The highlights of a trip to Wuxi are the scenic Tai Hu (Tai Lake) and the Grand Canal. According to legend, the city was established 3,500 years ago as the capital of the Wu Kingdom and was a center for the production of tin. When the mines ran dry, the capital moved west, but Wuxi remained significant due to its location on the Grand Canal. Xihui Park in the west of city was established in 1958, and houses the Jichang Yuan garden. At the park’s entrance, a path leads to the Loong Light Pagoda on top of Xi Shan. A cable car connects Xi Shan to nearby Hui Shan. The Wuxi Museum has exhibits dating back 6,000 years, and includes some Qing Dynasty cannons.

Tai Hu (Tai Lake), 5 km SW of Wuxi, one of China’s largest lakes, Tai Hu is famous for its rocks, an indispensable feature of a traditional garden. The lake’s northern shores are fringed with scenic spots including Mei Yuan (Plum Garden), spectacular in spring when its 4,000 fruit trees blossom. Yuantou Zhu (Turtle Head Promontory) is a favorite with the Chinese, with tea houses and pretty lake views. Nearby, Sanshan Island is a former bandit’s haunt with temples and tall Buddha statues. However, none is as tall as the 88 m Lingshan Buddha on Ma Shan peninsula, a short bus ride from the other sights. The area also has a handful of lakeside theme parks.