Best Time to Visit Changshu for 5 Days Itinerary, What to Do & Where to Go

Day 1 | Morning

Shajiabang Scenic Area

Opening Hours: Open from 04/01-10/31,8:30am-9:00pm;Open from 11/01-03/31,8:00am-4:00pm

Ticket Price: 80 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 0.5-1 Days

Location: Xitai Highway, Shajiatun Town, Changshu City, Jiangsu Province

The Shajiabang Scenic Area is located 10 kilometers south of Changshu City and is in the north of Yangcheng Lake. It is known for the communist-style Beijing Opera "Shajiabing". The TV series "Shajiabing" is also filmed here. In the scenic area, you can take a boat ride into the reeds and enjoy the beautiful wetland scenery. The reed maze is in the south of the Red Stone Folk Culture Village. There are two parts: a water maze, explorable by boat, and a land maze, by planks built on the surface of the water. You can choose which one to explore depending on your personal preference.

Day 1 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: Shanghu Lake Scenic Area.

Shanghu Lake Scenic Area

Opening Hours: Open from 03/01-11/30,8:10am-4:40pm;Open from 12/01-02/28,8:10am-4:10pm

Ticket Price: 60 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 4-5 Hours

Location: Shanghu Scenic Area, Waixi Third Ring Road, Yushan Town, Changshu City, Jiangsu Province

Shanghu Lake Scenic Area is located at the southern foot of Yushan Mountain in Changshu. If you are looking for a relaxing park with beautiful scenery to go for a walk in, Shanghu Lake Scenic Area makes an excellent choice. The lake has seven islands including a lotus island, a fishing islet, a songbird island and a peach blossom island, forming the unique scene of islands in a lake and a lake on islands. Every April, the peony show brings Shanghu Lake a lot of tourists. In the summer lotus flowers bloom on the surface of the lake. There is also a lantern festival in the autumn, usually in September-October, when the night garden will be opened.

Reviews from Real Guests:

Trip.com User: Beautiful area, very nice to walk. One of the best places in Changshu.

Day 1 | Evening

If you want to explore other popular attractions later, Jinling Grand Hotel is a suitable place for you to stay and refresh.

Jinling Grand Hotel

The Jinling Grand Hotel provides a great place for travelers to relax after a busy day. The Jinling Grand Hotel offers a pleasant stay in Kunshan for those traveling for business or leisure.

With Huaqiao Railway Station just 9km away and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport only 44km away, transportation is very convenient. With multiple attractions nearby including 崑山開發區籃球館, Kunshan Mazu Temple and 崑山藝術宮, guests will find plenty to keep themselves occupied.

This hotel makes a great place to kick back and relax after a long day of sightseeing. Guests of this Kunshan hotel can make use of the parking facilities.

If cleanliness is important to you, this hotel makes an excellent choice, as our guests consider this to be one of the cleanest hotels in the city. For guests traveling on business, this hotel is consistently one of the most popular choices.

Day 2 | Morning

Yushan Scenic Spot

Opening Hours: Open from 8:00am-4:00pm

Ticket Price: 30 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 0.5-1 Days

Location: Yushan Town, Changshu City, Suzhou City

Yushan has beautiful scenery, and its southeast foothill extends into the city of Changshu. Hiking up the mountain is free admission with only a few scenic spots requiring tickets. Locals can be seen relaxing and exercising in the mountains. Things worth doing in Yushan: Ascend the Jianmen Scenic Spot on top of the mountain to overlook the beautiful scenery of Shanghu Lake, climb up the Yushan city wall to view the city, and eat noodles in Xingfu Temple.

Reviews from Real Guests:

Kamal 王正: peaceful and clean

Day 2 | Afternoon

Jiangxiangcun nearby is the top choice before you leave Yushan Scenic Spot and hit the road.

Jiangxiangcun

Opening Hours: Open from 9:00am-5:00pm

Ticket Price: 40 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 0.5-1 Days

Location: Jiangxiangcun, Changshu, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China

Jiangxiang Village, a bright pearl in Jiangnan water town, is located in the southeast of Changshu City, Jiangsu Province, close to the Shajiabang Red Scenic Spot. Jiangxiang Industrial Park: The factory buildings are scattered, greening everywhere, the factory is clean, and the production is civilized. Village History Exhibition Hall: There are unforgettable memories of Jiangxiang Village's poor soil and water, desolation and remoteness in the 1960s and 1970s; there are also the hardships of the villagers in the 1980s and 1990s when they engaged in industry and struggled hard; With hard work and progress, Jiangxiang Village has successfully displayed countless honors and achievements; it also depicts the beautiful blueprint of Jiangxiang Village. Villager's vegetable garden: The vegetable garden is the "private plot" of Jiangxiang villagers. The spring breeze is blowing, the sun is warm, the people are warm, the cauliflower is fragrant, and the garden is full of green. Villagers' new home: The apartments for the elderly are neat, orderly, clean and hygienic, with bamboo forests leading to secluded areas, small bridges and flowing water, and the fragrance of birds and flowers. The Farmer's New Village adopts modern design techniques. The houses are exquisite and built around the water. The green grass is full, the osmanthus flowers are blooming, the bees are flying, and the butterflies are chasing. Ecological Park: At present, animal viewing area, exhibition area, picking area, recreation area, student social practice area, etc. have been built. In the animal viewing area, pigeons lie in their nests, deer welcome guests, ostriches take a walk, macaques fly away, and geese roar high, showing the harmonious beauty of the ecological countryside. In the exhibition area, we can tread waterwheels, push mills, identify grains, learn about ancient stoves, look at farm tools, experience the hard work of traditional farmers a day, and feel the joy of traditional agriculture. What catches the eye is the exquisite workmanship, admirable safflower and green grass, small fruit trees, strange rocks, and old tree root carvings, feeling the broad spirit and infinite charm of art.

Day 2 | Evening

Don’t forget to book Tongli Lake Resort (Phase II) in advance, because all the tourists head to Jiangxiangcun love staying at it.

Tongli Lake Resort (Phase II)

Located on Tongli Lake, the Tongli Lake Resort (Phase II) is just a 15-minute walk from Tongli Old Town.

Rooms at this Tongli hotel offer beautiful lake-views. Guests can also enjoy airport pickup, free parking and Wi-Fi in public areas.

Chinese and Western restaurants are both available in addition to a café and a lobby bar, which offers music and drinks—a great way to start or end the evening.

Guests traveling on business can make full use of meeting rooms and business center.

During their free time, guests can work out in the gym, relax in the spa, enjoy a foot massage or stay active in the indoor swimming pool.

Day 3 | Morning

Meili Jusha Garden

Opening Hours: 8:00-16:00

Ticket Price: 10 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 3-4 Hours

Location: No. 28Meidong Road, Meili Town, Changshu City

Meili Jusha Garden is found on the east side of the Meili Center Township. It was named after the "Jusha Baifu Pagoda" which was built in the Southern Song Dynasty. The Jusha Tower is now the national cultural relics protection building. The lovely scenery in the park makes it a perfect place for recreational enthusiasts. In the park area, there are various leisure places such as Pingtan, the Tea House, and a Children"s Amusement Park, which integrates culture, entertainment and leisure.

Day 3 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: Xingfu Temple.

Xingfu Temple

Opening Hours: Open from 5:30am-5:00pm

Ticket Price: 10 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Changshu, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, 215500

The temple was built in the Southern Qi Dynasty. It was originally a famous temple in the south of the Yangtze River, but it was rebuilt in the 1980s. The temple is also known as "Baoshan Temple". According to legend, during the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, a white dragon appeared in Yushan and changed into an old man with a white beard. When the white dragon appeared, the eminent monk felt frightened when he saw it, and hurriedly recited a mantra, and summoned the God of Jade. He turned into a black dragon and fought against the white dragon. The white dragon could not win, and rushed towards the mountain. Called "Broken Mountain". In the temple, there are buildings such as Cangjing Building, Guanyin Hall, Zen Hall, as well as the third Buddha in the main hall and the Eighteen Arhats. It is a relatively well-known temple and tourist destination in Changshu. The temple is located at the northern foot of Yushan Mountain, with rich natural landscapes, such as Polong Stream and Shun Guoquan.

Day 3 | Evening

For convenient access to more popular attractions, Wyndham Grand Suzhou Fenhu is the best places.

Wyndham Grand Suzhou Fenhu

Reviews from Real Guests:

郑: During the Dragon Boat Festival, I took my children and booked an executive double room with my friends. When the front desk checked in, Ding Yuanyuan, the lobby manager, took the initiative to add WeChat and gave a baby gift bag and two coffee coupons in the lobby. The room faces the lake view and the view is OK. She sent WeChat to the lobby manager and asked for the baby to wash her hands and footstool, and she was satisfied immediately. The bathroom amenities in the room are L’Occitane, the water is Evian, the minibar is free, and the executive afternoon tea with lake view on the top floor is also good. The children’s playground is enough for preschool children, but it seems that it can be played even by residents? Similar to attending a wedding banquet, the afternoon is a bit mixed, and it would be better if you can control it a little bit. For dinner, a Chinese restaurant was originally reserved. Later, it happened that the first seat of the buffet was changed to a buffet. In-house guests can purchase group purchase coupons. The discount is very cost-effective. The breakfast is very hot, and there is a queue to go to nine o'clock, but the order is pretty good, and the speed is very fast, I will ask if I want to join the table. The only fly in the ointment is that, perhaps because they brought their children during the Dragon Boat Festival, the three-person parent-child bicycles were too popular to ride, so I went to the children's playground. When checking out, the little brother surnamed Chen at the front desk gave the baby cookies. Overall satisfaction is relatively high.

莫桑范仲淹: Very nice hotel. The executive lounge is also nice. There are white wine, red wine and vodka. The beef is delicious. There was a staff member named Ding Yuanyuan in the hotel who was very enthusiastic and asked her a lot of questions, she helped to solve them and gave her a thumbs up👍

Day 4 | Morning

Swallow Garden

Opening Hours: 7:00-16:30

Ticket Price: 10 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Yushu St, Changshu Shi, Suzhou Shi, Jiangsu Sheng, China

Swallow Garden is located beside the Lushan Jinjiang Hotel in Changshu City, Suzhou. It was constructed in the Qianlong Emperor period of the Qing Dynasty approximately 300 years ago. At that time, the Fujian Taipeng observer and part-time political scholar Jiang Yuanshu encountered difficulties when crossing the sea. After his safe return to Changshu, he was struck by the idea of a swallow safely returning to its home, and thus named it the Swallow Garden. Swallow Garden is a classic garden with relatively intact preservation of its original form. There are lotus ponds in the eastern part along with the 72 Stone Monkeys rock face. The Wuzhi Pavilion is where the former owners of the garden would welcome friends and relatives to their home. In front of the Wuzhi Pavilion is the Yangu rock face, which was created by the famous designer Ge Yuliang and is much admired by gardeners.

Day 4 | Afternoon

Having the chance to enjoy the charming Swallow Garden, Yushan Cableway next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!

Yushan Cableway

Opening Hours: Open from 8:00am-4:00pm

Ticket Price: 24 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 0.5-2.0 Hours

Location: North Yushan Road, Yushan Town, Changshu, Suzhou

The Yushan cableway is located between the Xingfu Temple and the Yushan Jianmen, running through the northern foothills of the Yushan Mountains. It is a single-line cycle, a fixed handgrip, and a double-lift hanging passenger ropeway. Lying in the northwest of Changshu City, the Yangtze River flows from the north to Shanghu Lake in the south. It is named because the ancestor Yu Zhong(Zhong Yong) of Jiangnan died and was buried here in Shang and Zhou Dynasty. The southeast corner of Yushan goes deep into the ancient city, so it is praised as "a ten miles mountain with its half in the city".

Day 4 | Evening

Looking for a bed nearby after finishing your journey at Yushan Cableway? Doubletree by Hilton Suzhou Wuzhong is one of your top choices.

Doubletree by Hilton Suzhou Wuzhong

Opened in 2022, the Doubletree by Hilton Suzhou Wuzhong is a great accommodation choice in Suzhou.

Suzhou Railway Station and Sunan Shuofang International Airport are located 23km and 51km away respectively. Transportation around the city is also convenient, with Muli Metro Station within walking distance. There is no shortage of things to see in the area, with the Creathink Robot Science & Technology Museum, Tian'ehu Park and 蘇州橙天360劇場 all nearby.

After a long day of sightseeing, guests can retire to the comfort of the hotel. For those driving themselves, parking is provided on site.

When it comes to Suzhou hotels, the Doubletree by Hilton Suzhou Wuzhong is highly regarded for its excellent facilities.

Day 5 | Morning

Baoyan Ecological Sightseeing Garden

Opening Hours: Open from 8:00am-4:00pm

Ticket Price: 30 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-4 Hours

Location: Yushan S Rd, Changshu Shi, Suzhou Shi, Jiangsu Sheng, China

Baoyan Ecological Sightseeing Park is located in the green valley of Cangshan Mountain in Baoyan Bay at the southern foot of Yushan Mountain. It is a natural ecological park with rich forest landscapes in Yushan National Forest Park. It is dominated by a large area of natural coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest, with a wide variety of forest plants. There are forest plant ecological gardens such as fruit tea three-dimensional cultivation garden, fruit tree boutique garden, ornamental bamboo plant garden, and bayberry variety garden. Rock Garden, Jiefu Stone, All Bridges, etc. In June and July every year, the red bayberry blooms in Baoyan, attracting tourists from all over the world to linger and linger.

Day 5 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: Shanghu Water Forest.

Shanghu Water Forest

Opening Hours: Open from 8:10am-4:10pm

Ticket Price: 0

Recommended Length of Stay: 0.5-1 Hours

Location: Shanghu Scenic Area, Huanhu South Road, Changshu City, Suzhou City

Shanghu Water Forest is known as the Amazon in the south of the Yangtze River. This is a peculiar place where trees grow in water, this is a paradise where thousands of egrets and birds perch, this is a paradise where the four seasons change but the beauty remains. Walking along the plank road, the branches of the pond fir and the fallen fir are tall and straight, the tree shape is soft, and the reflection is in the water and light, and it is also moving and still. Take the bamboo raft to slowly drive in, just like incarnation of a bird, entering the paradise of birds. People who come here all sigh at the magnificence here, and they all miss the original freshness here. Whether it is the shadow of the cedar forest or the eagle hitting the sky, the Shanghu Water Forest has become a green eco-tourism destination for people to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

* All reviews in the blog are machine-translated.