Autumn in Jiangsu · Southern Jiangsu 3 Days 2 Nights Budget Tour

Recommended Season: Late October to Mid-November, with ginkgo yellow, red maple leaves, and osmanthus fragrance, the autumn atmosphere in Jiangnan is at its peak
🗓 Itinerary Overview (Autumn Highlights Edition)

Days Itinerary
Day 1 Departure from Shanghai/Nanjing → Suzhou (Humble Administrator's Garden + Pingjiang Road + Shantang Street Night View)
Day 2 Suzhou → Wuxi (Yuantouzhu + Nanchang Street Night View)
Day 3 Light Hiking at Yushan in Changshu + Return Trip

✅ Highlights: Autumn garden viewing, lakes and mountains scenery, ancient town atmosphere, authentic Su cuisine
💰 Total Cost: Approximately 1480 RMB per person

🚄 Day 1: Arrive in Suzhou · Stroll through the golden autumn of the thousand-year-old water alley
📍 Key Attractions: Autumn leaves at Humble Administrator's Garden | Pingjiang Road Pingtan performance | Shantang Street night view

Morning: Arrive at Suzhou Station by high-speed train (recommended departure from Shanghai/Nanjing)
Recommended trains: G7002 (Shanghai Hongqiao → Suzhou, departs 07:30, arrives 08:06), second-class seat ticket 39.5 RMB
Or from Nanjing South → Suzhou, G7011, about 1.5 hours, ticket price 110 RMB

Check in before noon
Recommended homestay: Pingjiang Fuxiang · Shiguang Courtyard (located next to Pingjiang Road, within walking distance to major attractions)
Price: Standard room about 360 RMB/night (shared double room 180 RMB per person)
Includes breakfast, rustic environment, great for photos!

Lunch: First taste of Suzhou flavors
Recommended restaurant: Taohuayuanji (Pingjiang Road branch)
Must-try: Chicken feet pot, Aozao noodles, sweet porridge
Cost: About 40 RMB per person

🍁 Afternoon: Visit the top of China's four famous gardens — Humble Administrator's Garden
Ticket: Off-season combined ticket 70 RMB (includes Garden Museum)
Opening hours: 7:30–17:00 (recommended to enter before 14:00 to avoid peak crowds)
Autumn highlights:

- Maple trees contrasting with white walls and black tiles
- The lotus pond with withered lotus in front of Yuanxiang Hall creates a unique mood
- Banana trees dripping green beside Tingyuxuan, full of poetic charm

Tip: Bring a wide-angle lens or use your phone’s panorama mode to capture the autumn colors reflected in the water!

🌆 Evening to night: Dual tour of Pingjiang Road & Shantang Street
17:30 Walk to Pingjiang Road historic district (free admission)
Stroll along the river and experience the Jiangnan charm of “homes resting by the river”
Recommended experiences:

- Have a cup of "Bense Coffee" by the river (latte 28 RMB)
- Listen to a street Pingtan performance (scan QR code to tip, about 10 RMB)
- Take a Hanfu photo shoot (flash rental + simple makeup about 80 RMB, optional)

Dinner: Pingjiang Road snack crawl
Recommended list:

- Lard cake (5 RMB)
- Fermented glutinous rice balls (10 RMB)
- Crab roe tofu bun (6 RMB each)
Total cost: about 30 RMB

19:30 Check out Shantang Street night view (free)
Optional boat ride: Night tour of the ancient canal, one-way 80 RMB/person
Even without the boat, it’s worth visiting! The seven-li Shantang under red lantern light looks like a live scene from "The Longest Day in Chang'an"
Photo tip: Stand on Tonggui Bridge to shoot the entire street from above, the light and shadow are stunning

🚆 Day 2: Suzhou → Wuxi · Autumn romance by Taihu Lake
📍 Key Attractions: Yuantouzhu autumn colors | Nanchang Street lively atmosphere

Morning check-out, store luggage, then take the bus to the train station
Suzhou Station → Wuxi Station, G7207 (08:45→09:13), second-class seat 39.5 RMB
After exiting, take a taxi to Yuantouzhu Scenic Area (about 30 RMB), or transfer to bus line 1 then tourist shuttle

🍂 Morning: Yuantouzhu · A deep autumn painting at Taihu’s most beautiful corner
Ticket: Peak season 90 RMB (half price with student ID), includes shuttle bus inside the park
Recommended visit time: 3 hours or more
Autumn must-see spots:

- Changchun Bridge: Maple trees on both sides in red and yellow, clear waves under the bridge
- Wanlang Juanxue spot: Listen to waves and feel the lake breeze
- Taihu Fairy Island cable car (optional): One-way 50 RMB, excellent panoramic views
- Ludingshan: Climb to the top to overlook the entire Yuantouzhu peninsula, autumn colors in full view

Reminder: The park is large, wear comfortable sports shoes! Bringing your own snacks and water is more economical.

Lunch: Local restaurant outside the park
Recommended: Taihu Boat Lady Restaurant
Must-try: Steamed white fish, braised ribs, water celery stir-fried with dried tofu
Average cost: 45 RMB per person

Afternoon: Return to the city and explore the artistic Nanchang Street
Bus direct to Nanchansi Station, walk to Nanchang Street
This is Wuxi’s liveliest old street, built along the ancient canal
Things to explore:

- Creative shops: Cat’s Sky City concept bookstore
- Handmade experience: Pottery DIY (about 68 RMB for a class, optional)
- Photo spot: Kuangtang Bridge night view preview point

Check in at hotel in the evening
Recommended: Nanchang Street Atour Light Hotel (walking distance to subway)
Standard room price: 380 RMB/night (190 RMB per person)
Clean and tidy, good service, good soundproofing

Dinner: Food crawl on Nanchang Street
Recommended list:

- Xiao Yang Shengjian (12 RMB)
- Sanfengqiao braised ribs (half a jin to-go 40 RMB)
- Huishan tofu pudding (5 RMB)
- Caixing ice cream (popular plum blossom shape 25 RMB)
Total cost: about 60 RMB

As night falls, lights illuminate both sides of the canal. Sitting by the river, chatting in the breeze, this is the true slow life of Jiangnan.

🌄 Day 3: Changshu Yushan · Climb high and embrace the last autumn colors of Southern Jiangsu
📍 Key Attractions: Yushan National Forest Park light hiking | Xingfu Temple Zen autumn search

Morning check-out, store luggage, then take the train to Changshu
Wuxi Station → Changshu Station, D5606 (07:40→08:12), ticket price 39.5 RMB
After exiting, taxi to Yushan Scenic Area East Gate (about 25 RMB)

🥾 Morning: Light hiking at Yushan (about 4 km, 2.5 hours)
Ticket: Free (some temples charge separately)
Recommended route: Jinfeng Pagoda → Weimo Villa → Xingfu Temple
Autumn highlights:

- Ginkgo leaves falling on both sides of the mountain path, crunching underfoot
- Occasionally spotting squirrels jumping in the woods
- Jinfeng Pagoda offers panoramic views of Shang Lake
- The osmanthus fragrance in Xingfu Temple is strong, a Tang dynasty ancient temple full of Zen atmosphere

Tip: Bring a bottle of hot water, energy bars, wear non-slip shoes; signal is weak on the mountain, download offline maps in advance.

Lunch: Xingfu Temple vegetarian noodle house
Famous dishes: Knife-cut vegetarian noodles + braised mushrooms in oil (vegetarian set meal 35 RMB)
Quiet environment, eating a bowl of noodles feels like cleansing the soul

Afternoon return trip (flexible based on departure location)
Changshu Station → Shanghai Hongqiao: D2126 (14:20→15:02), ticket price 59.5 RMB
Or → Nanjing South: D3008 (14:40→16:30), ticket price 134.5 RMB

If time allows, stroll around Changshu old street, buy some Beggar’s Chicken or blood glutinous rice cake as souvenirs (both under 30 RMB)

💰 Detailed total cost (per person)

Item Details Cost (RMB)
Round-trip transportation Shanghai/Nanjing↔Suzhou↔Wuxi↔Changshu (high-speed train + bus + taxi) 350
Accommodation Two nights budget hotel (shared room cost) 370
Meals 6 main meals + snacks and drinks 320
Tickets Humble Administrator's Garden 70 + Yuantouzhu 90 160
Others Cable car/rental clothes/souvenirs flexible expenses 100
Emergency reserve —— 180
Total —— ≈1480

✅ Well controlled, it can be kept under 1400 RMB!

📸 Photo Tips: How to shoot stunning autumn photos in Southern Jiangsu?

- 7:00 AM at Pingjiang Road: No crowds, glowing stone slabs, perfect for reflection shots.
- Humble Administrator's Garden "Who to sit with Pavilion": Diagonal composition, frame fallen leaves and lake surface together.
- Yuantouzhu Changchun Bridge at dusk: Shoot red leaves with front light, silhouettes with backlight tell a story.
- Nanchang Street Kuangtang Bridge: Low angle, use boats as foreground, lights create long lines.
- Yushan Ginkgo forest path: Shoot upward to capture falling leaves, create a "golden rain" effect.

🍵 Culture Tips: Southern Jiangsu autumn exclusive experiences
✅ Taste a pot of Biluochun tea: Although autumn is not tea picking season, drinking authentic Dongting Mountain Biluochun is still full of ritual.
✅ Listen to a Suzhou Pingtan performance: Often free shows on Pingjiang Road or Ouyuan Garden, support by scanning QR code.
✅ Learn a phrase in Wu dialect: “Nong hao va?” (How have you been lately?) Locals will smile knowingly.
✅ Collect stamps: Many creative shops offer “Garden check-in stamp books,” a meaningful souvenir.

⚠️ Practical Reminders

- Weather preparation: Large temperature difference between morning and evening in autumn, bring a thin down jacket or windbreaker.
- Reservation: It is recommended to book tickets in advance for Humble Administrator's Garden and Yuantouzhu via "Suzhou Garden Tourism" or "Lingxi APP."
- Avoid weekend peaks: More tourists on holidays, try to travel on weekdays.
- Eco-friendly travel: Bring your own water bottle, many scenic spots have drinking water stations.
- Safety first: Some mountain paths in Yushan are steep, do not venture alone into undeveloped areas.