[2025 Changshu Attraction] Travel Guide for Reed Maze (Updated Apr)

🌾 Overview Located by Lake Yangcheng in Changshu, Suzhou, Shajiabang is a national 5A-rated tourist attraction. Built around the story of the Peking Opera "Shajiabang," it combines revolutionary education, ecological wetlands, and water town culture. Here you'll find the wild charm of the "Reed Maze," the historical atmosphere of "Chunlai Teahouse," and the famous Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, making it a hidden gem where nature meets culture in Jiangnan. 🌟 Must-See Highlights: Where Revolutionary Memory Meets Natural Beauty 🏯 Revolutionary Education Base: Reliving Wartime History • Shajiabang Revolutionary History Memorial Hall: Uses audio-visual technology to recreate historical scenes of New Fourth Army wounded soldiers recovering in the reed marshes. 18 pillars symbolize the unyielding spirit of the severely wounded. Free admission. • Live Show "Reed Marsh Beacon Fire": Multiple daily performances featuring water explosions and gunfight effects. Waterfront seating offers an immersive experience of the thrilling story of locals outsmarting Japanese invaders. 🌿 Reed Maze: Explore the Water Town's Ecological Wonder • Water Maze: Row through 3.2 km of waterways, where interwoven reeds form natural barriers. In autumn, reed flowers bloom like snow, and you might spot egrets in flight. • Wetland Science Park: Observe wetland birds and aquatic plants, participate in ecological learning activities - perfect for families. 🍜 Shajiabang Flavors: Where Delicacy Meets Intangible Heritage • Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crabs: Available September-November, rich in roe. "Wansan Restaurant" offers vacuum packaging. • Shajiabang Braised Foods: Century-old braising technique for chicken and fish. Experience the making process at Tongfuyu Inn. • Dingsheng Cake: Steamed glutinous rice with red bean filling, not too sweet. Fresh-made at Hengjing Old Street, 5 yuan each. 📝 Practical Guide: How to Visit Efficiently 🎫 Tickets and Activities • Admission: Low season (December-May) 70 yuan, peak season (June-November) 100 yuan; night tour 30 yuan (includes light show). • Recommended Package: 150 yuan (includes admission + "Reed Marsh Beacon Fire" show), half-price with student ID. • Festivals: Kite Festival in April, Fishing Festival in September, Reed Festival in November, featuring folk performances and farming experiences. 🚶 Classic Routes (One-day Tour) 1. Revolutionary Culture Route: Revolutionary Memorial Hall → Chunlai Teahouse (Peking Opera performances) → Hengjing Old Street (film location spots). 2. Ecological Experience Route: Reed Maze boat tour → Wetland bird watching → National Defense Education Park (live ammunition experience). 3. Food Trail: Wansan Restaurant (lunch) → Hengjing Old Street (Dingsheng Cake) → Night market wine-fermented pancakes (dinner). 🌸 Hidden Experiences • Intangible Heritage Workshops: Bamboo weaving in Hongshi Village (50 yuan/family), reed painting (80 yuan/person). • Trip Moments in Hanfu: Rent traditional costume at entrance (69 yuan/2 hours), photo spots at Reed Maze and stone arch bridge. 🍜 Dining Guide: Water Town Flavors and Local Tastes • Must-Try List: ◦ Wansan Pork Knuckle: Rich but not greasy, available at multiple locations, recommended vacuum-packed for takeaway. ◦ Fisherman's Fish Noodle Soup: Fresh crucian carp broth with thin noodles, 15 yuan/bowl at "Old Street Noodle Shop." ◦ Wine-fermented Pancakes: Glutinous rice skin with red bean filling, sweet and soft, 5 yuan each at night market. 🚗 Transportation: Water and Land Routes to Jiangnan • High-speed Rail: Take train from Suzhou North to Changshu Station (25 mins), then Bus 5 to scenic area (40 mins). • Driving: Navigate to "Shajiabang parking lot" (200+ spaces, 10 yuan/hour), or park at "Yangcheng Lake Service Area" and take shuttle. • Inter-city Travel: 2-hour drive from Shanghai/Hangzhou, or 1.5-hour bus from Shanghai Hongqiao to Changshu South Station. 🏡 Nearby Accommodation: Value Waterfront Stays • Shajiabang Tongfuyu Inn: Waterfront traditional design, breakfast + show ticket package 599 yuan/night, 5-min walk to scenic area. • Reed Four Seasons Hotel: Neo-Chinese style, terrace facing reed marsh, Hanfu styling service (600-800 yuan/night). • Hengjing Old Street Guesthouse: Converted century-old house, bridge view, from 330 yuan/night, 3-min walk to Chunlai Teahouse. 📸 In-Depth Travel Tips • Photography Spots: Reed Maze morning mist (6:30-7:30), Chunlai Teahouse opera (10:30/14:30), wetland sunset (after 17:30). • Cultural Bonus: Water town wedding parade on 1st and 15th of lunar month, free entry in Hanfu. • Walking Route: Shajiabang to Tangshi Ancient Town (6 km round trip), through Ming-Qing streets, experiencing authentic water town scenery. From the resonant lyrics of "Shajiabang" to the rustling reeds, from the soft Suzhou dialect at Chunlai Teahouse to the aroma of crabs, 900 years of history have woven revolutionary spirit and water town charm into eternity. On an autumn afternoon, unfold an oil-paper umbrella and open this "Eastern China Red Tourism Pearl." You might understand why Marshal Chen Yi praised it as "the spark in reed marshes, deep as fish and water."

Tips for a Night Tour of Shajiabang Light and shadow ➕ boat tour ➕ night show ➕ 1️⃣ night 2️⃣ iron flower show every day Night tour time: 17:30-21:30 Travel Guide: Self-driving parking 7 yuan/5 hours Tour route: Revolutionary Education Zone, National Defense Education Park Wetland, Botanical Garden Wetland Fishing Park, Hengjing Old Street Shuanglian Lake Rhyme, Reed Maze Key Recommendations: Night Cruise (Red Stone Pier 17:20-20:30) City Gate Projection Show (Lao Street City Gate 19:10/20:50) Folk performances (Hengjing Old Street 19:20➕20:05 2 performances per night) Iron Flower Show👍 (Spring Pier 19:50➕20:35 2 shows every night) The Secret War: Sha Jia Bang (Hengjing Theater 20:30) Check-in point: Hengjing Old Street ➕ Chunlai Wharf Iron Flower Show ➕ Changsheng Bridge Accommodation suggestions: Huajianting Luhuawan/Tongfuyu B&B Shanghu Night Tour Guide Night tour time: 5.1-10.7 18:00-22:00 Closed on Mondays Travel Guide: Self-driving parking 7 yuan/time Tour route: Taigong Island Prayer Platform, Xiangxiangwu, Fushui Villa, Water Forest, Tiangong Kaiwu Museum, Liangzhu Culture Night Blessing (Taigong Island Cloud Corridor + Water Curtain Gate + Dynamic Light) Night Show (Taigong Island Water Show Fountain + Moon Bank Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains) Night cruise on the lake (Yangliu Island Pier, Fushui Villa Pier) Night Performance • Marching performance of "Yu Jian Shanghu" (Taigong Island - Fountain Stage - Moon Dike - Fushui Villa 18:20➕20:00, each performance lasts 40 minutes)

🌈Attractions: One of the first batch of classic red scenic spots in China, integrating revolutionary flames, wetland reed marshes, and intangible cultural heritage and folk customs! Dancing peach and cherry blossoms in spring 🌸 (March-April), lotus reflecting the sun in summer 🪷 (June-August), reeds flying in the snow in autumn 🍂 (October-December), and boats capsized in winter ❄️ (December-February), you can enjoy the red heritage and water village style in all four seasons! ▪️ "Wetland Secret": 2,200 acres of reed maze crisscross, rowing boats through it like entering the Wizard of Oz🚤 ▪️ "Live Intangible Cultural Heritage": Hengjing Old Street performs Peking Opera "Shajiabang" excerpts and water village wedding customs performances every day, and the stone pavement hides old crafts such as blue printed cloth workshop and Wengjia wine workshop ▪️ "A Bite of Jiangnan": Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs take center stage! Braised chicken, mushroom oil noodles, osmanthus lotus root powder soup, foodies are crying 🦀🍜   📅Travel route: Morning: Hengjing Old Street (blue printed cloth DIY🎨) → Shasilong Fishing Park (crab and fish fishing🎣) → Shuanglianxuan (lotus pond afternoon tea🍰) Afternoon: Wetland Park (bird watching plank road encounter egrets 🕊️) → Live-action drama "Reeds Beacon Fire" (hot special effects super shocking 🔥) → Night tour of iron flower (intangible cultural heritage iron water splashing into stars ✨) 🌿Seasonal Easter Eggs: September-November: Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crab Festival, Hengjing Old Street "Crab Feast" 🦀 June-August: Thousand-acre lotus pond in the wetland park, wear Hanfu to take ancient style photos of "Lotus Leaves Reaching the Sky" 🎎   🚗Self-driving tips: ⚠️Navigation location 📍"Shajiabang Scenic Area East Parking Lot" or "Shajiabang Town Visitor Center" 🅿️ ▫️Parking fee: 20 yuan/day in peak season (October-December), 10 yuan/day in off-peak season ❗Tips to avoid traffic jams: During the hairy crab season, it is recommended to arrive before 8:30 on weekends, or take the subway + bus (Changshu Route 5 goes directly)🚌 ⏰ Electric cars can be rented in the scenic area (15 yuan/hour), and walking + hand-cranked boat combination is recommended   ⛱️Must-see attractions: 1️⃣ Reed Maze: A dual-line maze on land and water, drone aerial photography of the "green waves" visual spectacle 🌿📸 2️⃣ Hengjing Old Street: the filming location of the TV series "Sha Jia Bang" and "Golden Years", must-visit Blue Printed Cloth Workshop + Wengjia Zaofang Fruit Wine🍶 3️⃣ National Defense Education Park: Real CS, air rifle shooting, the first choice for parent-child interaction🎯👨‍👩‍👧 4️⃣ Shuanglian Lake Charm: Lotus pond rafting + lakeside afternoon tea, wear cheongsam to take "people swimming in the painting" blockbuster 📸   🏨Accommodation tips: 🔸 Zen control: Jiangnan Luhua Bay (within the scenic area): independent courtyard with lotus flowers visible from the window, starry sky bathtub + open-air shower, 4724 yuan/building🌌 Tongfuyu Inn: Ming and Qing style wooden building, including mushroom oil noodle breakfast, 600 yuan per person🏮 🔸 Cost-effective choice: Shajiabang International Youth Hostel: A gathering place for backpackers, night chats about crab fishing strategies, beds 50 yuan/night🎒 Qingzhiwu B&B Group: Loft duplex with kitchen, 80-150 yuan per person, suitable for family travel👨‍👩‍👧   💗Other tips: ✅ Tickets: 110 yuan/person in peak season (including the performance of "Lu Dang Feng Huo"), 80 yuan in off-season, free admission before 7:00‼ ️ 🚌 Transportation: 1 hour drive from Shanghai/Suzhou, bus No. 5 from Changshu goes directly to the gate of the scenic spot 📸 Take photos: Wear plain cheongsam/Hanfu! Must-see photos: Reed marsh against the light, Hengjing Old Street window frame composition, lotus pond reflection Golden hours: 7:00 in the morning (light mist and reed shadows), 17:00 in the evening (sunset dyes leaves golden) 🍜 Food: Must try Hengjing braised chicken, crab roe tofu, Wengjia Zaofang green plum wine, be careful when buying "wild honey" on the roadside 🍯 ⚠️ Pitfalls to avoid: ◾ Choose the dusk time for rowing boats to avoid the midday sun ◾ For hairy crabs, look for regular merchants such as "Shuanglianxuan" and "Hengjing Crab Restaurant" in the scenic area