How to Enjoy Yushan Cultural Tourism Resort in Changshu, Jiangsu: The Ultimate Guide to Food, Fun, and Shopping – Save It Now!

A good trip is living like a local. – Prologue

When it comes to Jiangnan, we have many romantic notions. From the poems "Everyone speaks of Jiangnan's beauty," and "Spring waters bluer than the sky, painted boats listening to the rain while sleeping," to the image of "a long, lonely lane in the rain, hoping to meet a girl like a lilac, burdened with sorrow"... From winding boat rides through water lanes, walking on deep bluestone alleys, to green tiles and white walls, with small bridges over flowing streams by the houses... The elegant and ethereal Jiangnan has always been a beautiful dream. This time, I came to Changshu, the Blessed Land of Jiangnan, and the dream became reality.

Changshu, located in the south of Jiangsu Province, is also known as Qinchuan or Yucheng. Set in the Jiangnan water town, it is graced by seven streams and ten li of green hills that complement each other. Changshu has a long history, with human habitation dating back 5,500 years. When mentioning Changshu, people first recall the familiar slogan "Blessed Land of Jiangnan, Come to Changshu Often." In recent years, the Yushan Cultural Tourism Resort has embraced the motto "One City of Scenery, A Carefree Life," striking a chord with many travel and leisure enthusiasts.

Before arriving in Changshu, I had little idea what a tourism resort really was. Curious, I asked a friend after arriving. They smiled and explained: a tourism resort differs from the well-known 5A scenic areas. It focuses more on developing holiday products and experiences, and the investment scale is far greater than that of 5A attractions. The Yushan Cultural Tourism Resort is located in the heart of Changshu, featuring a unique Yushan cultural tradition that weaves together mountains, waters, and the city, presenting visitors with a leisurely, carefree "slow" lifestyle.

We spent three delightful days and two nights here. Our itinerary did not include obligatory check-ins at iconic sights or crowded hotspots. Instead, we slowed our pace with friends, relaxing and truly living like locals.

**Fun & Activities**

**Weng Tonghe Memorial Hall – The Legendary Life of an Imperial Tutor**

In Changshu, Weng Tonghe (hé) is a household name. His father, Weng Xincun, served as tutor to the Tongzhi Emperor, while Weng Tonghe himself tutored both the Tongzhi and Guangxu emperors, earning the family the title of "Three Generations of Imperial Tutors." For centuries, Weng Tonghe's immense talent, patriotic reforms, and incorruptible integrity have been praised. The Weng Tonghe Memorial Hall (former Weng family residence) covers 6,600 square meters with a floor area of 3,500 square meters, a typical Jiangnan-style dwelling. With seven rows of buildings front to back and three axes east to west, it occupies nearly ten mu of land, modest and unassuming, preserving its original appearance. The main building, "Caiyi Hall" (彩衣堂), is a classic Ming Dynasty structure over 500 years old, with painted beams and carved pillars in grand style. Inside stands a statue of Weng Tonghe – an elderly figure with a long beard, gazing into the distance, his brows furrowed with concern. Weng was a master calligrapher; visitors can read the Weng family precepts and admire his handwriting.

Address: No.2 Wengjia Xiangmen, Yushan Subdistrict, Changshu City

**Hudian Dragon Boat Base – A Millennium-Old Tradition**

The Hudian Dragon Boat Base covers about 100 mu, including a dragon boat museum, cultural square, boarding docks, and race lanes. The Hudian dragon boat tradition has over 1,000 years of history, held twice a year according to farming seasons – "Rowing the Green Seedlings" in early spring and "Autumn Tribute" at harvest time. The 800-square-meter museum is eye-opening, offering a comprehensive look at dragon boat origins, legends, procedures, grand events, development, and the customs and heritage of the Hudian Dragon Boat Festival. In the exhibition hall, a green wooden dragon boat is displayed, exquisitely crafted with a lifelike carved dragon's head. Nearby, you can view an "art rice" installation called "Changshu Field (常熟田)." This uses colorful rice plants as "paint" on the paddy "canvas" to depict the characters of "Yushan Cultural Tourism Resort," along with the West City Gate and dragon boat motifs. In the autumn breeze, these patterns appear and disappear, vivid and charming.

Address: Approximately 200 meters northeast of the intersection of Dianhu Road and Huanhu North Road, Changshu

**Shanghu Lake – Tranquil Boating on the Lake**

Drawn by its reputation, we visited Shanghu Lake, adjacent to Yushan Cultural Tourism Resort. Shanghu is named after Jiang Shang (Jiang Ziya), who once lived here in seclusion and fished. Its main water surface spans 800 hectares, vast and misty, complementing the ten-li Yushan landscape like a natural ink painting. Seven islands, including Hehua Xiangzhou and Taohua Island, dot the lake, creating a unique scene of islands within the lake and lakes within the islands. The mirror-like water blends with the sky, while lush lakeside foliage reflects on the surface, evoking a freehand ink scroll. Strolling along the forested boardwalks on the islands, you're surrounded by deep greens mixed with early autumn hues, the air filled with fresh vegetation – pure delight! As evening lights glow, take a boat ride on the lake, where shimmering waters evoke tender feelings, and the dip of oars amid lantern-lit shadows feels like a dream. Leave all worries behind and soak in the boundless tranquility of this scenic beauty. You can also immerse yourself in the interactive experiences at the "Feixiong Academy." Try the guqin hall's "ancient music authenticity," calligraphy hall's brushwork, painting hall's light-ink landscapes, seal hall's red-and-white composition, chess hall's strategic games, poetry hall's wine-and-verse sessions, plus sugar figurine molding, sugar painting, paper-cutting – each one is fascinating.

Address: Waihuan West Road, Changshu City

**Creative Culture**

**Shanqianfang Cultural and Creative Block – Fun to Shop, Photograph, and Enjoy!**

Entering the Shanqianfang Cultural and Creative Block, you'll be refreshed by the maze of old factory buildings, mottled brick walls, and loft-style renovations. Once a water transport dock and freight hub, it later housed old factories like a machinery company, printing house, and timber processing plant. This year, it transformed into a cultural creative block that blends cultural creativity, boutique guesthouses, lifestyle aesthetics, leisure and entertainment. It gathers a host of distinctive shops such as Yu Ai Shan Ju, Chun Nuan Hua Kai, Mo Er Cake House, Dou Hu Tea Snacks, and Yi Hua Yi Duo. Strolling along the slightly industrial-chic old street or popping into any café for a coffee, you'll always find unique scenes that beg to be photographed. It satisfies both your stomach and your eyes.

Address: No.80 Shanqian Street, Yushan Subdistrict, Changshu City

**Nansuyuan Creative Market – Did You Find Some Creative Treasures?**

In my mind, markets are usually bustling streets or squares, stall after stall, noisy and crowded. But Nansuyuan Creative Market hides in an old residential area. A friend told me it was once an abandoned, overgrown warehouse. Transformed by founder A Su, it has become a famous creative market in Changshu. The market invites numerous local artisans to set up stalls, infusing traditional cultural elements into creative products, bringing warm, handcrafted items and interesting souls together, where old sentiments meet new stories. You'll find exquisite original leather goods, cute figurines, distinctive handmade jewelry, plus wood carvings, silverware, bronze items, pewter ware – a dazzling array of creative goods.

Address: No.1, Lane 5, Lingtang Bei Village, Changshu City

**Jinjian Dao Tangyin Cultural and Creative Center – A Feast for the Eyes!**

The Jinjian Dao Tangyin Cultural and Creative Center spans 6,000 square meters, a multi-faceted aesthetic space combining a haute couture showroom, designer original workspace, qipao art-themed bar, clothing culture museum, and women's elegance studio. The interior design and displays are elegant and stylish, with a strong Chinese flavor. You'll be dazzled by row upon row of qipaos – modernized fashion-meets-tradition pieces, delicate embroidered, silk, and printed qipaos. Every detail, from the pankou knots and styles to the fabric patterns, is rich in cultural significance. Putting on a qipao instantly elevates one's grace; indeed, Jiangnan women are known for such gentle elegance and radiant charm.

Address: No.104 Chengzhong Shangyuan, Fangta Street, Yushan Town, Changshu

**Accommodation**

**Gongwang·Mazhai – A Hidden Qing Dynasty Mansion in the Bustling City**

Gongwang·Mazhai is a municipal-level protected cultural site in Changshu, a traditional brick-and-wood structure with plain whitewashed walls and dark tiles, a typical Qing Dynasty courtyard residence. Most of the space is given over to common areas, linking seven courtyards large and small, with four Chinese-style enclosed gardens, offering ever-changing views and endless delight. My favorite spot is the study, where books line an entire wall, reminiscent of a small library. In this elegant retreat, emptying your mind with a good book is the perfect way to spend a holiday. On rainy days, you can sit under the eaves, listening to the rain and daydreaming – at such moments, you just wish time would slow down, and slow down further. The renovated Mazhai covers 2,263 square meters but contains only nine guest rooms in three room types. Each room has a poetic name inspired by landscape and rain scenes, with distinctive design and its own story. While preserving the old mansion's charm, modern living concepts have been infused, making it ideal for family trips, team gatherings, or couple getaways.

Address: No.85 Shangtang Street, Nanmen Tanshang, Yushan Subdistrict, Changshu City

**Yujian Tangzhai – Encountering the Life You Yearn For**

Yujian Tangzhai stands unassumingly in a lane of Changshu's old town; only upon entering do you realize the mansion's illustrious past as the private garden of Tang Yikui, a Qing Dynasty grain transport governor. The owner told us that Tangzhai itself is a cultural relic; during renovations, a Ming Dynasty coin cellar, porcelain shards, and stone foundation strips were discovered beneath the main hall. Once derelict, it was thankfully protected and revitalized by the local government, given a new lease of life. Most of the original landscape has been preserved, and with its superb location and elegant scenery, the place exudes an aura of Zen, tea, and the Tao, rekindling an innate connection between people and nature. Find any quiet corner, pick up a book, brew a cup of Yushan white tea, and the fragrant aroma brings peace and tranquility. Tangzhai features 20 distinctive guest rooms themed around concepts like "Forest," "Shadow," and "Leisure." Each room is uniquely decorated, every ornament a carefully selected antique, paired with Zen-inspired furniture for a harmonious, comfortable ambiance. From indoors, you can gaze upon pavilions and lush gardens, which naturally soothe and relax you. This, I think, is the life we yearn for!

Address: No.43 Xiannan Street, Yushan Resort, Changshu

**Food & Drink**

**Tasting Jiaohua Chicken at Wang Si Food**

Few people know that the "best chicken in the world" described by Jin Yong – jiaohua chicken – actually originates from Changshu... When in Changshu, you must try this intangible cultural heritage dish from Wang Si Food. The jiaohua chicken is made with locally raised Sanhuang chicken from Yushan, freshly slaughtered and cleaned. After marinating with secret spices, the cavity is stuffed with shiitake mushrooms, ham, fresh meat, chicken gizzards, dried scallops, and seasonings, then wrapped tightly in pork caul fat and lotus leaves. The parcel is coated with jar-sealing mud and roasted for four hours using pine wood or an oven. The mud coating ensures even heating; once cooked, a forceful smash cracks the mud, releasing a burst of meaty aroma that makes your mouth water instantly. Tear off a piece of chicken – it's tender, juicy, and delicately fragrant with lotus leaves. The stuffing adds layers of flavor to each bite. In no time, only bones remain. Absolutely worth a try!

Address: Dongnan Food City, Huasheng Road, Changshu City

**Tasting Chaojiao Noodles at Wang Si Old Noodle House**

For Changshu locals, the day really starts only after a steaming bowl of chaojiao noodles (sauté-stirred toppings on noodles). Nothing can't be solved with one bowl; if it can't, make it two. My favorite is Wang Si Old Noodle House's version. Located next to the renowned China Time-Honored Brand Wang Si Restaurant, this noodle house combines the restaurant's signature dishes with traditional chaomian (sautéed noodle) techniques to offer over 30 varieties – pan-fried pork chop noodles, scallion braised abalone noodles, scallion fried eel paste noodles, local mushroom oil noodles, traditional braised pork noodles, triple delicacy noodles, secret smoked fish noodles... the names alone make you want to try them all. The secret lies in the soup, which is simmered from bones, chicken carcasses, fish bones, yellow eel bones, and more. After finishing your noodles, order a couple of the special pastries like double-core balls, huangshang, square cakes, blood glutinous rice cakes, or date cakes – chewy and sweet, they leave a lingering aftertaste.

Address: No.358 Yushan North Road, Changshu City

**Changshu Steamed Dishes**

Changshu is the "Hometown of Chinese Steamed Cuisine," where the most delicate Jiangnan flavors reside in this small Jiangsu city. Here, ingredients like mountain mushrooms from Yushan, river fish, bamboo shoots, lotus seeds from ponds, and free-range chickens and ducks are all used for steaming. Over time, Changshu steaming has developed many variations: dry steaming, clear steaming, inverted steaming, rice-flour steaming, lees-steaming, lotus-leaf steaming, etc. The broth is key, aiming to be light yet rich, made by slow-simmering old hens, ham, pork bones, eels, and such for over six hours until the flavors meld – this is called "bringing out the freshness." The hallmark of Changshu steamed dishes is extraordinary knife skills; ingredients are cut into decorative shapes, and the artful presentation enhances the visual appeal, making the dish a work of art that is both eye-catching and soul-stirring.

Restaurant A: Forest Hotel – No.79 Yushan North Road, Changshu City

Restaurant B: Shan Zheng Fang – within Shanghu Scenic Area, Huanhu South Road, Changshu City

Restaurant C: Qing Ya Tea Garden – No.12 Sanfeng Shanwanli, Yushan Town, Changshu City

**Transportation**

Changshu is situated in the southeast of Jiangsu Province, bordering the Yangtze River to the north and facing Nantong across the water. It neighbors Taicang to the east, Kunshan and Suzhou Xiangcheng District to the south, Jiangyin and Wuxi Xishan District to the west, and Zhangjiagang to the northwest. Changshu enjoys excellent transport links, serving as a hub for Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Ningbo, and other cities. The Shanghai-Nantong Railway, the Nantong-Suzhou-Jiaxing-Ningbo Railway, and multiple expressways intersect here, with high-speed trains directly reaching Shanghai in one hour and Hangzhou in two hours. If you had to choose a city to settle down for the rest of your life, Changshu would undoubtedly be the one. Come often to Changshu, and discover delightful surprises time after time~

Text & Photos: Nalan Xiaoyu / Xiaowu