Southern Jiangsu

Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou and Zhenjiang: the ancient capital Jinling, Suzhou gardens, Lake Tai scenery and Jiangnan water towns come together.

This region corresponds to "Southern Jiangsu" in Jiangsu's official divisions and includes five cities: Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou and Zhenjiang. Located on the Lake Tai plain south of the Yangtze River, it is the heartland of Jiangnan culture, with highly developed transport and tourism facilities. Suzhou is famous for its classical gardens; the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Lingering Garden, the Master of the Nets Garden and others are listed as World Cultural Heritage, Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street preserve the look of a water city, and ancient towns such as Zhouzhuang, Tongli and Luzhi are good for slow travel. Nanjing is an ancient capital of the Six Dynasties; the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the Ming city wall, the Presidential Palace, the Confucius Temple and an evening cruise on the Qinhuai River trace a thousand years of history, and the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders is an important site of historical education. In southern Nanjing, Yaxi in Gaochun is China's first "International Slow City", popular for its spring rapeseed fields and cycling routes, and the Gaochun Old Street and Gucheng Lake crabs are also worth tasting. Wuxi lies on Lake Tai; Yuantouzhu is covered in cherry blossoms in spring, the Lingshan Grand Buddha and Nianhua Bay are Zen-themed scenic areas, and Huishan Ancient Town has a long history. Changzhou has theme parks such as China Dinosaur Park, and Tianmu Lake in Liyang is beautiful. In Zhenjiang, Jinshan Temple, Beigu Mountain and the Xijindu ancient street recall the days of the ancient Yangtze ferry crossing, and Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar and pot-lid noodles are local specialties. Classic route: two days in Nanjing, two days in Suzhou, one day in Wuxi, with Zhenjiang or Changzhou added for five to seven days in total. For transport, the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway and the Shanghai–Nanjing intercity railway link the five cities, with trips between cities taking half an hour to an hour; you can fly in or out via Nanjing Lukou International Airport, Sunan Shuofang International Airport and the two nearby Shanghai airports. In peak season and on holidays, popular gardens and ancient towns are crowded, so book ahead; the plum-rain season and midsummer are hot and humid, so take precautions against the heat.

Destinations

Itineraries