10 Best Things to Do in Wuxi on a Day Trip

Wuxi ended up on my itinerary for a few reasons. I was flying out of Wuxi Airport to Zhangjiajie, but the city also caught my attention for its cdrama filming locations, historic areas, and canals.

I had about 5-6 hours here as a day trip from Suzhou to explore, and there were more things to do in Wuxi than I expected.

This guide covers what I fit into a short trip, a few spots worth adding if you have more time, and if Wuxi ended up worth the visit.

If it’s your first time visiting China, make sure to read my ultimate travel guide for first-time visitors.

Book before your Wuxi trip:

📶 China eSIM card — eSIM I used that includes access to apps like Google, Instagram, etc.

🏨 Best hotels in Wuxi: Booking.com | Trip.com (what I use for China)

🎟 Top-rated Wuxi day tours and attractions

🚂 Book your train ticket to Wuxi on Trip.com

Table of Contents

How to Get to Wuxi

Modern high-speed train station platform in China, with two trains on either side and travelers walking beneath a curved metal roof

I had spent 3 days in Suzhou, and Wuxi was the nearest airport from me. Luckily, Wuxi is easy to get to by high-speed rail.

From Suzhou: The high-speed train takes about 15–20 minutes. Tickets start from around ¥19 (~$3 USD). It was the shortest bullet train ride I’ve done in China.

From Shanghai: Trains from Shanghai Hongqiao or Shanghai Station take about 40+ minutes, with tickets from around ¥40 (~$6 USD).

There are dozens of departures throughout the day so you don’t need to book too far in advance.

Most trains arrive at Wuxi Railway Station in the city center, which is the most convenient stop for the attractions in this guide.

🚂 Book your train ticket to Wuxi on Trip.com

Getting Around Wuxi

The interior of Wuxi Metro Station with tiled platforms, overhead signage in Chinese and English, and commuters waiting for trains. The modern station features bright lighting and a clean, well-organized design.

Wuxi has a metro system similar to Shanghai, though with the addition of color-coded lines on the floor.

The metro is connected to the Wuxi Railway Station and the airport, so it’s easy to venture out from there.

If you’re only visiting the city center attractions (Nanchan Temple, Nanchang Street, Sanyang Plaza), the metro is fine.

That said, some of Wuxi’s main attractions like Taihu Lake, Lingshan Grand Buddha, and Three Kingdoms City are far from the city center and would eat up a lot of time on the subway.

If you have a limited day like I did, Didi taxi is faster and worth it for getting between spots quickly. Honestly, I should have taken more taxis.

Note: If you’re flying into or out of Wuxi International Airport (WUX) like I did, it’s on the eastern edge of the city. Budget about 30–40 minutes by Didi taxi from the city center.

Luggage Storage at Wuxi Train Station

A food court inside Wuxi Central Station with various food stalls and vendors offering Chinese dishes and snacks. The busy dining area is filled with travelers and locals grabbing a meal before their journey.

Since I had a flight out of Wuxi Airport in the evening, I needed to store my luggage for the day.

There are storage lockers at Wuxi Railroad Metro Station but I wasn’t sure how to work them or if they were operational.

A cleaning staff member came up to me and led me to a food vendor nearby at N Duo Sushi who holds luggage in the back.

It seemed legit 😅 there were other bags there, she gave me a receipt, and it cost ¥20 (~$3 USD). I got my luggage back without any issues.

It’s not an official service so use your judgment, but it worked fine for me.

Sanyang Plaza

Sanyang Plaza is a central commercial square in Wuxi; more of a hub to pass through than a destination on its own, but a useful point when you first arrive.

I walked through here on my way to Nanchan Temple and stopped for lunch at a nearby vegan buffet, Sumanxiang Wuxi Fuxing Rd.

A white plate with various Asian dishes including rice, tofu, green vegetables, and fried items, accompanied by a bowl of clear soup with a piece of tofu on top, on a wooden table.

It’s vegan and costs about ¥27 (~$4 USD). You pay first at the counter and they bring plates out to your table. Simple, filling, and easy.

Cost: Free | Nearest metro: Sanyang Square Station | Amap

Nanchan Temple

Nanchan Temple is one of Wuxi’s oldest Buddhist temples, originally built during the Southern Dynasty.

The main site is the Miaoguang Pagoda, a seven-story brick tower that’s been rebuilt multiple times over the centuries.

It’s an active place of worship, but you can go inside and there are sectioned off paths to see several guardian deities:

Two large colorful statues of deities inside a temple, separated by glass, with intricate details, traditional attire, and vibrant colors, placed behind a glass barrier with offerings and cushions in.

If you’re in Wuxi in the evening, the pagoda is lit up at night too.

Cost: Free | Nearest metro: Nanchan Temple Station | Amap

Nanchan Temple Pedestrian Street

A pedestrian shopping street near Nanchan Temple in Wuxi, China, lined with traditional-style buildings housing shops and restaurants. Red lanterns and decorative elements hang overhead as visitors browse the lively commercial area.

The outer grounds of the temple is surrounded by a beautiful commercial area with shops and street food.

While I was there, I walked to a small alleyway within the grounds and visited a small bookstore made popular by cdrama actor Zhang Linghe. As a fangirl, I had to visit! 😆

It ended up being one of my favorite memories.

The elderly staff working there insisted on doing a photo shoot and directed my poses (30+ photos!).

A woman with long hair wearing a brown jacket stands in a bookstore aisle, surrounded by shelves filled with colorful books and posters on the wall.

She even gave me his photo card. We chatted with Google Translate + my limited Mandarin.

Cost: Free Nearest metro: Nanchan Temple Station | Amap

Nanchang Street

A busy pedestrian street in a traditional Chinese town with shops, red lanterns hanging from trees, and people walking under umbrellas.

Nanchang Street is the main historic street in Wuxi’s ancient canal district, which runs along the Qingming Bridge area.

It’s lined with Qing Dynasty-style architecture, canal-side teahouses, small restaurants, and independent shops.

It’s similar to that of Suzhou’s, but less crowded.

This is also a notable Shine On Me cdrama filming location, which is partly why I came here:

People queuing outside a shop with a wooden signboard, two display boards with photos, and a white wall with red roses climbing.

Cost: Free | Nearest metro: Nanchan Temple Station | Amap

Qingming Bridge

A narrow waterway lined with white buildings featuring black roofs and red lanterns, with a boat sailing in the center under a cloudy sky.

Qingming Bridge is one of the most photographed spots in Wuxi, which I’m sure is even more picturesque when it’s lit up in the evening.

It’s also another Shine On Me filming location, as the main character is from Wuxi. The bridge and surrounding canal area appear in episodes 24 & 25 from the cdrama.

➡️ Guide to Finding Cdrama Filming Locations, Merch & Ads in China

Cost: Free | Getting there: Short walk from Nanchan Temple or Nanchang Street | Amap

Huishan Ancient Town

Visiting Huishan Ancient Town is one of the main things to do in Wuxi. It was the most crowded site I visited, but not overwhelmingly so.

It’s known for its concentration of ancestral halls; 100+ family clan temples clustered together.

This may have been my favorite site I visited in Wuxi. I loved walking down the traditional buildings while surrounded by greenery and mountains.

🎫 Entrance is free but tickets to other attractions like Jinchang Garden and Camp Huishan can be booked on Trip.com.

You’ll pass by shops, workshops and food vendors, and detour to small ponds and nature sites.

The serene landscape of Jichang Garden at Huishan Ancient Town in Wuxi, China, featuring classical Chinese garden design with rockeries, pavilions, and lush greenery. The historic garden is one of the finest examples of Ming dynasty landscape architecture in Jiangsu province.

Cost: Free | Nearest metro: Huishan Ancient Town Station | Amap

More Things to Do in Wuxi (Next Time)

A narrow canal lined with white buildings with dark tiled roofs on both sides, under a cloudy sky. The water reflects the buildings, and some balconies and windows are visible.

These are the places that were on my list but I didn’t get to with only 5 hours.

In my research on what to do in Wuxi, these attractions seemed worth planning around if you have a full day or overnight stay.

Taihu Yuantouzhu Scenic Area (Southeast Gate 1)

Taihu Lake is one of China’s largest freshwater lakes, and Yuantouzhu is the most popular scenic area along its shores.

Budget at least half a day if you go.

Cost: ¥105 (~$14 USD) Tickets on Trip.com | Getting there: Didi taxi recommended from city center (~30–40 min) | Amap

Lingshan Grand Buddha

The Lingshan Grand Buddha is a 88-meter (289 ft) bronze standing Buddha statue, which is one of the largest in the world.

It’s a half-day trip from the city center at minimum.

Cost: ¥150–¥310 (~$22–$43 USD) Tickets on Trip.com | Getting there: Didi taxi recommended (~45 min from city center) | Amap

Three Kingdoms City (Southeast Gate)

Three Kingdoms City is a scenic film studio and theme park built on the shores of Taihu Lake, used as a filming location for the series Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Though I’ve never watched the series, I love visiting filming sites. The whole area looks incredible and straight out of a costume drama.

Cost: ¥150–¥236 (~$22–$35 USD) Tickets on Trip.com Getting there: Didi taxi from city center (~40 min) | Amap

Xihui Scenic Area (Cable Car)

Xihui Scenic Area is a historic park combining two hills, Huishan and Xishan. It has temples, gardens, and the popular cable car connecting them.

The cable car offers good views over the city. This’ll be on the top of my things to do in Wuxi list next time I visit.

Cost: ¥50–¥80 (~$7–$11 USD) depending on season Tickets on Trip.com | Nearest metro: Huishan Ancient Town Station | Amap

Is Wuxi Worth Visiting?

Outdoor book festival with trees decorated with hanging books and colorful lanterns, crowded with people browsing and socializing.

I wish I had more time in Wuxi! After visiting and seeing all of the other sites I missed, I would even stay overnight.

But even if you only have one day and are in nearby Suzhou or Shanghai, it’s worth a day trip.

The canal district around Nanchang Street and the ancient towns are genuinely beautiful and not overwhelmingly crowded.

If you’re a fan of Shine On Me, it’s a fun reason to come. The filming locations are all within walking distance of each other along Nanchang Street.

Wuxi is definitely on my to-revisit list for next time.

Enjoy and save this post for your trip to Wuxi. 🇨🇳