First time visiting Wuxi? Just follow this itinerary

First time in Wuxi and totally amazed! The gentle charm of the Jiangnan water town, the night view of the ancient canal, the sweet food that touches your heart… Here’s a perfect 3-day 2-night itinerary. Sisters visiting for the first time, follow this to avoid pitfalls and save time👇

Super convenient arrival in Wuxi 🚇

✈️ Sunan Shuofang International Airport: Take Metro Line 3 directly to downtown after landing 🚇, 40 minutes to Nanchan Temple, fare 5 yuan; taxi to Zhongshan Road business district about 30 yuan, drivers will help with luggage proactively, very thoughtful~
🚄 Wuxi Railway Station/Wuxi East Station: Wuxi Station is in the old city, 10-minute walk to Nanchan Temple after exiting, buses go directly to major attractions; East Station is a bit farther from downtown, but Metro Line 2 takes 25 minutes to Sanyang Plaza, with frequent service so no delay to your schedule~
🚗 Self-driving perks: City traffic is great! There are dedicated parking lots 🅿️ around the ancient canal and Nanchang Street, 10 yuan/hour, just search “scenic area parking lot” on navigation, parking is easier than you think~

Accommodation that’s super comfortable 🏠

• Prime location near Nanchang Street 📍: Wuxi Junlai Shizun Hotel is amazing! 5-minute walk to the ancient canal, rooms with balconies overlooking the night view 🌃, breakfast includes Wuxi soup dumplings and magnolia cakes, plan your day while eating~

• Hidden gem B&B by Taihu Lake ✨: “Lake View Cottage” offers a window view of Taihu Lake! Watch fishing boats glide across the water in the early morning, enjoy tea and chat in the yard at dusk, very close to Yuantouzhu, perfect for sisters who want a slow travel experience~

• Best value choice 💰: B&Bs around Sanyang Plaza, about 120+ yuan per person! Right downstairs is the transfer station for Metro Lines 1 and 2, 10-minute walk to Nanchan Temple and Chong’an Temple, so many snack stalls it’s hard to choose~

Perfect 3-day itinerary highlights 🎈

Day 1: Old town vibes

🏮 Nanchan Temple: Visit the ancient temple in the morning, bustling with incense but not noisy, the flying eaves of the Mahavira Hall are picture-perfect~ Next to it is Nanchan Temple pedestrian street, buy freshly made sugar paintings on a stick, stroll and watch everyday life~
🚢 Ancient Canal boat tour: Take a boat in the afternoon to see the scenery on both sides, old houses with white walls and black tiles built by the water, the boatman tells canal stories~ Recommend the 1-hour route from Nanchan Temple to Qingming Bridge, full of beautiful views~
🌃 Nanchang Street night view: A must-go at dusk! When lanterns light up, it feels like traveling back to Jiangnan, Qingming Bridge is packed with people taking photos, cozy cafes and bars in the alleys, sitting down for a cup of rice wine is super relaxing~

Day 2: Taihu Lake and mountains

🦢 Yuantouzhu (Turtle Head Isle): Arrive before 8 AM! Lotus flowers are in full bloom in July, walk along the lakeside to see lotus leaves forming a green sea, occasionally white egrets fly by~ Take a boat to Taihu Fairy Island, climb the island for panoramic views, the lake water is as blue as a gem 💎
🏯 Three Kingdoms City: Spend the afternoon immersed in the “Three Kingdoms film set”! Watch the live show “Three Heroes Battle Lü Bu,” rent a Hanfu costume to take photos on the city tower, feel like a character in the drama~ When tired, sit by the lake for tea and watch Taihu’s sparkling waves~

Day 3: Slowly savor Wuxi flavors

🥟 Chong’an Temple pedestrian street: Have breakfast in the morning! “Wang Xing Ji” fresh meat soup dumplings, thin skin, full filling, lots of soup, paired with a bowl of dried shrimp wonton, so fresh it’ll make your eyebrows raise~
🎋 Xihui Park: Visit the garden in the morning, the rockery and flowing water in Jichang Garden are exquisite, crape myrtle flowers bloom perfectly in July, sit in the pavilion listening to Pingtan storytelling, the pace is so slow you won’t want to leave~
🛍️ Nanchang Street souvenirs: Buy local specialties in the afternoon! “Mu Guiying Food” magnolia cakes and vacuum-packed fried gluten are easy to take home, sweet but not greasy, perfect for gifts or keeping~

Must-try Wuxi flavors 🍜

🥟 Wuxi soup dumplings: “Xi Sheng Yuan” fresh meat filling is a must! Bite a small hole to suck the soup, then dip in vinegar, sweet and fresh, can eat two baskets in one go~
🌸 Magnolia cake: Crispy outside, soft inside! Glutinous rice skin wrapped with fresh meat filling, fried and sprinkled with sesame, best eaten hot, paired with clear tea to cut the grease~
🦆 Braised spare ribs: “San Feng Qiao” old brand! Ribs stewed until tender, sauce rich and slightly sweet, meat not dry, vacuum-packed makes a great gift~
🍚 Liangxi crispy eel: A local favorite hearty dish! Eel fried crispy, coated with sweet sauce, goes perfectly with rice, sweet but not greasy at all~
🍧 Osmanthus sugar taro shoots: Summer dessert! Taro stewed until sticky and soft, drizzled with osmanthus syrup, one bite fills your mouth with floral fragrance, 5 yuan a bowl is super cost-effective~

Helpful tips ⚠️

1️⃣ Wuxi cuisine is on the sweet side! If you’re not used to it, say “less sugar” when ordering, the boss will kindly adjust~
2️⃣ Yuantouzhu is best visited early! July is busy with tourists, arriving before 8 AM helps avoid crowds, take the sightseeing bus to Dushan, walking to enjoy the lake is more pleasant~
3️⃣ Use the “Ma Shang Xing” app for transport! Scan QR codes to pay for buses and metro, check real-time arrivals, saves half the cost compared to taxis~
4️⃣ Bring a small umbrella! July sometimes has showers, not heavy but can block the sun, Wuxi looks even more gentle and charming after rain~

Follow this itinerary for your first trip to Wuxi to experience the old town’s lively atmosphere, embrace Taihu Lake’s scenery, and taste all the sweet delicious food~ Definitely worth it, just go for it! 🚀