Yuantouzhu (Turtle Head Isle)

鼋头渚

Lake Tai’s top scenic spot. Guo Moruo praised it: “The most magnificent spot on Lake Tai is, after all, Turtle Head.” With over 30,000 cherry trees, Changchun Bridge and Taihu Immortal Island, it is one of China’s most beautiful places for cherry-blossom viewing.

Yuantouzhu is a peninsula jutting into Lake Tai, named after a giant boulder shaped like a turtle raising its head. Wuxi business and gentry families developed it as a private garden from 1918, and today it forms the core of the Lake Tai Scenic Area, covering about 5.4 square kilometers. Highlights: the “Turtle Head” boulder and the cliff inscription “Embracing Wu and Yue” are the landmarks at Spring Waves at Yuanzhu. Around Changchun Bridge, the Cherry Valley and the China-Japan Cherry Blossom Friendship Forest hold more than 30,000 trees. In mid-to-late March, when they bloom alongside the lake and arched bridges, it is one of the Yangtze River Delta’s most popular cherry-blossom spots, and there is a night illumination show. Taihu Immortal Island (about 15 minutes by sightseeing boat) has Taoist buildings and the Lingxiao Palace, with views of the Three Mountains of Lake Tai. Guangfu Temple, Hengyun Villa and the garden scene of Lotus Depths are good for a leisurely stroll. In autumn, the red foliage of the azalea garden and the sunset at Wanlang Bridge are also photogenic. Suggested route: enter at Chongshan Main Gate, take the park shuttle bus to Yuantouzhu, see Spring Waves at Yuanzhu, walk through the Cherry Valley at Changchun Bridge, take a boat to Taihu Immortal Island, then return for a Lake Tai cruise or a visit to Guangfu Temple. The whole route takes 4–5 hours. Entry is 90 yuan (includes the Immortal Island boat and the park shuttle bus). During cherry season, book in advance on the official Yuantouzhu platform. Getting there: Metro Line 1 to Rongxiang station, then bus 1 or 87, or take a taxi from downtown in about 30 minutes. Traffic restrictions apply around the scenic area in cherry season, so public transport is recommended. Notes: weekends in cherry season are extremely crowded, so visit on a weekday morning or during the evening illumination. Lake Tai is windy, and boats stop sailing in strong gusts. The park is large, so wear comfortable shoes.

Yuantouzhu (Turtle Head Isle)

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