Jinji Lake Scenic Area is located in Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and one of the largest urban lake parks in China. The total area of the scenic area is approximately 11.5 square kilometers, with a water area of 7.4 square kilometers, covering diverse landscapes such as lakes, green spaces, squares, and buildings. It features the "integration of modern city and natural ecology" and boasts abundant cultural landscapes and leisure facilities, serving as a landmark area showcasing the modern style and eco-friendly living environment of Suzhou Industrial Park. The scenic area is home to iconic buildings like the Ferris wheel, Oriental Gate, and Cultural and Art Center. Among them, the Ferris wheel stands 120 meters high, making it the largest water Ferris wheel in China; the Oriental Gate, with a total height of 301.8 meters, is a super high-rise building integrating commerce, office space, and hotels, and has become one of Suzhou's urban landmarks. The scenic area is open to the public free of charge, attracting millions of visitors annually for leisure, sightseeing, and cultural experiences.
History and Culture
The origin of the name "Jinji Lake" can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period. Legend has it that Qiongji, the daughter of King Fuchai of Wu, accidentally fell into the lake while playing by the shore. To commemorate her, later generations named the lake "Qiongji Lake", which evolved into "Jinji Lake" over time. However, this legend lacks solid historical records and more reflects the local people's cultural imagination of the lake.
From a historical and geographical perspective, Jinji Lake was originally a tributary of Taihu Lake, known as "Jinjing Lake" in ancient times. The surrounding area, dominated by farmland and wetlands, was a traditional fishing and farming region. Since the 1990s, with the development and construction of Suzhou Industrial Park, the area around Jinji Lake has gradually transformed from a low-lying land into a modern new urban area. After ecological management and landscape development, the lake has become an urban public space integrating ecological protection, leisure tourism, and cultural display. Its development process has witnessed the rapid changes in China's urban new district construction.
Main Attractions
Jinji Lake Ferris Wheel Park
Jinji Lake Ferris Wheel Park is located along the east bank of the lake, with a 120-meter-high water Ferris wheel at its core, making it one of the iconic attractions of the scenic area. The Ferris wheel has 60 cabins, each capable of holding 6 people, and takes about 30 minutes to complete a full rotation. When riding, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree view of the entire Jinji Lake and the surrounding urban landscape. The park is also equipped with amusement facilities such as roller coasters and carousels, covering a total area of approximately 37,000 square meters, suitable for families and young visitors. At night, the Ferris wheel is lit up with brilliant lights, creating a delightful contrast with its reflection in the lake, making it a popular photo spot.
Oriental Gate
Oriental Gate is located on the west side of Jinji Lake, spanning the main road of Suzhou Industrial Park. It has a total construction area of approximately 463,000 square meters and a total height of 301.8 meters. Due to its shape resembling a pair of trousers, it is affectionately called "Big Autumn Pants" by netizens. The building is divided into two towers (north and south) connected by a corridor in the middle, integrating high-end shopping malls, super-grade A office buildings, and five-star hotels. Visitors can enter the mall for shopping and leisure, or go to the top observation deck (separate ticket required, 180 yuan per person) to overlook the entire view of Jinji Lake and the industrial park, experiencing the collision between modern architecture and lake landscapes.
Jinji Lake Cultural and Art Center
Jinji Lake Cultural and Art Center is located on the west bank of the lake, designed by the famous architect Paul Andreu. Shaped like a blooming lotus, it has a total construction area of approximately 150,000 square meters. The center includes facilities such as a grand theater, concert hall, art gallery, and cinema. The grand theater has 1,200 seats and regularly hosts high-quality performances such as operas, dramas, and concerts; the art gallery regularly holds domestic and international art exhibitions, serving as an important cultural exchange platform in Suzhou. The appearance of the building and its reflection in the lake form a "water lotus" landscape, making it a must-visit place for literature and art lovers.
Ligong Causeway
Ligong Causeway is the only long causeway in Jinji Lake, with a total length of 1,400 meters. It was built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty and was presided over by Li Chaoqiong, the then magistrate of Yuanhe County, hence the name. The current Ligong Causeway has been renovated while retaining the architectural style of traditional Jiangnan water towns. On both sides, there are restaurants, teahouses, cafes, galleries, etc., making it a characteristic street integrating leisure, catering, and culture. The causeway is lined with green trees, and there are viewing platforms at intervals where visitors can enjoy the lake scenery. At night, the lights are on, and the antique buildings and modern lake scenery complement each other, showcasing the unique charm of "integration of ancient and modern".
Jinji Lake Musical Fountain
Jinji Lake Musical Fountain is located in the West Lake Square and is a iconic night landscape of the scenic area. The main body of the fountain is 130 meters long and 20 meters wide, with a maximum spray height of 108 meters. The fountain combines elements such as music, lights, and water curtain movies to present diverse water dance performances, each lasting about 20 minutes. The performance time is usually on Friday, Saturday evenings and holidays (the specific time is adjusted with the seasons, mostly 20:00-20:20 in summer), open to the public free of charge, attracting a large number of visitors to watch.
Cuisine
Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish
Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish is a traditional famous dish in Suzhou, which can be tasted in time-honored restaurants around Jinji Lake (such as Songhelou and Deyue Lou branches). The dish uses fresh mandarin fish, which is deboned, cut into flower knives, coated with flour, and fried until golden, resembling a squirrel. It is then topped with sweet and sour tomato sauce or orange juice. The meat is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a moderate sweet and sour taste. A serving costs about 168-228 yuan. It is one of the representatives of Suzhou cuisine, suitable for visitors who like sweet and sour flavors.
Aozao Noodles
Aozao Noodles is a traditional pasta from Kunshan, Suzhou, and is common in noodle restaurants near Jinji Lake Scenic Area (such as Lv Changxing and Zhu Hongxing). It is characterized by "red oil noodles". The soup base is boiled with pig bones, chicken bones, eel bones, etc., with a bright red color, and is served with toppings such as fried fish, braised pork, and shredded eel. A bowl of Aozao Noodles costs about 15-35 yuan. The noodles are chewy and the soup is rich, which is a favorite breakfast choice of local residents. Visitors can experience the authentic Suzhou-style breakfast culture.
Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crabs
Jinji Lake is relatively close to Yangcheng Lake. Autumn (September-November) is the best time to taste Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs. They are available in hotels and restaurants around the scenic area (such as Jinji Lake Hotel and crab restaurants on Ligong Causeway). Authentic Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs have tender meat and plump roe and cream. Depending on the size, the price of each crab ranges from 80 yuan to 300 yuan, and they can be steamed or drunk. Some restaurants offer "crab feast" set menus, paired with lake fresh and seasonal vegetables, with a table price of about 800-2000 yuan, suitable for sharing among many people.
Tickets
It is open free of charge, but some attractions and facilities in the scenic area require separate charges.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "情定金鸡湖" to get the latest updates.
Opening Hours
Public areas (footpaths, squares, parks, etc.) are open 24 hours a day.
- Jinji Lake Ferris Wheel Park: 10:00-19:00 from Monday to Friday, 9:30-20:00 on Saturday and Sunday (may be extended to 21:00 in summer);
- Oriental Gate: shopping mall area 10:00-22:00, observation deck 10:00-21:00 (admission stops at 20:30);
- Jinji Lake Cultural and Art Center: 10:00-22:00 (adjusted according to the time of performances and exhibitions);
- Jinji Lake Musical Fountain: usually 20:00-20:20 on Friday, Saturday and holidays (may be suspended or adjusted in winter, please refer to the official notice for details).
Tour Routes
One-day Leisure Sightseeing Route
Arrive at the west bank of Jinji Lake at 9:30 a.m., first visit the Oriental Gate and experience the modern commercial atmosphere in the mall, taking about 1 hour; at 10:30, go to the Jinji Lake Cultural and Art Center to visit the art gallery exhibition or view the building's appearance, taking 1.5 hours; have lunch at the restaurant in the Cultural and Art Center at noon; at 13:30 p.m., take the Jinji Lake cruise ship (departing from the west lake pier) to tour the lake scenery and get off at Ligong Causeway pier, taking about 1 hour; at 14:30, stroll along Ligong Causeway to experience the Jiangnan water town style and characteristic shops, taking 2 hours; at 16:30, go to the Ferris Wheel Park on the east lake to ride the Ferris wheel and experience some amusement facilities, taking 2 hours; have dinner near the park at 18:30; return to the West Lake Square to watch the musical fountain at 20:00, ending the one-day trip.
Night Tour of Jinji Lake Route
Start from Ligong Causeway at 18:00 p.m., have dinner at a restaurant on the causeway, tasting Suzhou cuisine or special snacks, taking 1.5 hours; at 19:30, walk along Ligong Causeway to enjoy the night lights and lake scenery, taking 40 minutes; at 20:10, go to the West Lake Square to watch the musical fountain from 20:00-20:20 (arrive in advance to occupy a spot); after the fountain show, walk to the Oriental Gate at 20:30 to enjoy the building's night light show, and you can enter the mall or take photos around, taking 1 hour; end the trip at 21:30, suitable for tourists with limited time or who prefer night scenery.
Transportation
- Subway: Take Suzhou Metro Line 1 to "Oriental Gate Station" or "Cultural Expo Center Station", both of which can directly reach the core area of the scenic area. Among them, "Oriental Gate Station" is about 300 meters away from the West Lake Square, and "Cultural Expo Center Station" is about 500 meters away from the Ferris Wheel Park. The subway operates from 6:00-23:00, with fares ranging from 2-6 yuan.
- Bus: Multiple bus routes can reach the scenic area, such as Route 106, 138, 258, etc., stopping at stations such as "Ferris Wheel Park Station", "Ligong Causeway Station", "Oriental Gate Station", etc. The fare is 2 yuan per person, and the operating hours are mostly 6:00-22:00.
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Suzhou, drive east along Xiandai Avenue to reach the vicinity of the scenic area. There are multiple parking lots in and around the scenic area, such as the Oriental Gate underground parking lot (5 yuan/hour), Ferris Wheel Park parking lot (10 yuan/time), Ligong Causeway parking lot (5 yuan/hour during the day, 10 yuan/time at night).
- Cruise ship: The scenic area features a lake-circling cruise route that connects piers including those on the west lake, Ligong Causeway and the east lake. A one-way ticket costs 60 yuan per person, and a full lake-circling tour is 100 yuan per person. The operating hours are from 9:00 to 17:30 (extended to 19:00 in summer).
Must-visit Attractions
- Jinji Lake Ferris Wheel: A 120-meter-high water Ferris wheel, the largest in China, offering a panoramic view of the lake and the city. It has brilliant lights at night and is a iconic experience project of the scenic area.
- Oriental Gate: A 301.8-meter-high urban landmark with a unique architectural shape. You can enter for sightseeing or shopping, experiencing the integration of modern architecture and lake scenery.
- Ligong Causeway: A 1,400-meter-long causeway in the lake, integrating Jiangnan water town architecture with modern leisure functions, suitable for walking, dining, and taking photos, showcasing the characteristic of integration of ancient and modern.
- Musical Fountain: A large 130-meter-long water fountain combining lights and music, with a maximum spray height of 108 meters. The night performance is stunning and is a free must-see landscape.
Travel Suggestions
- The best travel seasons are spring and autumn (March-May, September-November), with pleasant weather, avoiding the high temperature in summer and cold in winter.
- If you plan to watch the musical fountain, it is recommended to arrive at the West Lake Square 30 minutes in advance to occupy a favorable position. There are many tourists on holidays, so you need to go earlier.
- The scenic area is large, so it is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes. You can choose to walk, ride a bike (there are public bike rental points in the scenic area, 3 yuan/hour) or take a cruise ship for transportation.
- There are abundant dining options. Ligong Causeway is mainly dominated by characteristic restaurants, and there are various chain restaurants in the Oriental Gate. You can choose according to your budget and taste, with per capita consumption ranging from 50 yuan to 300 yuan.
- Photography suggestions: Take backlit silhouettes by the lake in the early morning or evening; take photos of the Ferris wheel and Oriental Gate lights at night, with the reflection in the lake for better effect.
Notes
- Swimming and fishing in the lake without permission are prohibited in the scenic area. Some areas by the lake have no guardrails, so please take good care of the elderly and children and pay attention to safety when playing.
- There are large crowds during the musical fountain performance, so please take good care of your personal belongings to avoid crowding and trampling.
- The amusement facilities in the Ferris Wheel Park have height and weight restrictions. Please check the signs before riding and follow the instructions of the staff.
- Bringing pets into the scenic area is prohibited (except guide dogs). Littering is prohibited to maintain the cleanliness of the public environment.
- Strong winds or thunderstorms may occur on the lake in summer, and cruise ships may be temporarily suspended. It is recommended to check the weather forecast and pay attention to the official notice of the scenic area before traveling.
- Self-driving tourists please park your vehicles in regular parking lots and do not park randomly on the roadside to avoid getting a ticket.