The “Land of Fish and Rice”
Visitor Summary
Location: Wuxi & Suzhou (Jiangsu Province)
Key Highlights: Yuantouzhu (Turtle Head Isle), Taihu Lake Boat Ride, Lingering Garden.
Dining Upgrade: Includes the famous Wuxi “Three Whites” Feast.
Status: Features a National 5A Scenic Spot and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Tour Pathway
Today explores the natural splendor of Lake Tai and the refined artistry of Suzhou’s classical gardens.
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Morning in Wuxi: After breakfast, visit Yuantouzhu (Turtle Head Isle), renowned as the best spot to view Lake Tai.
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Boat Cruise: Board a sightseeing boat (weather permitting) to cruise the vast, misty waters of Lake Tai and admire the scenery of “36,000 hectares of lake and mountains”.
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Journey to Suzhou: Travel approx. 1.5 hours to Suzhou, the city of gardens.
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Classical Garden: Visit the Lingering Garden (Liuyuan), one of China’s Four Great Classical Gardens, to experience the pinnacle of Chinese landscape architecture.
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Optional Evening: You may choose to upgrade your experience with a boat ride on Shantang Street to hear traditional Pingtan music.
General Introduction & History
Yuantouzhu (Turtle Head Isle) Located in Wuxi, this peninsula is a National 5A-level scenic spot.
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The Name: It gets its name because the landform resembles a giant turtle tossing its head into the majestic lake.
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The Reputation: It is celebrated as the “No. 1 Scenic Spot of Taihu Lake.” The scenery here is described as “naturally formed,” offering a perfect blend of verdant hills and wide-open water.
The Lingering Garden (Liuyuan) As one of China’s Four Great Classical Gardens, this site is famous for its exquisite layout and architectural beauty.
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Design Mastery: The garden is renowned for its spatial management—creating the illusion of deep mountains and forests within a confined city space.
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Artistry: Every corridor, courtyard, and hall is arranged to create a rhythmic viewing experience, making it a “world-class example of architectural spatial art”.
Attractions & Fun Facts
1. The “Three Whites” Feast
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Culinary Highlight: Lunch today features a special upgrade: the Wuxi Three Whites Feast.
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The Ingredients: This famous local cuisine highlights three fresh ingredients found in Lake Tai: Whitefish (Baiyu), White Shrimp (Baixia), and Silverfish (Yinyu).
2. Guanyun Peak
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The Rock: Inside the Lingering Garden, look for the Guanyun Peak (Cloud-Capped Peak). It is the most prized “Taihu Stone” in the garden, famous for its slender, wrinkled shape, and is considered the “King of Taihu Stones”.
3. Optional Experience: Shantang Street
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Nightlife Upgrade: For an additional fee (150 RMB), you can take a boat ride along Shantang Street. This experience includes seeing the illuminated ancient architecture and listening to Suzhou Pingtan, a traditional form of storytelling and ballad singing in the local dialect.