Best things to do in Wuxi, China’s lakeside city of gardens and sweet cuisine
Nestled on China’s Lake Taihu, Wuxi, with its industrial heritage, serene gardens, temples and decadent cuisine, is great for a weekend trip
Wuxi, in China’s Jiangsu province, has long been in the shadow of nearby cities Suzhou, with its canals and lavish gardens, and Shanghai, with its ever-shifting skyline.
Wuxi thrives on its intimate relationship with nearby Lake Taihu and the maze of ancient canals that run through the city. A pioneer of Chinese industry, its decadent, sweet cuisine reflects its historical wealth.
Here is an itinerary to get the most out of this city shaped as much by factories and merchants as by nature and scholars.
Friday
4pm: Catch the sunset over Lake Lihu
There are many cities on the shores of Lake Taihu, but Wuxi’s history is particularly intertwined with the large body of water. A bay half-enclosed by peninsulas and dykes shields the city from Lake Taihu’s waves, and is where you will find Lake Lihu, a scenic inner lake surrounded by picturesque parks.
A good place to start a walk along the waterfront is at the intersection of Huanhu Road and Taihu Avenue, at a towering water fountain called the Light of Lihu Lake. From here, trace the West Dike towards Yufu Island and continue onto the Li Dike. Flanked by shimmering water, the causeway grows lush in the summer sun.
7pm: Feast on freshwater delicacies