Travel Tips

Wuxi is a city dominated by waterways -- the ring of canals that surround the city, including the main branch of the Grand Canal, and the waters of Lake Taihu, China’s fourth largest lake that extends to the south of the city. In addition to its scenic attractions and role in a regional transport system, the water system supports flourishing rice agriculture and fisheries. Wuxi was also known in imperial and modern times for its silk textile production, and the nearby town of Yixing is renowned for its “purple-sand?tea-ware pottery.

Xihui Park is west of Zhejiang between Xi and Hui mountains. This enormous park covers 46 hectares (113 acres) and comprises of numerous gardens, teahouses, museums, temples and pagodas.

Among the more famous sights are the Tai Bo Memorial Hall built in honor of the founder of Wuxi, the Imperial Stele Pavilion with decorative ceilings and inscriptions by emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) and the Municipal Museum which has a good collection of early pottery.

Children in particular will enjoy the zoo and the pedal and bumper boats that are also found at this park.

Built in the classic southern Chinese style, Jichang Garden is located in the eastern foothills of Huishan Mountain.

Constructed between 1506-1521, the garden only occupies 1 hectare of land but seems larger and is well integrated into the surrounding landscape due to the ingenuity of its designer.

Qing emperor Qianlong (1736-1795), was so impressed by this garden that he ordered a replica, the Garden of Harmonious Interest, to be built in the Summer Palace in Beijing. A lovely teahouse Jiashu, built during the Tang dynasty (618-907AD) overlooks the pond.

Wuxi's clay folk-art figurines (Huishan Nirenchang)

Wuxi's clay folk-art figurines have been famous since the Ming Dynasty, and are most noted for their imaginative design and exacting craftsmanship.

These cute clay figures have been made for over 400 years and are very popular in China and with tourists.

Today, the Huishan Clay Figurine Studio continues to manufacture figurines in the same artful tradition. Visitors are invited into the studio to observe the process and tour the display room.

The traditional products include the Old Man of Longevity or "Lao Shou Xing" and the "Da A Fu", a plump little boy holding a fish or a peach, which symbolizes prosperity.