling fireflies at night, making it utterly delightful.

Wujiang's nightlife offerings are also abundant. Qipao Town is a great choice, featuring trendy bookstores, cafes, and various qipao boutiques. Every festival, there are decorations and stalls to match the occasion.

I also highly recommend visiting Li Yugang's 'Yu Space,' a comprehensive venue combining high-end guesthouses, dining, and a performance hall. The interior design is meticulously crafted with a strong aesthetic sense. If only I had more time, I would have loved to stay overnight here.

East Taihu Resort

You can experience sailing like in a coastal city right here in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai area. As someone who can't afford a sailboat, having a chance to try it out is wonderful. Now you can do so at the Shangsai Sailing Club in East Taihu, Suzhou Bay.

This is usually a sailing school training center, so the instructors are very professional. Sailing can be sunny, so be sure to wear sun protection. When the wind is strong, the boat tilts to one side and you might get a little splash of water on your bottom—it's quite thrilling. The brave can stand at the bow for photos. As the sailboat moves forward, you might even see seagulls following the boat, diving for fish.

In addition to sailing, there are stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, rubber boats, catamarans, and more. I'll come back to try those next time!

Price: 40-minute sailing experience, 198 RMB per person, with 6-8 people per boat.

Hualuxe Hot Spring Hotel

This is a five-star hotel under the InterContinental Hotels Group. If you want to stay in Suzhou Bay and relax in a hot spring, this is the place to choose. In addition to the public exotic-style hot spring hall, some rooms come with private in-room hot spring tubs, allowing you to soak in complete privacy. There are also family-themed rooms for those traveling with children.

The Chinese restaurant serves delicious Wujiang cuisine: Suzhou-style chicken head rice (fox nuts) stir-fried with river shrimp, sizzling stone pot eel paste, signature roasted pigeon, snowflake beef ribs, stir-fried seasonal water caltrops, and finally a bowl of signature Su-style red soup noodles.

Suzhou Bay Cultural Center

Suzhou Bay has a new landmark—the Suzhou Bay Cultural Center, which is destined to become a future Instagram-worthy spot. Designed by an internationally renowned architect, it's now open to the public free of charge.

Inside, the Suzhou Bay Grand Theatre has already hosted many art performances. The theatre isn't open for casual visits, but if you have the chance to go, be sure to enjoy the seats—each one reportedly costs over 10,000 RMB, custom-made from high-grade materials with sound-absorbing properties.

In addition to the Suzhou Bay Grand Theatre, the cultural center will soon house the Suzhou Bay Cinema, Wujiang Museum, a conference center, a library, and more.

Whether it's the National Day holiday or just a regular weekend, if you're looking for a place to truly unwind, I highly recommend visiting Wujiang, Suzhou. With abundant daytime activities, a vibrant night economy, and fantastic cuisine, it's an excellent short-trip destination. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment. I hope this travelogue can serve as a useful reference!