The Suzhou Taihu Lake Tourist Area is located in the southwest of Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, covering multiple districts including Wuzhong District, Xiangcheng District, and High-tech Zone. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and an important tourist destination in the area around Taihu Lake. The total area of the tourist area is approximately 21.5 square kilometers, with water areas accounting for more than 60%. It boasts nearly 80 kilometers of coastline along Taihu Lake and numerous central lake islands. The scenic area features "interdependent mountains and waters, and coexistence of the city and the lake", integrating diverse elements such as natural ecology, history and culture, and folk customs. It is home to well-known attractions like Sanshan Island, Xishan Island, Guangfu Ancient Town, and Qionglong Mountain. The highest altitude in the area is about 341.7 meters (the main peak of Qionglong Mountain). There are over 30 historical relics including ancient building complexes from the Ming and Qing dynasties, ancient villages, temples, and Taoist temples. With an annual visitor count exceeding 3 million, it is a core area for experiencing the landscapes of Taihu Lake and the culture of the Jiangnan region.
History and Culture
The history of Suzhou Taihu Lake Tourist Area can be traced back to the Neolithic Age. A Paleolithic site dating back about 10,000 years was unearthed on Sanshan Island, where cultural relics such as stone axes and stone adzes were found, confirming the traces of early human activities in the Taihu Lake basin. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, this was a place where Wu and Yue cultures blended. There are relics related to the legends of King Helü of Wu's military training ground and King Goujian of Yue's suffering in humiliation. The Sun Wu Garden in Qionglong Mountain Scenic Area is said to be where Sun Wu wrote "The Art of War".
During the Tang and Song dynasties, Taihu Lake became a popular destination for literati and scholars to travel and compose poems. Bai Juyi, Su Shi, Fan Chengda, and others all left poems describing the scenery of Taihu Lake. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Guangfu Ancient Town got its name because of its "beautiful lakes and mountains, a blessed place" and became an important handicraft town in Jiangnan, famous for jade carving and nuclear carving techniques. It still retains the pattern of the ancient streets and traditional workshops from the Ming Dynasty. In addition, Mingyue Bay Ancient Village on Xishan Island was founded in the Spring and Autumn Period, with nearly a hundred existing buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Relics such as ancient piers and ancestral halls have witnessed the rise and fall of the fishing culture in Taihu Lake.
Main Attractions
Xishan Island
Xishan Island is the largest island in Taihu Lake, with an area of approximately 79.8 square kilometers, connected to the land by Taihu Lake Bridge. The island is characterized by natural ecology and ancient villages, and has attractions such as Piaomiaofeng (with an altitude of 336.6 meters, the highest peak in Taihu Lake), Linwu Cave (with a total area of 1800 square meters, a Taoist sacred place since the Tang Dynasty), and Shigong Mountain (surrounded by water on three sides, known for its "strange stones, secluded caves, and sweet springs"). Mingyue Bay Ancient Village is located at the southern end of the island. The village retains a 250-meter-long stone-paved street from the Ming Dynasty. The thousand-year-old ancient camphor tree at the entrance of the village has a chest circumference of 5 meters, said to be the place where King Fuchai of Wu and Xi Shi enjoyed the moon. It is a filming location for film and television dramas such as "Orange Red".
Guangfu Ancient Town
Guangfu Ancient Town was founded in the Qin Dynasty, with a total area of about 62 square kilometers. It is one of the oldest towns by Taihu Lake. The town retains the "one river and two streets" pattern from the Ming and Qing dynasties. There are four thousand-year-old cypresses in Situ Temple, which were given the names "clear, strange, ancient, and weird" by Emperor Qianlong because of their different shapes. Xiangxuehai (Sea of Fragrant Snow) on the west side of the ancient town is a famous plum-viewing resort in Jiangnan, with more than a thousand mu of plum trees. When plum blossoms are in full bloom in early spring, the mountains are covered like snow. The name "Xiangxuehai" was inscribed by the Qing Dynasty literati Song Luo and has been used to this day. In addition, the Guangfu Nuclear Carving Museum in the town displays the inheritance and development of the national intangible cultural heritage of nuclear carving techniques.
Qionglong Mountain
Qionglong Mountain is located on the east bank of Taihu Lake. Its main peak, Ruomao Peak, stands at an altitude of 341.7 meters, making it the highest mountain in the Taihu Lake basin. The scenic area covers a total area of approximately 10.5 square kilometers, with a forest coverage rate of over 90%, and it is a national forest park. The Sun Wu Garden in the mountain is said to be the place where Sun Wu lived in seclusion and wrote books. There are existing buildings such as Sun Wu Thatched Cottage and Bing Sheng Hall, which display cultural relics related to The Art of War. Qionglong Temple was first built in the Southern Dynasties, and the existing main hall was rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. The ruins of Ningbang Temple next to it preserve stone carvings from the Song Dynasty. The total length of the mountain trails is about 15 kilometers, and reaching the top offers a panoramic view of Taihu Lake and the entire Suzhou urban area.
Sanshan Island
Sanshan Island is located in the middle of Taihu Lake, consisting of three islands: Dashan, Xingshan, and Xiaogu Mountain, with a total area of about 1.8 square kilometers. It can be reached by ferry from Dongshan Wharf (one-way ticket is 30 yuan per person, with a voyage of 20 minutes). There are no motor vehicles on the island, retaining the original fishing style. It has natural wonders such as Banbi Peak (a cliff formed by natural boulders, about 15 meters high) and the Sphinx-like stone. The Paleolithic cultural relics unearthed on the island are stored in the Sanshan Island Site Museum, which displays exhibits such as stone tools and animal fossils, witnessing the ancient civilization in the Taihu Lake basin.
Taihu Lake National Wetland Park
Taihu Lake National Wetland Park is located in Suzhou High-tech Zone, with a total area of about 4.6 square kilometers, including 3.6 square kilometers of water area. It is a natural scenic area integrating ecological protection, popular science education, and leisure sightseeing. The park has areas such as the Wetland Education Museum, Bird Watching Platform, and Water Forest, and is home to more than 100 species of birds such as egrets and cranes. The Tulip Exhibition in spring (March-April) and the Lotus Festival in summer (June-August) are characteristic activities. The giant panda hall in the park (with an additional ticket of 20 yuan per person) houses two giant pandas, making it a popular check-in spot for parent-child tours.
Cuisine
Three Whites of Taihu Lake
The Three Whites of Taihu Lake (white fish, silver fish, and white shrimp) are the signature lake delicacies in Suzhou Taihu Lake Tourist Area. White fish is about 30 centimeters long, with tender meat, suitable for steaming. A portion of steamed white fish at "Yugang Restaurant" in Guangfu Ancient Town costs about 120 yuan. Silver fish is 5-8 centimeters long, transparent all over, and is often used to make silver fish and water shield soup. A portion at "Mingyue Bay Restaurant" on Xishan Island costs about 50 yuan. White shrimp has a thin and soft shell, and is eaten with vinegar after being blanched. A portion at the fishing restaurants on Sanshan Island costs about 80 yuan. The Three Whites are the most plump from Qingming to Lixia every year.
Cangshu Mutton
Cangshu mutton originates from Cangshu Town, Wuzhong District, and is a characteristic winter food around Suzhou Taihu Lake. Local free-range goats are used, mainly cooked in two ways: white braising and red braising. It is served with lamb offal soup and mutton noodles. A bowl of mutton noodles costs about 35 yuan, and a pot of braised mutton (for 2-3 people) costs about 180 yuan. "Laoqingtai Mutton Restaurant" in Guangfu Ancient Town, founded in 1908, is a time-honored brand for tasting Cangshu mutton, with business hours from September to April of the next year.
Xishan Bayberry
Xishan Island is known as the "Hometown of Chinese Bayberry", with a history of bayberry cultivation for more than 1000 years. The varieties include dark plum, white lychee, and Dongkui. Among them, dark plum has a purple-black color and sweet and sour juicy flesh. The picking period is from mid-June to early July every year. You can pick bayberries in the bayberry gardens on the island (admission is 50 yuan per person, and taking them away costs about 30 yuan per catty). "Tingshan Bayberry Cooperative" on Xishan Island has century-old bayberry trees, and its bayberries have obtained national geographical indication product certification.
Guangfu Osmanthus Sweet Porridge
It is a traditional dessert in Guangfu Ancient Town, made from glutinous rice, brown sugar, and osmanthus, sprinkled with dried osmanthus after cooking, with a dense and sweet taste. "Xu Ji Tangzhou Shop" on the ancient town's old street has been passed down for three generations. A bowl of osmanthus sweet porridge costs about 8 yuan, and it is a classic breakfast combination with the local crab shell yellow sesame cake (3 yuan each). It tastes best when new osmanthus is in season in autumn.
Tickets
Each attraction sells tickets separately, and you can also buy a combined ticket for 128 yuan per person (including Carved Building, Qiyuan Garden, Luxiang Ancient Village, and Sanshan Island).
You can search for the official WeChat public account "苏州市吴中太湖旅游区" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of each attraction vary slightly: All attractions on Xishan Island are open from 8:00 to 17:00 (8:30 to 16:30 in winter); Guangfu Ancient Town is open all day (Situ Temple and Xiangxuehai are open from 8:00 to 17:00); Qionglong Mountain is open from 8:00 to 17:30 (8:30 to 17:00 in winter); The ferry to Sanshan Island operates from 8:00 to 16:30 (once an hour); Taihu Lake National Wetland Park is open from 9:00 to 17:00 (admission stops at 16:30). During the Xiangxuehai Plum Blossom Festival (February-March), the opening hours are extended to 18:00. In summer (July-August), some attractions have added night tour projects, open until 20:00.
Tour Routes
Classic Two-Day Tour
Day 1: In the morning, go to Xishan Island, visit Linwu Cave (1.5 hours) and Piaomiaofeng (2 hours), and have lunch in Mingyue Bay Ancient Village; in the afternoon, visit Shigong Mountain (1 hour) and Mingyue Bay Ancient Village (1.5 hours), watch the sunset at Taihu Lake Bridge in the evening, and stay in a homestay on Xishan Island. Day 2: In the morning, take a ferry to Sanshan Island, visit Banbi Peak and the Site Museum (2.5 hours), after returning, go to Guangfu Ancient Town to visit Situ Temple and Xiangxuehai (2 hours); in the afternoon, go to Taihu Lake National Wetland Park (2 hours) to watch the wetland ecology and giant pandas, and end the trip before 17:00.
Cultural Experience Tour
Day 1: In the morning, visit Qionglong Mountain (3 hours), explore Sun Wu Garden and Qionglong Temple to learn about the culture of the art of war; have mutton noodles in Cangshu Town at noon; in the afternoon, go to Guangfu Ancient Town to visit the Nuclear Carving Museum and experience nuclear carving production (2 hours), and visit the ancient town's old street at night. Day 2: In the morning, visit Mingyue Bay Ancient Village on Xishan Island (2 hours) to see the ancient pier and ancestral hall; in the afternoon, go to Taihu Lake National Wetland Park (2 hours) to participate in wetland science activities; watch the scene of fishing boats returning to the harbor at Guangfu Fishing Port in the evening, and end the trip. This route is suitable for tourists interested in history, culture, and traditional craftsmanship.
Transportation
- Bus: In Suzhou urban area, you can take Bus 69 (from the railway station to Xishan Island, fare 5 yuan), Bus 63 (from Wuzhong Bus Station to Guangfu Ancient Town, fare 4 yuan), Bus 43 (from Suzhou Station to Qionglong Mountain, fare 3 yuan); Taihu Lake National Wetland Park can be reached by taking Bus 352 to "Taihu Wetland Park Station" (fare 2 yuan). The bus operation time is from 6:00 to 19:00.
- Self-driving: Starting from Suzhou urban area, take Youxin Elevated Road and turn to Huan Taihu Avenue to Xishan Island, with a driving time of about 1 hour; to Guangfu Ancient Town, it takes about 40 minutes; to Qionglong Mountain, it takes about 50 minutes. Parking fees at scenic spots: 10 yuan per time for each attraction on Xishan Island, 5 yuan per time for Guangfu Ancient Town, 15 yuan per time for Qionglong Mountain, and 20 yuan per time for Taihu Lake National Wetland Park.
- Ferry: Sanshan Island can be reached by ferry from Dongshan Changqi Wharf, with a one-way fare of 30 yuan per person. Self-driving cars are not allowed on the island. The parking fee at the wharf parking lot is 10 yuan per day.
- Tourist special line: Suzhou Tourism Distribution Center (next to the railway station) has direct tourist buses to Xishan Island and Guangfu Ancient Town, with a fare of 10 yuan per person. The departure time is from 8:00 to 10:00, twice a day.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Piaomiaofeng on Xishan Island: It is the highest peak of Taihu Lake. Climbing to the top allows a 360-degree view of Taihu Lake and the surrounding islands. The mountain trails wind through bamboo forests and pine woods, and the azalea sea in spring is particularly magnificent.
- Guangfu Xiangxuehai: The most famous plum-viewing resort in Jiangnan, with thousands of mu of various plum trees. When in bloom in early spring, it is like a "sea of snow" covering the mountains. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty once wrote poems here, with profound cultural heritage.
- Sun Wu Garden in Qionglong Mountain: Said to be the birthplace of "The Art of War". There are existing relics such as Sun Wu Thatched Cottage and Bing Sheng Hall, displaying bamboo slips of the art of war and weapon models. It is an important place to understand ancient Chinese military culture.
- Sanshan Island: An island in Taihu Lake with well-preserved original features, no motor vehicle interference, and unique natural landscapes. The Paleolithic Site Museum displays the early civilization of the Taihu Lake basin, suitable for leisure and exploration.
- Mingyue Bay Ancient Village: The oldest ancient village on Xishan Island, with well-preserved stone-paved streets from the Ming Dynasty, thousand-year-old ancient camphor trees, and ancient piers. The fishing culture integrates with Jiangnan residential architecture, full of simple charm.
Travel Suggestions
- Best travel seasons: Spring (March-May) for viewing plum blossoms and azaleas; Autumn (September-November) with cool weather, suitable for mountain climbing and experiencing fishermen's harvest activities; Summer for participating in Taihu Lake water sports (such as sailing, kayaking).
- Xishan Island is relatively large. It is recommended to drive by yourself or take the island's sightseeing bus (20 yuan per person for a through ticket). The distance between various attractions is about 5-10 kilometers.
- It is recommended to taste lake delicacies in the evening. Restaurants in Guangfu Fishing Port and Mingyue Bay on Xishan Island can provide the same-day caught "Three Whites of Taihu Lake", with an average consumption of about 100-150 yuan per person.
- To experience traditional craftsmanship, you can participate in a 1-hour nuclear carving experience class at "Wuxian Nuclear Carving Factory" in Guangfu Ancient Town (80 yuan per person), which is suitable for bringing children to experience intangible cultural heritage.
- Photography recommendations: The sunrise can be shot at Shigong Mountain to capture the morning light over Taihu Lake; the sunset can be shot at Taihu Lake Bridge to capture the afterglow on the lake surface. Plum blossoms in Xiangxuehai in spring and red leaves in Qionglong Mountain in autumn are popular subjects.
Notes
- The ferry to Sanshan Island is greatly affected by weather conditions and may be suspended in case of typhoons or heavy fog.
- Some mountain trails on Xishan Island and Qionglong Mountain are relatively steep. It is recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes. In summer, pay attention to sun protection and bring drinking water (the price in the scenic area is relatively high, about 5-8 yuan per bottle).
- When picking bayberries and other agricultural products, you must abide by the regulations of the orchard. It is forbidden to break branches, pick in designated areas, and avoid waste.
- Taihu stones, ancient trees, etc. in the scenic area are protected objects. It is forbidden to carve or dig at will, and violators will be fined.
- There are many mosquitoes by Taihu Lake in summer, so it is recommended to bring mosquito repellent; the temperature difference between morning and evening is large in autumn, so a thin coat is needed; some ferry services are reduced in winter, so it is necessary to plan the return trip in advance.
- When purchasing nuclear carvings, jade carvings and other handicrafts, it is recommended to choose qualified stores and ask for invoices to avoid buying counterfeit and shoddy products.