The Taihu Yuantouzhu Scenic Area is located in Binhu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and one of the core scenic spots of the Taihu Lake Scenic and Historic Area. The scenic area covers a total area of approximately 5.39 square kilometers, of which water accounts for about 30%. It is named "Yuantouzhu" because a huge rock juts into the lake, resembling a floating turtle raising its head. As the essence of Taihu Lake's scenery, the scenic area is characterized by "mountains not high but elegant, waters not deep but vast," integrating natural landscapes with cultural attractions. It combines the natural beauty of lake and mountain scenery with humanistic architecture such as pavilions, terraces, ancestral halls, and temples built over successive dynasties. The highest elevation in the scenic area is about 120 meters. It mainly includes the Yuantouzhu Peninsula, Taihu Fairy Island, Zhongdu Mountain, and other areas. It is an excellent place to view Taihu Lake's sunrise and cherry blossoms, attracting millions of tourists every year.
Historical Culture
The development history of Taihu Yuantouzhu can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty, when people had already built pavilions and terraces here as places for sightseeing and rest. During the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, Wuxi gentry Yang Hanxi purchased land here and built gardens, successively constructing buildings such as "Hengyun Villa," which laid the prototype of the scenic area. His inscription "Embracing Wu and Yue" is still preserved on the huge rock at Yuantouzhu, highlighting the magnificent momentum of Taihu Lake spanning the Wu and Yue regions.
Since the 20th century, the scenic area has been continuously expanded, absorbing the gardening techniques of Jiangnan gardens and skillfully combining natural landscapes with artificial architecture. The modern literatus Guo Moruo once visited this place and left the poem "The best place of Taihu Lake is, after all, at Yuantou," making the reputation of Yuantouzhu as "the best place of Taihu Lake" widely known. In addition, the "cherry blossom culture" in the scenic area also has a history of nearly a hundred years. Since the introduction of cherry blossoms in the 1930s, a ten-thousand-mu cherry blossom garden has now been formed, making it one of the world's three major cherry blossom viewing destinations. The annual Cherry Blossom Festival in spring has become a landmark cultural event in Wuxi.
Main Attractions
Yuanzhu Spring Waves
Yuanzhu Spring Waves is located at the front end of the peninsula and is the essence of the entire scenic area. Here, huge rocks face the lake, allowing visitors to closely admire the sparkling surface of Taihu Lake and the distant layered mountains. The core area contains landmark landscapes such as the "Yuantouzhu" stone inscription, the "Embracing Wu and Yue" inscription, and the Zhenze Divine Turtle sculpture. Among them, the "Yuantouzhu" stone inscription was carved in the Qing Dynasty, with vigorous and powerful calligraphy. Surrounding it are buildings such as Chenglan Hall, Feiyun Pavilion, and Songfen Hall, all built from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the Republic of China period, reflecting the exquisite elegance of Jiangnan architecture. In spring, cherry blossoms surround this area and complement the lake water, creating a breathtaking picture.
Taihu Fairy Island
Taihu Fairy Island, formerly known as "Sanshan Island," is located in Taihu Lake about 2.6 kilometers southeast of Yuantouzhu, with an area of about 0.12 square kilometers. Visitors need to take a boat to reach the island (round-trip ticket 60 yuan/person). The island is themed around Taoist culture and features buildings such as Huixian Bridge, Yuelao Shrine, and Tiandu Immortal Mansion. Among them, Tiandu Immortal Mansion enshrines Taoist deities and has flourishing incense offerings. Lingxiao Palace at the top of the island is about 20 meters high and is the highest point of the fairy island. Climbing the tower offers a 360-degree panoramic view of Taihu Lake. The island also features a large number of Taihu stones with peculiar shapes, which together with pavilions and terraces create the artistic conception of "immortal mountains and jeweled pavilions," hence the name "Taihu Fairy Island."
Cherry Blossom Valley
Cherry Blossom Valley is located in the northwest part of the Yuantouzhu Scenic Area, covering about 200,000 square meters. It is the area with the densest cherry blossom planting in the scenic area. More than 30 varieties of cherry blossoms are planted here, including Somei Yoshino, Kanzan, early cherry, and late cherry, with a total of more than 30,000 trees, many of which are over a hundred years old. Facilities such as the Cherry Blossom Avenue, Cherry Viewing Pavilion, and Cherry Blossom Post Office have been built in the valley. From mid-March to early April each year, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the entire valley is covered by a sea of pink and white flowers, with a flowering period of about 20 days. At night, a "night cherry blossom" light show is also held, with lights and cherry blossoms enhancing each other and creating a dreamy atmosphere.
Chongshan Hidden Beauty
Chongshan Hidden Beauty is the entrance area of the Yuantouzhu Scenic Area, mainly featuring natural mountain forests and garden landscapes, covering an area of about 800,000 square meters. It is shaded by green trees and has murmuring streams. It includes landscapes such as Cuihu Lake, Xuelang Pavilion, and Caowan. Among them, Cuihu Lake covers about 12,000 square meters. The lake water is clear and reflects the surrounding trees and pavilions, making it a good place to escape the summer heat. The architectural style of Chongshan Hidden Beauty is low-key and restrained, reflecting the characteristics of "hidden" and "beautiful" and blending with the natural environment. It is a transitional area where tourists can feel a tranquil atmosphere after entering the scenic area.
Zhongdu Mountain
Located between Yuantouzhu and Taihu Fairy Island, with an area of about 0.4 square kilometers, it is connected to the land by Dushan Bridge. It is mainly oriented toward leisure and vacation, with facilities such as Taihu Sanatorium and resorts, while also preserving some historical relics, such as the Dushan Fort ruins from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, which are physical materials for studying the military history of the Taihu Lake region. The lake surface here is open and is one of the best places to view the sunset over Taihu Lake. In the evening, the afterglow of the setting sun falls on the lake, sparkling and beautiful beyond description.
Tour Routes：
One-Day Essence Tour
Arrive at the scenic area entrance at 8:30 a.m., walk along Chongshan Hidden Beauty to Cherry Blossom Valley (a key cherry blossom viewing area in spring), and tour for about 1 hour; at 9:30, go to the core scenic area of Yuantouzhu to view the "Yuantouzhu" stone inscription and the "Embracing Wu and Yue" inscription, rest and enjoy the view at Chenglan Hall, taking about 1.5 hours; at 11:00, have lunch at Hengyun Restaurant and taste the Three Whites of Taihu Lake; at 12:30, go to the boat dock and take the 13:00 boat to Taihu Fairy Island. After landing on the island, visit Huixian Bridge, Tiandu Immortal Mansion, and Lingxiao Palace, taking about 2 hours; at 15:30, take the boat back; at 16:00, visit Zhongdu Mountain and wait to watch the sunset over Taihu Lake; at 17:30, end the itinerary.
Cherry Blossom Festival In-Depth Tour
First day morning: Visit the core scenic area of Yuantouzhu and the surrounding pavilions and buildings to learn about its history and culture; have lunch in the scenic area at noon; in the afternoon, go to Taihu Fairy Island to experience Taoist culture and lake views; in the evening, after returning, enjoy late cherry blossoms in Cherry Blossom Valley and stay at a hotel near the scenic area. Second day morning: Get up early to watch the sunrise over Taihu Lake in the core scenic area of Yuantouzhu; afterward, enter Cherry Blossom Valley again to photograph cherry blossoms in the morning light; at noon, taste specialty foods such as cherry blossom pastries; in the afternoon, visit Chongshan Hidden Beauty and experience the natural landscape; end the itinerary before 16:00. This route is suitable for tourists who come specifically for cherry blossom viewing during the cherry blossom season and allows them to fully experience the beauty of cherry blossoms at different times.
Travel Suggestions：
The best season to visit is spring (March-April), when you can enjoy the beautiful blooming cherry blossoms; the next best is autumn (September-October), when the weather is cool and suitable for lake tours.
During the Cherry Blossom Festival, there are many tourists. It is recommended to travel at off-peak times, choose weekdays or enter early in the morning to avoid crowding; if you plan to view night cherry blossoms, you can enter in the afternoon and enjoy both day and night scenery in one visit.
The scenic area is large. It is recommended to combine walking with sightseeing buses. The all-route sightseeing bus ticket is 50 yuan/person and stops at major attractions, saving energy.
To taste the Three Whites of Taihu Lake, it is recommended to choose Hengyun Restaurant in the scenic area. Although the price is slightly higher, the ingredients are fresh and you can taste authentic lake seafood flavors, with an average consumption of about 100-150 yuan per person.
Photography suggestions: In the early morning, photograph the sunrise over Taihu Lake in the core scenic area of Yuantouzhu; during the cherry blossom season, take portrait photos on Cherry Blossom Avenue in Cherry Blossom Valley; climb Lingxiao Palace on Taihu Fairy Island to photograph a panoramic view of Taihu Lake.
Notes：
Taihu Fairy Island boat trips are greatly affected by weather. In case of strong winds, heavy rain, and other severe weather, services may be suspended. Please check the weather forecast or consult the scenic area before traveling.
Some areas along the lake in the scenic area have no railings. When touring, take care of elderly people and children and do not approach dangerous lakeside areas.
During the Cherry Blossom Festival, there is a large flow of people. Keep personal belongings safe and avoid staying too long in crowded places to prevent getting lost.
Picking cherry blossoms and littering are prohibited in the scenic area. Protect the environment and abide by scenic area regulations; smoking must be done in designated areas.
In summer, there are many mosquitoes by Taihu Lake, so it is recommended to carry mosquito repellent; in spring and autumn, the temperature difference between morning and evening is large, so prepare a jacket; in winter, the lake wind is strong, so pay attention to windproofing and keeping warm.
Self-driving tourists should arrive as early as possible during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Parking spaces in the scenic area are tight. You can choose to park in nearby temporary parking lots and then transfer to the free shuttle bus to enter the scenic area.
Transportation：
Bus: Within Wuxi city, you can take Bus No. 1, Leyou Line 1, or Bus No. 72 to "Yuantouzhu (Chongshan) Station" and walk about 5 minutes to enter the scenic area. The bus fare is 2 yuan/person, and operating hours are 6:00-21:00 (extended to 22:00 during the Cherry Blossom Festival).
Self-driving: From downtown Wuxi, drive southwest along Huanhu Road to reach the scenic area parking lot directly, about 30 minutes by car; from Suzhou, take the G15W Changtai Expressway and then Huan Taihu Highway, about 1.5 hours by car. The scenic area parking lot charges 5 yuan/hour. During the Cherry Blossom Festival, temporary parking lots are added, charging 10 yuan/time.
Subway Bus: Take Wuxi Metro Line 1 to "Nanchan Temple Station" and transfer to Bus No. 1 directly to the scenic area; or take Metro Line 2 to "He Lie Kou Station" and transfer to Bus No. 72. The whole journey takes about 1 hour, and the metro fare is 2-4 yuan.
Tourist Special Line: There is a direct tourist special line bus to Yuantouzhu at Wuxi Railway Station Square. The fare is 5 yuan/person. Departure time is 7:00-17:00, with one bus every 30 minutes.
Opening Hours：
Open all year round. Daily opening hours are 8:00-17:30 (last entry at 16:30). During the Cherry Blossom Festival (mid-March to early April), opening hours are extended to 21:00 (last entry at 20:30) so tourists can enjoy night cherry blossoms. Boat operating hours are 8:30-16:00 (one boat every 30 minutes). During the Cherry Blossom Festival, the last boat is extended to 18:00. In winter (December-February), some amusement facilities may shorten operating hours, subject to on-site notices in the scenic area.
Tickets：
Ticket 85 yuan/person.