Must-see attractions in Jiangsu

  • Linggu pagoda

    Linggu Temple Scenic Area

    Nanjing

    This expansive temple complex contains one of the most historic buildings in Nanjing – the Beamless Hall (无梁殿, Wúliáng Diàn), built in 1381 entirely out…

  • Wall Detail From The Xiaoling Mausoleum Near Nanjing, China

    Ming Xiaoling Tomb

    Nanjing

    Zhu Yuanzhang (1328–1398), the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty (also known as the Hongwu Emperor), was buried in the tomb of Ming Xiaoling; he was…

  • NANJING, CHINA - 2014/11/12: Tourists take photos in front of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum. Sun's Mausoleum situated at the foot of Mount Zijin in Nanjing,  Sun is considered to be the "Father of Modern China" both in mainland China and Taiwan, as well as the founder of Republic of China.  As the Holy land of Chinese people both home and abroad, Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum attracts a lot of visitors every year. (Photo by Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images)

    Sun Yatsen Mausoleum

    Nanjing

    An astonishing sight at the top of an enormous stone stairway (a breathless 392 steps), Sun Yatsen's tomb is a mandatory stop for most visitors…

  • Qixia Temple

    Nanjing

    This sacred site on Qixia Mountain (栖霞山, Qīxiá Shān), 22km northeast of Nanjing, was founded by the Buddhist monk Ming Sengshao during the Southern Qi…

  • NANJING, CHINA - NOVEMBER 19: (CHINA OUT) Visitors view the "Gold Guan Yin Bodhisattva Statue", made during the Warring States period (475 to 221 BC) at the Valuable Treasures Special Exhibition In Nanjing Museum on November 19, 2007 in Nanjing of Jiangsu Province, China. Eighteen priceless treasures were selected from the museum's 420,000 collections, dating back 5,000 years ago. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

    Nanjing Museum

    Nanjing

    This fabulous museum has three dramatically modern exhibition blocks alongside a traditional, temple-style hall. Exhibits range from 20th-century brush…

  • Ming Xiaoling Scenic Area

    Nanjing

    This scenic area on Zijin Mountain has loads of opportunities for rambling, but the main attraction is Ming Xiaoling Tomb, the magnificent mausoleum of…

  • Tiger Hill

    Suzhou

    In the far northwest of town, Tiger Hill is a major drawcard for Chinese tourists, and the beacon that draws them is the leaning Cloud Rock Pagoda (云岩塔,…

  • Garden of the Master of the Nets

    Suzhou

    Off Shiquan Jie, this pocket-sized garden is considered one of Suzhou's best preserved. Laid out in the 12th century, it went to seed and was later…

  • Suzhou Museum

    Suzhou

    This stunning museum, one of only two in mainland China designed by IM Pei, is a modern interpretation of Suzhou architecture, with its confluence of…

  • Humble Administrator’s Garden

    Suzhou

    The largest of Suzhou's gardens, the Humble Administrator’s Garden is often considered to be the most impressive, but its fame draws in constant crowds,…

  • Zhan Garden

    Nanjing

    If you don't have time to get to Suzhou, visit this delightful Ming-dynasty garden complex that once housed Taiping officials. The on-site Taiping History…

  • Pingjiang Lu

    Suzhou

    On the eastern side of the city, this canalside road has whitewashed local houses sitting comfortably side by side with teahouses and trendy cafes selling…

  • Pan Gate Scenic Area

    Suzhou

    This quiet part of Suzhou is lovely, with a section of the city wall straddling the outer moat in the southwest corner of the city. Dating from 1355, the…

  • Hanshan Temple

    Suzhou

    Literally meaning 'Cold Mountain Temple' and founded around AD 500, Hanshan is famous in China thanks to a Tang-dynasty (618–907) poem that is taught at…

  • West Garden Temple

    Suzhou

    This magnificent temple, with its mustard-yellow walls and gracefully curved eaves, was burnt to the ground during the Taiping Rebellion and rebuilt in…

  • Shantang Jie

    Suzhou

    This picturesque canalside street has been in use for more than a thousand years, having been built in the Tang dynasty (around 825–826) to transport…

  • Yangzi River Bridge

    Nanjing

    Opened in 1968, the Yangzi River Bridge is one of the longest bridges in China – a double-decker with a 4.5km-long road on top and a train line below. The…

  • Meiling Palace

    Nanjing

    Named by Life magazine in 1937 as 'the most powerful woman in the world', Song Meiling (aka 'Madame Chiang') was the First Lady of the Republic of China …

  • Xū Gate

    Suzhou

    One of the eight city gates that were first built to protect Sūzhōu during the Spring and Autumn Period (approximately 771–476 BC), the brick wall that we…

  • Jinji Lake

    Suzhou

    Jinji Lake lies at the very heart of Suzhou's Industrial Park neighbourhood, home to many of the city's young professionals and expats. At 7.4 sq km,…

  • Blue Wave Pavilion

    Suzhou

    Originally the home of a prince, the oldest garden in Suzhou was first built in the 11th century, and has been repeatedly rebuilt since. Instead of…

  • Peach Blossom Island

    Suzhou

    In the centre of Jinji Lake, China's biggest inland city lake, Peach Blossom Island was man-made with soil dredged from the lake. Landscaped with peach…

  • Suzhou No 1 Silk Factory

    Suzhou

    This museum and working silk factory was established as a state-owned silk factory in 1926. The highlight of the museum is seeing its massive, 80-year-old…

  • Lingyan Mountain

    Jiangsu

    A one-kilometre walk north of the old town, Lingyan Mountain, the ‘Cliff of the Spirits’, was once the site of a palace where Emperor Qianlong stayed…

  • Jiming Temple

    Nanjing

    The most active temple in Nanjing, Jiming Temple was first built in AD 527 during the Three Kingdoms period and has been rebuilt many times since.

  • Fūzǐ Miào

    Nanjing

    In the south of the city in a smartened-up pedestrian zone full of restaurants, the Confucian temple Fūzǐ Miào has been a centre of Confucian study for…

  • Tónglǐ Old Town

    Jiangsu

    This lovely old town, only 18km southeast of Sūzhōu, boasts a rich, historical canalside atmosphere and weather-beaten charm. Many of the buildings have…

  • Garden of Cultivation

    Suzhou

    This small but perfectly formed garden is often overlooked by visitors who are drawn to Suzhou's larger and more famous gardens. Its simple layout makes…

  • Soochow University

    Suzhou

    Before the communists took over, this college was China's oldest private university, founded by missionaries of the Methodist church in 1900. The…

  • Zhang’s House

    Jiangsu

    To the south of the Twin Bridges, this beautiful 60-room, three-hall structure was built in the Ming era and bought by the Zhang clan in early Qing times…

  • Temple of Mystery

    Suzhou

    Lashed by electronic music from the shops alongside, the Taoist Temple of Mystery stands in what was once Suzhou’s old bazaar, a rowdy entertainment…

  • Shen’s House

    Jiangsu

    Near Fu’an Bridge, this residence of the Shen clan is a lavish piece of Qing-style architecture boasting three halls and more than 100 rooms. The first…

  • Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall

    Nanjing

    The north section (北馆; ¥40) of this extensive subterranean museum, marked by the stunning reflection pool on Gongyuan Jie, has contemporary displays on…

  • Former Residence of Yu Yue

    Suzhou

    In an interesting old residential area of Sūzhōu, this quiet, unpretentious historic house has a lovely classical Chinese garden. It belonged to Yu Yue …

  • Confucian Temple

    Suzhou

    A haven of solitude and an oasis of peace in a busy town, the Confucian Temple is adorned with several ancient (one is 830 years old) gingkos and rows of…

  • Garden to Linger In

    Suzhou

    One of the largest gardens in Suzhou, this 3-hectare plot was originally built in the Ming dynasty by a doctor as a relaxing place for his recovering…

  • Ming Palace Ruins

    Nanjing

    Built by Zhu Yuanzhang in the 14th century, the imperial palace was reportedly a magnificent structure that served as a template for Beijing's Forbidden…

  • Presidential Palace

    Nanjing

    After the Taiping took over Nanjing, they built the Mansion of the Heavenly King (天王府, Tiānwáng Fǔ) on the foundations of a former Ming-dynasty palace…

  • Suzhou Arts and Crafts Museum

    Suzhou

    Housed in a historic building, this small museum boasts an impressive range of modern handicrafts created by skilled Suzhou artists. Its nearly 1000-piece…

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