2025 Jiangsu Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in April)

Always thought the coastal waters around Jiangsu and Zhejiang weren't blue? Lianyungang will leave you speechless with its stunningly blue waters! Lianyungang is a coastal city in Jiangsu Province, located in the northeastern part of the province. It borders the Yellow Sea to the east, Shandong to the north, Xuzhou to the west, and Huai'an to the south. This important port city boasts rich marine resources and a long cultural history. Lianyungang is famous for its beautiful coastal scenery, rich historical sites, and modern port facilities. 📍 Location: Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province 🚄 High-Speed Rail: Lianyungang Station 🚊 Train: Lianyungang East Station 🚗 Self-Drive: Recommended; rental cars available at the high-speed rail station 🚶♂️➡️ Lianyungang Travel Itinerary Guide Day 1: Lianyungang Old Street - Yunv Mountain on the Sea - Yunding, Faqi Temple, Tangwang Lake - Xilian Island (Sunset) Day 2: Yangwotou (Sunrise) - Lian Island (Dashawan, Suma Bay) - Lian Island Yacht Club Sea Sightseeing - Return Trip 📷 Dual Attraction Check-In Guide ✅ Yunv Mountain on the Sea: The "Rio de Janeiro" of Jiangsu. You can take a sightseeing bus or hike up (a long climb), overlooking the old town of Lianyungang

Jiangsu Lianyungang is really a treasure island🏝️ Colorful houses, the fishing boats at the port Here, you have the same blue waters as Qingdao and Pingtan Lianyungang is not as popular and you don't need to take a boat No need to worry about not being able to grab a ferry ticket like in Zhejiang Gouqi Island, Dachen Island, Dongji Island You can directly take the high-speed train, and it's easy to travel around by car~ You can have a comfortable trip with just an average of 300 yuan!! 🚗【Lianyungang Travel Itinerary】 D1 Various places - Lianyungang Old Street - Haiyifang D2 Lian Island (Dashawan - Sumawan) - Sunset at Xilian Island Seafood Market D3 Sunrise at Donglian Island Yangwo Head - Yuntai Mountain over the Sea ✨ ❶ If you only have 2 days, you can skip Haiyifang and combine D1 and D3 ❷ On sunny days, you can see the blue sea surface, the sea is blue with the light, and not blue against the light 🖼️【Lianyungang Attractions Guide】 1️⃣ Lian Island (Dashawan - Sumawan) Remember to walk along the trail from Dashawan to the Peacock Garden, the waves hitting the rocks by the sea are really beautiful, and there's also a suspension bridge over the sea, even phone photos look amazing! 2️⃣ Sunset at Xilian Island Seafood Market Xilian Island is outside the paid scenic area, you can drive there directly, aerial photography of the azure sea and colorful-roofed houses feels like you've arrived at the Amalfi Coast, with fishing boats moored in the distance 3️⃣ Donglian Island Yangwo Head Standing beside the lighthouse, watching the sun rise from the sea level, the orange slowly spreads across the entire sea surface, you'll have a good mood for the whole day~ 4️⃣ Yuntai Mountain over the Sea When you drive up the mountain road and then walk to the viewing platform, what unfolds before your eyes is a sea of blue and houses with red roofs, even without a drone you can overlook the small mountains, and against the light, there's an endless range of mountains, so beautiful!! 🍲【Lianyungang Cuisine】 Seafood is fresh when bought and processed at the market Qin's Roujiamo/Su's Electric Kebabs/Huang Laotou Cold Skin Noodles/Hongxia Rice Noodles/Su's Sweet Potato Noodles 🏠【Lianyungang Accommodation】 It's more convenient to stay on Lian Island, close to dining and watching the sunrise and sunset, you can drive into the scenic area before 8 am and after 6 pm~ You can also stay near Yuntai Mountain over the Sea~ Jiangsu Tourism | Jiangsu Travel | Lianyungang Tourism Jiangsu Seaside | Lianyungang Guide | Lianyungang Travel Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai Seaside | May Day Tourism | Reverse Tourism Jiangsu·China

1️⃣ Pingjiang Road (Free): Take the subway line 1️⃣ to Xiangmen Station, walk about 10 minutes, this is my favorite spot, the scenery is very beautiful, all for me to go! Random shots are very photogenic, a super beautiful road, very atmospheric! 2️⃣ Seven-mile Shantang Street (Free): Subway line 2️⃣ exit 3️⃣, worth going! Very beautiful It's even better at night! If you like Hanfu, you can go, there are also Hanfu experience halls here, the price-performance ratio is relatively high, and there are many Suzhou specialty pastries!!! Recommend a delicious restaurant Shantang Street Food 😋 Qian Yuman•Nostalgic Restaurant A must-eat internet celebrity Su-style dish in Suzhou, with a good environment, suitable for check-in and taking pictures. The restaurant is a 3-minute walk from the Shantang Street scenic area🌟 Signature dishes: Bamboo net duck: The skin is crispy, the duck meat is fragrant, especially delicious, it's a signature! Squirrel bass: The fish is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sweet and sour Private three-color shrimp tofu: Tender and smooth rice, thick tofu, and shrimp Peach Blossom Ten Miles: A must-order fruit wine with a low alcohol content 3️⃣ Jinsui Bay Trestle (Free): The sunset is absolutely beautiful, the pictures I took before are gone, I always recommend this place to watch the sunset to everyone who comes to Suzhou. You can see Suzhou's most famous 'Big Pants' landmark Oriental Gate! A place I will never get tired of! Subway line 3️⃣ direct, Jin Lake Station exit 3️⃣. 4️⃣ Guanqian Street: There are mainly a lot of snacks inside, various milk tea shops, and clothing stores to stroll around! The most important thing is that the prices are clearly marked, suitable for people like me who don't like to bargain to visit. Take the subway line 4️⃣ to Chayuanchang Station and exit from exit 2, and you will be at Guanqian Street 5️⃣ Hanshan Temple: Ticket ¥20: The moon falls and the crow crows, the frost fills the sky, the river maple and the fishing fire correspond to the sorrowful sleep. Hanshan Temple outside Gusu City, the bell rings at midnight to the guest ship. As one of the top ten famous temples in China, it is of course a tourist spot worth visiting.

A Belgian chocolate moulding workshop enjoyed in the hip riverside area of Canal 5 bustling with cosplayers and students. Museums showcase Jiangsu’s immense history nearby, as well as some of Changzhou’s famous attractions. Bars open up at night and the cultural center carries beauty in the rain. #givethanks

The Sacred Heart Church is a Roman Catholic church. It was built in the French colonial period in the 20th century. It is also known as the Pink Church because it is pink. For some reason, it is impossible to visit. Although it is not a popular attraction, many tourists come here.

#discoverchina This is definitely one of the 2 places I really enjoyed and liked in Nanjing (the other one was the Grand Baoen temple). The place is simply beautiful, much better than similar places in Beijing and Shanghai, the old-houses and places decoration is done with nice harmony providing the perfect atmosphere and place to visit and day and night. Lots of options to do shopping and eat, a Starbucks is also there near to the wall that can be seen right next there. It is full of nice places, doors and decoration to take great pictures. Definitely a MUST-VISIT place while in Nanjing, spare good time on this place.

#discoverchina I visited this street everyday during my 4 days stay in Suzhou as my hotel is just a stone throw away. I am not much of a shopper and I am not really interested in the shopping on this street. That being said, there are bookstore, luxury goods, clothing chains, etc. Just slightly off the street, there is a building owned by Alibaba and there are many beauty salons available. Near the Alibaba building is an old cinema. I am most interested in all the foods that is available on this street; There is Ajisan, KFC, Pizza Hut, Sukiya, bakery, etc. For those interested in stinky tofu, there are 2 - 3 stores selling it.

#discoverchina Jiming Temple is one of those chill spots in Nanjing where you can just relax. It’s super old, built back in the 5th century, and has that calm, old-school vibe. The pagoda is the main thing here – climb up if you want a killer view of the city. The place is pretty peaceful, with a nice courtyard where you can just hang out and take it all in. Historically, it's been a Buddhist hub for centuries, so there's some serious history behind it. But honestly, it's just a cool spot to escape the city buzz and enjoy some quiet time. Perfect for taking a break or snapping a few pics!

#discoverchina Other must-see place in Wuxi is Taihu lake and in particular the Turtle Head Island. The price of the ticket is 90 RMB which is reasonable as it includes two main scenic spots which are pretty big. It also includes the ferry you need to take in order to head for the Turtle Head Island which is one of the scenic spots in the matter. While approaching the island you can easily realize it is made of two parts...the one on the left is bigger whereas the one on the right is smaller. You can ignore the latter and focus on visiting the former. It's very interesting. You will find accurate replicas of famous statues located in other parts of China. Among the others I am referring to the Dazu Rock carvings and Vairocana Buddha from Longmen Caves in Luoyang. Nearby on top of the hill there is a building that hosts a huge statue of the Jade emperor. Aside from this island the ticket comprehends also another very big area where you can stroll around and enjoy both the view of Taihu Lake and the visit of temples and palaces. Needless of me to say the best period to visit this scenic spot is in spring when cherry trees blossom. From the railway station you can get bus number 1 to reach this popular destination.

#discoverchina Looks like a less grand version of the one in Xi'An, this 古城墙 with its unique 4-tier structure, is said to be the longest brick city wall in the world at 35km. I'm not sure how that works against the Great Wall, perhaps the longest complete wall. Entrance fees at RMB30 per person, no pre-booking required, in fact it's probably the least crowded attraction all week. There's a small museum at the top that provides the history of this wall, from how it was constructed to how it was restored. Along the path up, look down and you'll find some original bricks with engraving, indicating the person responsible for making and laying the bricks in that section back then. You also get a superb panoramic view of Xuanwu Lake from this vantage point.

#discoverchina Stayed at the Dinoland Hotel. Loved the cave style theme to the rooms, with fossil decor on the walls. This made for easy access to the Dinosaur Land theme park. Inside the rides and attractions were all great. Getting from place to place was made much easier as we rented a motorised cart. My personal favourite was the fluke ride. Food options were plentiful outside and inside the theme park. We went there on weekdays so not so many people, we didn't need to queue for more than 15 minutes which was great. It's a very well established park with plenty of restaurants and clean toilets in the park. In summary, if you are looking for something different in the roller coaster world then it's only Dinoconda that can provide that - but it is definitely worth it!

#discoverchina We visited Purple Mountain to see the mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen. We visited in early July and it was hot in Nanjing - it was a few degrees cooler on the mountain. We walked up to the base of the mausoleum from the metro station - about 1.5km, and were happy to go this way. The foot path is well established and maintained and the huge trees of the park offered shade from the hot sun. The park is very lush with trees and bushes. The mausoleum itself is an incredible site. After the hike up to the base, the additional 392 steps to the top were a challenge, especially in the heat and open sunshine! But the climb was worth it for the views of Nanjing. We had no wait at all to walk through the mausoleum crypt (for some welcomed shade!). We rested for a short spell in the shaded garden areas before heading back down. Walked along the west (right) side going down to find what shade we could. We enjoyed this site as much for a connection to Sun Yat-sen's story and his role in recent Chinese political history we did not know before a visit to Nanjing.

#discoverchina We visited Suzhou at the end of November. Lots of local tourism, hardly any westerners which made it all the more an authentic experience. We enjoyed the city very much. We visited only 2 gardens - The Humble Administrator’s Garden and the Lingering Garden (which we combined with Xiyuan Temple which was very interesting) and we found it to be enough gardens... Went to see Panam Gate (lovely! Highly recommended ), and Zhouzhuang for a day trip (interesting). In the evening we went out to Liu Road which was a great experience. Closed to cars, lots of shops and places to eat... enjoyed it very much.

#discoverchina The Grand Canal in Suzhou is a national park with the top rating. In mid-June it was as crowded as a famous place in China during a national holiday. Parts of it were packed. Bridges with the best views were filled with photographers. Hotels inside the old city around the canal were all full. Hotels five or ten minutes away still had room. The old canal city in Suzhou, here, is like Tongli, Zhouzhang, and XiTang, all packed together. I prefer XiTang, which isn't as famous, or as crowded. Suzhou is a huge city with lots of attractions and the Ancient Grand Canal is just one of them. There's lots of restaurants, bars with live entertainment, souvenir shops, costume shops with dresses from the time the canal was new, 2000 years ago, and lots of women walking around in costumes from different eras. -- Very cool.

#discoverchina This is one of the best place in Suzhou to spent a lovely evening. I have been to both sides of the lake - east & west and it is just amazing whichever side you choose. You can reach here via Subway Line 1 - Dongfangzhimen station or Times Square station. Huge lake and big area to stroll along, also lot of places to sit & have great views. In the evening, all the building lights up bright and there is cool breeze which will attract you to come back & spent time. I have spent an hour over here without even realizing how time just passed away.

#discoverchina This place is exactly what you would have in mind. It's a plethora of interesting and exciting buys. You look at a vase and wonder how old it is. You see an abacus and wonder who it belonged to. An antique ornament catches your eye and you wonder how much it's really worth! There were so many different items, from vases to teapots, to coins, to statues, to art to jewellery boxes. Its like seeing pieces of peoples lives and homes from faded societies. You'll get some really unique finds there that are great AUTHENTIC Chinese items that can be gifts for family or friends; better than corny souvenirs you'll get at the modern markets. I highly recommend it, even if just for a stroll without intention to buy. It was one of my better parts of my trip.

#discoverchina It's located right in the city center, so it's very easy to get there. Keep in mind that this place is always crowded, even at weekdays, there are many guided groups so it's going to be hard to get into the tiny exposition rooms inside the buildings. All expositions are mainly dedicated to the first half of 20th century, and tells us about the Chinese Revolution and the Civil War. The territory also includes many picturesque gardens with little ponds, so it can be a really nice walk if you're lucky with weather. Some things to keep in mind - I needed to show my passport to get a ticket to enter and I found very few placards with English translations

#discoverchina I've seen most of the gates through the Nanjing Wall now but this one had eluded me. Yes most of the wall has been partly rebuilt and probably this huge gate fort has been repaired as well but it is stunning. They could hide 3000 soldiers in the rooms by the entrances (according to a guide I overheard). There is a bit of walking to get up onto the wall but once there take one of the little trains for a ride around the corner. There were only two of us needing a ride but I splashed out in the $25 it cost to have a car to ourselves (apart from the ticket lady who cadged a ride to the toilets) and they stopped whenever we asked them so we could take photos. It really is the most magnificent wall I have ever gone around and I have seen a few. If you can only go to one gate make it this one.

#discoverchina Visiting the Xiaoling Mausoleum of the Ming dynasty was one of the highlights of our time in Nanjing. My friend and I spent the whole day on the massive Purple Mountain complex, seeing Sun Yat-sen‘s Tomb and the observation tramway. I feel that all three combined make for a lovely day in Nanjing. Be sure to walk the sacred way amidst the giant stone creatures so characteristic of imperial Chinese resting places. The UNESCO listening of this tomb guarantees that any visit will like be crowded, so, if possible, plan to go in the morning on a week day. Tourists can easily access this site on the city’s public transportation via a bus. A taxi will likely be unnecessarily expensive.

#discoverchina A perfect place to visit in the summer, the only problem is that everyone else will be visiting it then too; as soon as you arrive you can either walk along the river or get a boat cruise across the beautiful water which reflects the hanging trees and clear sunny skies above. Along the sides of the river are hundreds of different kinds of plants of all different sizes and colours and paths leading in different directions, giving something new to discover each time you visit. At the centre of the lake rests the most famous landmark in the city of Yangzhou, the Five pavilion bridge, it's bright colours look beautiful in the sunlight and is usually filled with other people coming to visit. As you explore the different parts of the lake you can see birds like swans or peacocks and groups of people taking the perfect photo. You see the traditional Chinese architecture, old buildings lost behind plant life and different paths to explore.

#discoverchina We have arrived morning, and left 11 PM. First start with a boat, if you don't wanna extra charges don't go far, speed isn't enough to come back on time. We did though, later you have an option to continue to islands, or around lake, one day won't be enough to make all of them, you either take one or another. Each side there's something to see, and you will have chance to take a lot of pictures. If you are history guy then things will be more interesting. I'd just point out the age of the lake, it is told to be 4000 years old, and back in days it was bigger than what it's now, and it had connection to Yangtze river.

#discoverchina We made a quick stop to this garden with our tour guide Sunny, and it was incredible. All of the gardens offer a different look into the past of this 2,500 year old city. The architecture and the water add great views in every twist and turn. I definitely recommend stopping at this garden if you have time. We made it to three gardens, this one, the Lingering Garden, and the famous Humble Garden. This is the smallest of the three, but very different, and great to see to compare. Despite my ignorance I liked the Master of Nets one very much, I found the use of water and the various pavilions charming, and enjoyed the Bonzai area.

#discoverchina We were able to visit late afternoon on a work day, so the place was not very crowded - so we could take advantage of a very pleasant visit, both of the Buddha statue as well as the temple in the same complex. The statue of Buddha ls accessible via steps in front, or via an open air carraige that can be booked at the place. Once you reach the base, there is a route through a museum of sorts before you can make your wake to the feet of the statue. For scale, a toe nail of the statue is much bigger than the average human head! The size, grandeur and majesty of the temple does not disappoint. The main room was simply stunning. The fact that they chose to keep the statue of the lit Buddha small and not dwarf the visitor is a great choice. Feels serene and fantastic all at the same time. There is an english electronic guide available. The place is generally signed well, but don't expect a lot of english-speakers on premises. We had our own transport, so cannot speak to availability of taxis in and out. This is a bit out of the way from the middle of the city.

#discoverchina Its a must visit place in Suzhou. I would recommend to take 3-4 hours of time if you really wanna enjoy the place. There are lots of places to buy souvenirs, have street food & even nice restaurants. It gets heavily crowded in the evening but still worth a visit. There is also a canal tour (traditional Boat called Gondola). But the line is mostly very long in the evening. Just walking in the alleys along the canal itself is interesting, with lovely stone bridges along the way. For buying souvenirs, I would say dont rush, just visit few stores & do comparison.

#discoverchina The Lingering Garden in Suzhou is one of those places that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into another world. Built in the Ming Dynasty in 1593, it’s a stunning example of a classical Chinese garden, with winding paths, ponds, and pavilions that all come together to create a peaceful, almost magical atmosphere. The name "Lingering" really says it all—it’s a spot that invites you to slow down and soak in the beauty. The garden is split into four areas, each with its own vibe. The rock formations here are a standout, and there’s a cool mix of nature and architecture, making it a photographer’s dream. A fun tidbit: it’s been an inspiration for poets and artists over the years, and even today, it’s still one of the best places to experience traditional Chinese garden design. If you’re ever in Suzhou, this is definitely a spot you’ll want to visit!

#discoverchina We took a taxi from the old Suzhou to reach this place. We eventually found the ticket office when just walking towards the main entrance.. it was on the left-hand side. Not too much English info, but we managed to get the tickets alright. One of us was worried about the hike up the hill, so we ended up taking the tram. Turns out, the hill wasn't actually very high - around 35 meters according to the info text. But the tram ride anyways provided some nice views around the hill/island. For most people, the walk up is definitely doable. There were also some horse rides available, but the horses looked really sad and not too healthy. There are interesting spots around the Tiger Hill area (pagoda on top, pretty buildings, bonsai garden...). For us, the highlight was the beautiful flower fields on the sides of the hill. The smaller paths down the hill were less crowded than the main path. We spent around 2 h here, taking our time to enjoy the main sights and nature.

#discoverchina Zhouzhuang calls itself the #1 water town in China and millions agree with them but what about Tongl, another water town, not far away? Zhouzhuang is more developed, has more decorations, more shops, perhaps, but Tongli has more local people living right there, so it feels more real. The point is, really, there are several amazingly beautiful water cities in this region. Which one is number one? Explore them and decide for yourself. Traditional houses along the scenic waterways. Boats parked outside the houses. Some houses have a private passageway to the waterways that you can steer the boat directly into the house. Like Venice in China. Best to engage a guide to explain on the rich cultural history behind various parts of the township to fully appreciate the beauty of the houses and structures. End off with a boat ride down the canal from the middle of the township to the entrance.

#discoverchina Tongli Water Town is like stepping into a quiet, old-school Chinese postcard. It's a charming little town near Suzhou, famous for its canals, ancient bridges, and traditional architecture. The town’s history goes back over 1,000 years, dating to the Song Dynasty. What makes it stand out are the five lakes that form the shape of a "water lily" and the 49 beautiful stone bridges that cross them. It's a mix of winding alleyways, old wooden houses, and peaceful boat rides through the canals. You can find lots of local art, handicrafts, and snacks too, like the famous "Tongli Rice Cake." The atmosphere feels frozen in time, offering a relaxing escape from the usual hustle. If you love traditional Chinese culture and want to experience a more peaceful side of the country, Tongli’s the perfect spot. It’s like a tiny Venice but with a deep-rooted Chinese twist.