A Time-Saving Guide to Cherry Blossom Viewing at Yuantouzhu

March 25, 2025, is the perfect time to admire the cherry blossoms at Yuantouzhu, Wuxi. The early cherry blossoms are beginning to wither, the mid-season cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and the late cherry blossoms are budding. There are three entrances to Yuantouzhu: Chongshan Gate, Dushan Gate, and Guanshe Villa Pier (Guanshe Villa Pier No. 3, also known as Fisherman's Wharf, offers parking; if it's full, you can park in the opposite residential area). The first two gates are usually crowded, especially Chongshan Gate, which is far from Yuantouzhu. Although there are sightseeing trams, they are not recommended due to the long queues. For a time-saving experience, enter through Guanshe Villa Pier. You can purchase both Yuantouzhu entrance tickets (90 yuan/person) and speedboat tickets (45 yuan/person, one-way; return tickets must be purchased again at Changchun Bridge). A ten-minute speedboat ride takes you directly to Changchun Bridge (inside the Yuantouzhu scenic area). The cherry blossoms at Yuantouzhu are mainly concentrated around Changchun Bridge and Cherry Blossom Valley (including the Cherry Blossom Viewing Tower). No need for flowery words—the photos speak for themselves. After seeing these two spots, the cherry blossoms elsewhere might not seem as impressive. After disembarking at Changchun Bridge, go left to Cherry Blossom Valley, or right along the lake to Guangfu Temple, where you can enjoy a bowl of vegetarian noodles for 20 yuan (quite tasty). From Guangfu Temple, head east and pass through a bamboo forest to reach Cherry Blossom Valley. We parked at the residential area opposite Guanshe Villa Pier at 10:00 am and returned to our car at 1:30 pm after enjoying the cherry blossoms. The entire trip was leisurely, including a coffee break and a bowl of noodles, taking a total of 3.5 hours and costing 180 yuan/person (90 yuan for the entrance ticket + 90 yuan for the round-trip speedboat). We felt it was well worth it to admire the cherry blossoms at Yuantouzhu, Wuxi, one of the three major international cherry blossom festivals.