How to Plan the Perfect Jiangsu Tour: A Step-by-Step Guide

Jiangsu, known as the "Land of Fish and Rice," is a province where ancient water towns, classical gardens, and imperial history converge. From the UNESCO-listed gardens of Suzhou to the Ming Dynasty tombs of Nanjing, Jiangsu offers a journey through China’s most refined cultural traditions and natural landscapes. This guide provides a detailed roadmap for first-time visitors, blending cultural immersion with serene waterfront views.

▶Preliminary Preparation

Visa and Permits
Foreign travelers need a valid Chinese visa. No special permits are required for most areas.

Flights
Fly to Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) or Wuxi Sunan Shuofang Airport (WUX), the main hubs. Direct flights connect major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. High-speed trains link Nanjing to Suzhou (1 hour), Wuxi (45 minutes), and Yangzhou (1.5 hours).

Accommodation
Choose culturally rich areas:

• Suzhou: Stay in a Ming-Dynasty courtyard inn near Pingjiang Road.
• Nanjing: Opt for a hotel near the Confucius Temple or Xinjiekou (city center).
• Yangzhou: Book a guesthouse in Dongguan Street for easy access to Slender West Lake.

Transportation

• High-Speed Trains: Connect major cities (e.g., Nanjing to Suzhou, Wuxi to Yangzhou).
• Metro Systems: Nanjing, Suzhou, and Wuxi have efficient metro networks.
• Shared Bikes: Use Mobike or Hello Bike for short trips in water towns like Zhouzhuang.

Weather Preparation

• Spring (Mar-May): Mild (10-20°C), ideal for gardens and water towns.
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Warm (25-35°C), with occasional rain (avoid Jun-Jul for plum rains).
• Autumn (Sep-Nov): Crisp air (10-25°C), perfect for hiking and lakeside strolls.
• Winter (Dec-Feb): Cool (0-10°C), but fewer crowds and discounted accommodations.

Essential Apps

• Google Maps/Baidu Maps: For navigation in cities.
• Chinese-English Translator: For interacting with locals.
• Jiangsu Cultural Heritage App: A guide to historical sites and museums.

▶Top Attractions & Cultural Experiences

Suzhou: Venice of the East

• Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan): A UNESCO site with pavilions, lotus ponds, and rockeries.
• Pingjiang Road: A historic canal street lined with teahouses, boutiques, and silk shops.
• Suzhou Silk Museum: Learn about the 2,000-year history of silk production.
• Kunqu Opera: Attend a performance of China’s oldest surviving theatrical art at the Kunqu Museum.

Nanjing: Ancient Capital of Six Dynasties

• Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum: A monumental tomb blending Chinese and Western architecture.
• Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao): A Ming-Dynasty complex with temples, markets, and the Qinhuai River.
• Nanjing Massacre Memorial: A solemn museum honoring the victims of the 1937 massacre.
• Qinghai House: Explore Republican-era architecture and sip tea in a historic courtyard.

Yangzhou: City of Blossoms

• Slender West Lake (Shouxihu): A scenic lake with pagodas, bridges, and cherry blossoms.
• Ge Garden: A Qing-Dynasty garden with bamboo groves and stone mazes.
• Yangzhou Early Tea Culture: Join locals for morning tea at a historic teahouse (e.g., Yechun Teahouse).
• Huaiyang Cuisine: Learn to cook da zha xie (hairy crab) and yangzhou fried rice in a cooking class.

Wuxi: Taihu Lake Pearl

• Yuantouzhu (Turtle Head Island): A scenic peninsula on Taihu Lake with plum blossoms and temples.
• Lingshan Grand Buddha: An 88m-tall bronze Buddha statue, one of the largest in China.
• Nanchan Temple: A Tang-Dynasty temple with ancient pagodas and lotus ponds.
• Wuxi Small Steamed Buns: Sample xiao long bao filled with crab roe at a local market.

Cultural Immersion

• Su Embroidery (Su Xiu): Learn to stitch delicate floral patterns in a Suzhou workshop.
• Nanjing Yun Brocade: Watch artisans weave gold-threaded fabrics, a technique dating to the Ming Dynasty.
• Yangzhou Paper-Cutting: Create intricate designs with a local master.
• Festivals:
  • Suzhou Silk Festival (Sep): Exhibitions and fashion shows.
  • Yangzhou Slender West Lake Flower Festival (Apr): Cherry blossoms and lantern displays.

▶Suggested Travel Length & Itineraries

1-Day Itineraries

• Suzhou Focus:
  Morning: Humble Administrator’s Garden + Pingjiang Road.
  Afternoon: Suzhou Silk Museum + Kunqu Opera performance.
  Evening: Dinner at a Huaiyang cuisine restaurant.

• Nanjing Focus:
  Morning: Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum + Confucius Temple.
  Afternoon: Nanjing Massacre Memorial + Qinhuai River cruise.
  Evening: Night market snacks at Fuzimiao.

Recommend Trip

2-Day Itineraries

• Suzhou-Zhouzhuang:
  Day 1: Suzhou highlights (gardens, Pingjiang Road).
  Day 2: Day trip to Zhouzhuang. Explore canals by boat.

• Nanjing-Yangzhou:
  Day 1: Nanjing highlights (mausoleum, Qinhuai River).
  Day 2: Drive to Yangzhou. Visit Slender West Lake.

Recommend Trip

Multi-City Itineraries
5-Day Classic Jiangsu Tour:
Day 1: Arrive in Nanjing. Visit Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Confucius Temple.
Day 2: High-speed train to Suzhou. Explore Humble Administrator’s Garden.
Day 3: Pingjiang Road + Kunqu Opera.
Day 4: Drive to Yangzhou. Visit Slender West Lake.
Day 5: Return to Nanjing or fly home.

Recommend Trip

7-Day Grand Jiangsu Tour:
Day 1-2: Nanjing highlights.
Day 3: High-speed train to Suzhou. Tour gardens and silk museum.
Day 4: Day trip to Zhouzhuang.
Day 5: Drive to Wuxi. Visit Yuantouzhu and Lingshan Buddha.
Day 6: Train to Yangzhou. Slender West Lake and early tea.
Day 7: Return to Nanjing. Departure.

Recommend Trip

9-Day Ultimate Jiangsu Explorer:
Day 1-2: Nanjing.
Day 3: Suzhou gardens.
Day 4: Kunqu Opera and silk workshop.
Day 5: Zhouzhuang water town.
Day 6: Wuxi’s Taihu Lake.
Day 7: Lingshan Buddha.
Day 8: Yangzhou’s Ge Garden and cooking class.
Day 9: Return to Nanjing. Departure.

Recommmend Trip

▶Best Time to Visit Jiangsu

The optimal months are April-May and September-November, when skies are clear, and festivals like the Suzhou Silk Festival (September) and Yangzhou Flower Festival (April) occur. Avoid June-July (plum rains) and August (heat) in the south.

▶How to Get to Jiangsu

• By Air: Direct flights to Nanjing and Wuxi from major Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou) and international hubs (Seoul, Singapore).
• By Train: High-speed trains link Jiangsu to Shanghai (1 hour), Hangzhou (2 hours), and Beijing (4.5 hours).
• By Road: Overland buses from Zhejiang (Hangzhou) or Anhui (Huangshan).

▶Where to Stay in Jiangsu

• Suzhou:
  • Luxury: The Suzhou Banyan Tree (private villas with gardens).
  • Budget: Pingjiang Lodge (central location, shared courtyards).
• Nanjing:
  • InterContinental Nanjing: Rooms with views of the Yangtze River.
• Yangzhou:
  • Shangri-La Yangzhou: Lakeside resort with traditional architecture.

▶Try the Local Cuisine

Jiangsu’s cuisine, known as Huaiyang, is one of China’s four great culinary traditions, featuring delicate flavors and artistic presentation:

• Yangzhou Fried Rice: A signature dish with shrimp, eggs, and peas.
• Suzhou Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish: A tangy dish shaped like a squirrel.
• Nanjing Salted Duck: Marinated duck with crispy skin, served cold.
• Wuxi Small Steamed Buns (Xiao Long Bao): Filled with crab roe and pork.
• Pumpkin Paste (Nangua Bing): A sweet snack made with sticky rice and pumpkin.

Recommended Restaurants:

• Suzhou: Songhelou (Humble Administrator’s Garden) for classic Huaiyang dishes.
• Nanjing: Lvyanju (Confucius Temple) for salted duck and duck blood soup.

▶Useful Tips for Jiangsu Trips

Safety and Health

• Heat and Humidity: Summer (Jun-Aug) can be sticky. Wear lightweight clothing and stay hydrated.
• Sun Protection: UV levels are high. Wear SPF 50+ and a hat.
• Cold Weather: Winter (Dec-Feb) can be damp. Pack layers and a waterproof jacket.

Respect for Culture

• Temples and Gardens: Dress modestly (cover shoulders and knees). Avoid loud voices in sacred spaces.
• Photography: Ask permission before photographing people, especially in water towns. Avoid flash in museums.
• Bazaars: Bargain politely; start at 30% of the asking price.
• Tea Culture: When joining early tea, never pour your own cup first—fill others’ cups first as a sign of respect.

Transportation in Jiangsu

• Private Drivers: Hire a local driver for remote areas (e.g., Zhouzhuang, Taihu Lake). Negotiate rates in advance.
• Shared Bikes: Use Mobike or Hello Bike for short trips in cities like Suzhou.
• Train Tickets: Book high-speed trains via the China Railway 12306 app.

Shopping and Souvenirs

• Authentic Buys:
  • Suzhou Silk: Scarves, robes, or pillowcases from the Silk Museum.
  • Yangzhou Paper-Cutting: Intricate designs framed in bamboo.
  • Nanjing Yun Brocade: Gold-threaded fabrics for wall hangings.

Unique Insights and Avoiding Pitfalls

• Suzhou Gardens: Visit early (8-10 AM) to avoid crowds.
• Nanjing Massacre Memorial: A solemn site; maintain quiet respect.
• Yangzhou Early Tea: Arrive by 6 AM to experience the full ritual.
• Wuxi Lingshan Buddha: Climb the 9-story stupa for panoramic views.

▶Travel to Jiangsu With IntoTravelChina

Discover Jiangsu’s classical beauty with IntoTravelChina. Our local experts design personalized itineraries that respect Huaiyang cuisine, silk traditions, and Buddhist heritage while exploring iconic sites like Suzhou’s gardens, Nanjing’s mausoleum, and Yangzhou’s water towns. Contact us to plan your journey to the “Land of Fish and Rice.”

For more details and custom tour packages, visit our website and explore our Jiangsu travel guides. Let IntoTravelChina be your gateway to an unforgettable Jiangsu adventure.