I swear this is my favorite Jiangnan town ever!

Here's the ultimate Yixing travel guide:

Recommended Attractions

• Natural Scenery: Yixing Bamboo Sea, a 4A scenic spot, boasts nearly 15,000 hectares of bamboo forest. Take a cable car to the "Southern Jiangsu's Highest Peak." Suggested visit time: 3–4 hrs. Longchi Mountain Bicycle Park combines cycling, scenic landscapes, and tea gardens. Rent a bike and explore for 2–3 hrs. Yunhu Scenic Area offers clear lake waters and rolling hills, especially beautiful at dusk. Suggested visit time: approx. 1 hr.

• Culture & History: Shanjuan Cave, a 4A scenic spot and one of the three most wondrous caves in the world, features unique stalactites and is the birthplace of the Butterfly Lovers legend. Take a boat tour. Suggested visit time: 3–4 hrs. Shushan Ancient South Street, a historic street showcasing purple clay culture, preserves the charm of a Jiangnan water town and has many craft shops. Suggested visit time: 1–2 hrs. Dongpo Academy, where Su Dongpo is said to have lectured, features simple, elegant architecture. Suggested visit time: approx. 30 mins.

• Themed Towns: Yao Lake Town boasts unique architecture, blending mountains and rivers, Hui-style buildings, and modern aesthetics. Take a mini-train ride and enjoy the beautiful night view. Suggested visit time: half a day. Yada Yangxian Xishan Town, a Jiangnan water town resort, features Dongpo Pavilion, Lakeside Park, and more. Suggested visit time: 2–3 hrs.

Food Recommendations

• Specialties: Salted Pork with Bamboo Shoots, a perfect blend of savory pork and tender bamboo shoots; Scrambled Eggs with Wild Onions, fragrant and delicious; Pickled Mustard Greens with Frog, tender frog meat enhanced by pickled mustard greens.

• Snacks: Wu Mi Fan (steamed glutinous rice with herbs), fragrant and refreshing; Heqiao Dried Tofu, slow-cooked in aged brine, firm and chewy.

• Tea: Yixing black tea, rich and aromatic.

Accommodation

• Luxury: Yixing Hidden Dragon Valley Mountain Resort offers stunning mountain views and private hot springs.

• Family-friendly: Yixing Hidden Dragon Valley Grand Hotel features a variety of indoor and outdoor children's play areas. Yixing Bamboo Sea International Conference Center (Bamboo Sea Hot Spring) offers a children's play area and open-air hot springs.

• Budget-friendly: H Hotel (Yixing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Branch) is conveniently located near Wanda Plaza with comprehensive amenities.

Transportation

• External: Arrive in Wuxi or Changzhou first, then transfer to Yixing. Alternatively, take the high-speed train directly to Yixing Station, where multiple bus routes connect to various attractions.

• Internal: Yixing has a well-developed public bus system. Download the Yixing Bus app for route information. Tourist buses operate between major attractions. Consider chartering a vehicle or taking a taxi for larger groups.

Itinerary

• 2-Day Tour: Visit Shanjuan Cave in the morning and Yixing Bamboo Sea in the afternoon on Day 1. Explore Shushan Ancient South Street and experience purple clay culture in the morning and visit Dajue Temple for meditation in the afternoon on Day 2.

• 3-Day Tour: Visit the Yixing Ceramics Museum in the morning and Longbei Mountain Forest Park in the afternoon on Day 1. Spend Day 2 at Yao Lake Town, enjoying its unique offerings. Visit Yada Yangxian Xishan Town in the morning and go cycling at Longchi Mountain Bicycle Park in the afternoon on Day 3.

Tips

• Shanjuan Cave is cool inside, so bring a jacket.

• Yixing Bamboo Sea is a large area. Wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water and snacks.

• Compare prices before buying souvenirs in scenic areas.