Joanna James
Dubbed the "Pearl of the Taihu Lake", Wuxi is an old-world microcosm of historic echoes and nature-kissed hideaways that offer beauty and culture lovers an elevated glimpse into the cinematic tradition of Eastern China. Here's what you can miss in this deliciously atmospheric waterfront city.
While Wuxi isn't best known for the oriental glamour and innovative dynamism of neighbouring Shanghai and the legendary tributes interwoven with futuristic enticements of nearby Suzhou, it arrests the senses with its own unique brand of quaint peacefulness and exhilarating novelty, from antique water lanes and vintage marketplaces to dreamy lake-bound escapes and true-to-life period drama sets that portal you back a few centuries. Turtle Head Island is a floating gem harboured in the Northwest of Taihu Lake, resembling a turtle curiously raising its head, and full of the whimsical fun that characterizes this 3000-year-old cosmopolis. Here you can dream in the springtime bliss of cherry blossom-strewn island paths, get perfumed by the fragrances of Jiangnan Orchid Garden, boat through lotus-laden waters to Fairy Island, and take Instagram-worthy pictures before enchanting sights, like the Memorial Archway, Lingxiao Palace, and Changchun Bridge.
With gorgeous settings bearing storybook names, such as the Ten-mile Fragrant Lane, Lover's Valley, and Three Kingdoms City, there's much authentic allure to fill up the ambitious itineraries of even the most ardent nature and heritage enthusiasts. While Wuxi is endued with a stunning choice of inner-city bowers, from the classical aura and ingenious elegance of Jichang Garden to the tranquil secret gardens gracing the gracious Grand Canal, there's something exotic about the Plum Garden, with its exquisitely coloured plum blossoms of various types gently waving from over 5000 trees and masterful garden architecture adorned with fascinating relics.
Against a dreamy backdrop of the lushly fringed Taihu Lake, the enigmatic allure of Ling Mountain, and the interlacing of magical bridges and avenues with rippling canals, Wuxi hosts striking heritage enclaves that will enthral even those least enthusiastic about imperial times. The Huishan Old Town, for instance, is a decadent medley of surreal monuments spanning from the Tang Dynasty to Republican China. This open-air museum is composed of traditional homes, romantic gardens, ancestral halls, tea houses, and bookstores that will effortlessly transport you to a lyrical bygone world.
From over-water pavilions and rock architecture to landscaped hills crowned with the rich pastels of seasonal blossoms and masterpieces in ancient engineering, Liyuan Garden is worth the short trip from Wuxi City, with every picturesque corner a harmonious memento of peace and perseverance. If you're looking for luxury apartments in Wuxi proffering prime access to its poignant attractions, venture no further than the likes of Ascott New District Wuxi.
For a taste of theatrical storytelling with heroes, battles, romances, and martial arts, you can dress up in ancient costumes, roam majestic palaces, and watch jaw-dropping performances on this expertly designed set.
From nostalgic carnival rides and sophisticated amusement park trappings to Wuxi Zoo, with its spacious enclosures housing a wide range of beautiful wildlife friends like giraffes, giant pandas, white rhinos, and leopards, Taihu Amusement Park is an immense and multi-faceted recreation and conservation zone worth visiting.
For an unforgettably off-the-beaten-path day tour from Wuxi, you can't do better than enter the fantastical folds of Yixing Bamboo Forest that affords a dazzling climb punctuated with wildflowers, ponds, bridges, and tea plantations, yielding panoramas of rippling bamboo waves, misty faraway mountains, and sparking waters at the top.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
