What to do in Wuxi? This comprehensive guide

Introduction 🌆
Wuxi is located on the southern shore of Taihu Lake in Jiangsu Province and is an ancient city in the Jiangnan region with over 3,000 years of history. Here you can find the "best spot of Taihu Lake" Yuantouzhu, the quaint Huishan Ancient Town, the Zen-filled Nianhuawan, and the memory-filled Wuxi Film and Television Base. The blue waves of Taihu Lake, ancient stone slabs of the towns, and garden pavilions fully display the charm of Jiangnan, making it a city where nature and culture blend harmoniously.
🕘【Opening Hours】
Yuantouzhu: March to October 8:00—17:30; November to February 8:30—17:00. Recommended visit time: 4-6 hours. Arrive one hour early during cherry blossom season (March-April).
Huishan Ancient Town: The street area is open all day; internal attractions 8:30—16:30. Recommended visit time: 3-4 hours. Evening strolls are ideal.
Nianhuawan: 9:00—21:00 (summer may extend to 21:30). Recommended visit time: 5-6 hours. Check night show times in advance.
Wuxi Film and Television Base: 8:30—17:30 (17:00 in winter). Recommended visit time: 4-5 hours. Plan ahead to catch scheduled performances.
💴【Ticket Prices】
Yuantouzhu: About 90 RMB for adults; discounts for children under 1.4 meters and seniors over 60; cherry blossom season prices remain unchanged.
Huishan Ancient Town: Street area free; combined ticket for internal attractions about 80 RMB (includes Jichang Garden and Huishan Temple); single attractions 10-25 RMB.
Nianhuawan: About 120 RMB for adults; slight discount for online purchase one day in advance; free for children under 1.2 meters, half price for 1.2-1.5 meters.
Wuxi Film and Television Base: Three Kingdoms City about 90 RMB, Water Margin City about 85 RMB, combined ticket about 150 RMB; half price for students. Recent prices unchanged; follow the official accounts for updates.
⛺【Activities】
Yuantouzhu:
🌸 Cherry Blossom Viewing: Visit Changchun Bridge and Cherry Blossom Valley in March-April; boat rentals available on the lake, wear life jackets and follow instructions.
🚢 Taihu Lake Cruise: Take a boat from the dock to Sanshan Island, enjoy the scenery along the way, and stroll the island trail.
🌿 Hiking and Sightseeing: Walk along the lakeside trail to see the "Yuantouzhu" stone tablet and Chongshan Hidden Beauty, experiencing the vastness of Taihu Lake.
Huishan Ancient Town:
🏯 Historical Exploration: Visit Jichang Garden (a classical Jiangnan garden) and Huishan Temple (ancient ginkgo trees, Golden Lotus Bridge).
🍜 Food Experience: Try Huishan crispy oil cake, Wuxi braised pork ribs, clear water gluten, and Jiangnan pastries at the snack street.
🛍️ Handicraft Experience: Some shops offer making Wuxi clay figurines (intangible cultural heritage), great for parent-child interaction.
Nianhuawan:
✨ Light Show: Watch the "Nianhua Smile" light show and water screen movie at night; find a good spot early.
🧘 Zen Experience: Participate in sutra copying and meditation at the Zen center; stroll along Xiangyue Flower Street (Japanese-style buildings perfect for photos).
🎭 Special Performances: Scheduled ancient-style dances and tea ceremonies; check the timetable and keep quiet during performances.
Wuxi Film and Television Base:
🎬 Film Location Check-in: In Three Kingdoms City, see the Wu King’s Palace and the ancient Red Cliffs battlefield; in Water Margin City, visit the Song Emperor’s Palace and Qingming Riverside Street; costume rentals available for photos.
🐎 Stunt Shows: Watch "Three Heroes Fight Lü Bu" and "Wu Song Fights and Kills Ximen Qing"; maintain a safe distance.
🚤 Ancient Boat Tour: Take an ancient warship cruise on Taihu Lake; no chasing or horseplay on board.
🚌【Transportation Guide】
External Transport:
✈️ Airplane: Sunan Shuofang Airport; take Metro Line 3 to downtown or airport shuttle bus/taxi (about 30 minutes).
🚄 High-speed Rail: Wuxi Station (downtown, near attractions), Wuxi East Station (far, about 1 hour to downtown by Metro Line 2 or bus).
🚗 Self-driving: Attractions have parking lots; arrive early or use public transport during cherry blossom season and holidays.
Internal Transport:
🚇 Metro: Lines 1, 2, and 3 cover attractions; take Line 1 to "Changguangxi Station" for Yuantouzhu transfer; Line 4 goes directly to Huishan Ancient Town.
🚌 Bus: Routes 1 and 87 to Yuantouzhu; Leyou Line 2 to Nianhuawan; fare 1-2 RMB; supports QR code payment.
🚴 Shared Bikes: Suitable for short trips; park in designated areas following rules.
👉【Itinerary Suggestions】
Day 1: Arrive in Wuxi → Yuantouzhu (boat ride, sightseeing) → stay in downtown → evening stroll on Nan Chang Street (enjoy ancient canal night view, try snacks).
Day 2: Huishan Ancient Town (explore historical sites, taste local food, make clay figurines) → Nianhuawan (stay in a guesthouse) → watch light show at night.
Day 3: Nianhuawan (Zen practice, shopping) → Wuxi Film and Television Base (watch performances, check in) → downtown (eat braised pork ribs, soup dumplings).
Day 4: Optional trip to Yixing Shanjuan Cave or Changshu Shajiabang → return to downtown (Nan Chang Street / Chong’an Temple for souvenirs) → departure.
🧡【Preparation】
Documents: Bring ID card, student ID (for discounts).
Clothing: Dress according to season; summer for mosquito and sun protection, winter for warmth, spring and autumn bring a light jacket; wear comfortable shoes.
Items: Bring sunscreen, sun hat, umbrella (weather can change), small backpack; loose clothing recommended for Zen practice.
Others: Download Wuxi Metro app and map app; book tickets in advance; if you prefer less sweet food, ask restaurants to adjust flavors.