Guide to Jiangsu Province Attractions

Jiangsu Province Attractions

Early Vegetarianism

Early Vegetarianism is a great little restaurant with a slightly odd name. It is located in an arcade a little back off Zhong Shan Lu (中山路) just south of Xue Qian Jie at 118 Zhong Shan Lu. Besides a pleasant and healthy, smoke-free environment, no msg, and no meat, there are even many delicious foods that taste remarkably similar to meat (without the obligatory bones that come in most meat here). Prices are reasonable (around 20 yuan for a plate), especially if you go with a group and share. Fruit juices, smoothies and herbal teas are nice compliments, but can crank up the total price of a meal.

Starbucks

Starbucks:

Starbucks in Wuxi have little problem retaining their totally globalized, Western feel. The staff speak fairly solid English; the menu is in English, and the food is visible within a glass display. On busy days, such as weekend lunch-times, Starbucks is a good place to eat if you are not in the mood for long queues and jostling crowds. The coffee shops are often useful to meet up with friends and sometimes to get to know other expats in Wuxi, if that is your desire.

Starbucks Locations in Wuxi:

On the east side of Zhong Shan Lu just north of Ren Min Lu. The shop is on the ground floor, but you can take a tray up the escalator to sit in the restaurant on the second floor.
On the east side of Zhong Shan Lu north of Xue Qian Jie.

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut:

Since pizza is relatively expensive in China, Pizza Hut can emanate the feeling of an exclusive restaurant. Its a reliable place to go during busy times when other restaurants can be too crowded. China's version of Pizza Hut is unsurprisingly no...

Pizza Hut:

On Ren Min Lu at the corner near Zhong Shan Lu next to Parksons. +86 (0)510 8273 9300
On the western side of Zhong Shan Lu just north of the corner with Ren Min Lu. +86 (0)510 8279 9960

K.F.C.

KFC: KFC's treats are basically the same as you will remember it from back home. However, here in Wuxi a few extra ingredients add a bit of local flavour, and make KFC at least worth a try. Restaurants can be found in Wuxi at these locations...

On the western side of Zhong Shan Lu between Xue Qian Jie and Hou Xixi.
On the corner of Zhong Shan Lu and Ren Min Lu on the right hand side of the little arcade that opens onto Ren Min Lu.
On Zhong Shan Lu just north of Ren Min Lu on the second floor at the opening of the arcade.
In all the major shopping centres (Carrefour, Trust Mart, RT Mart, Ocean, Baoli)

MacDonald's

McDonald's locations in Wuxi:

Right outside the NanChang markets on Jie Fang Lu (the ring road) at the southern end of Zhong Shan Lu.
On the corner of Zhong Shan Lu and ...

McDonald's locations in Wuxi:

Right outside the NanChang markets on Jie Fang Lu (the ring road) at the southern end of Zhong Shan Lu.
On the corner of Zhong Shan Lu and Xue Qian Jie.
On the corner of Zhong Shan Lu and Ren Min Lu on the left hand side of the little arcade that opens onto Ren Min Lu.
At the northernmost part of Jie Fang Lu, the ring road.
In all the major shopping centres (Carrefour, Trust Mart, RT Mart, Ocean, Baoli)

Nanchan Temple Markets

The Nanchan Temple Markets are a lovely place to visit to both enjoy the cultural atmosphere as well as to do some shopping for souvenirs or fresh produce. There are often community events, such as fireworks, held here to celebrate holidays throughout the Chinese calendar.

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The market area is quite visible, especially at night. The area is easy to find at the south end of the main road, Zhongshan Lu (中山路）, across the ring road of Jiefang Nan Lu (解放南路).

Nanchan Temple Markets

Nanchan Temple is a very noticeable building complex located on the ring road, Jiefang Lu ( 解放南路), at the south end of the main north-south road in the city, Zhongshan Lu (中山路). At night the area is even more attractive with vibrant light displays and decorations.

The ...

The market is well worth wandering through, even if you don’t want to buy souvenirs. Pets, plants, fresh food and produce just scratch the surface of the list of items available at the market.

See more about Nanchan Temple Markets

Shopping Centres

There are several large suburban style shopping centres around the perimeter of the city centre, and they are all very similar to each other. Usually the ground floor has clothes and household goods. The escalators, which usually take you up to the supermarket,&nbsp...

If you enter the main shop with a bag you will need to cloak it in one of the lockers. These can be a little disconcerting the first time. The lockers are free. First find the keypad and press the red button with the light at the bottom. Immediately a small flimsy ticket will emerge and attempt to float away (shouldn't some things be a bit of a challenge?); a locker will pop open where you can store your bag. When you return you can either punch the number from your ticket into the keypad, or (if you have kept your ticket nice and flat) you can hold it up against the slot where a glowing red light will read the bar code.

Besides the major department store, there are lots of smaller Chinese stores, a KFC and/or a McDonalds, and a food court at Carrefour with an amazing variety of tastefully displayed choices. Meal choices are clearly visible as plasticized models, and customers are strangely directed to the central counter to buy a token for the amount they prepare to spend on their meal.

Carrefour (Jialefu, 家乐福) is in the south part of th city, within walking distance of the city center. Bus number 81, which runs along Zongshan Lu, will take you to Carrefour. The bus is often a double-decker (to add to the fun).

Auchan (Oushang, 欧尚) shopping centre is just southeast of the city centre, but probably a little too far to walk. Buses 65 and 30 both go east along Xue Qian Jie and then south past Auchan.

RT Mart (Tianrenfa) is across the Grand Canal, just west of the city. Many buses stop there including the 20 from Ren Min Lu, the 204 from the western side of the ring road, Jie Fang Xi Lu), the 27 from Xue Qian Jie, which takes a loop to the north then come south past the shopping centre, and the K82 from the railway station).

Trust Mart (Haoyouduo, 好又多)is just north of the Central Business District on Bei Da Lu (big north road, 北大路), which is the continuation of Zhong Shan Lu once it passes outside the ring road (Jie Fang Lu). It is not far to walk if you are in the north half of town. Otherwise the number 85 bus goes there along Zhong Zhan Lu.

Metro (麦德龙 or ’Mai De Long’) is a little different. It is bigger than the others, a lot further from the city centre, and only "for professional shoppers" - which means you need an ID card (with your photo on it) to shop there. However, if you are employed in Wuxi or have been here long enough to know people with a Metro card, then its not too difficult to obtain a card yourself. Metro offers a solid selection of "Western" products (often in bulk quantities!) that are not available in other stores, and can also boast reasonable prices. They also have household goods, clothes, electrical appliances, and much more. The number 42 bus goes from Xue Qian Jie, starting in the alley behind Ba Bai Ban and heading east, and, despite the distance, the half-hour trip only costs the usual 1 or 2 yuan.

Baoli ( ‘Bao li Guangchang’) is another shopping centre with a sizeable supermarket. It is located along the ring road in the north end of the city. Reach Baoli by heading east along Ren Min Lu and then left into Jie Fang Bei Lu, which is the route taken by the number 10 and number 211 buses.

Then there are a couple of large supermarkets in the city centre where you can buy both Western and Chinese goods.

Parksons (百盛 or ’san yang bai sheng’) is located at the corner of Zhong Shan Lu and Ren Min Lu. The supermarket can be accessed by going down the steps on the Ren Min Lu side of the building. There are a lot of Western delicacies available, but Parksons is generally expensive.

Home Mart (or ’Hao Mai De’) is further north along Zhong Shan Lu on the next corner opposite the Sheraton Hotel. Home Mart offers a wide range of products, including many Western goods, on three floors.

Fu Man Lou Restaurant

Fu Man Lou is a great place to enjoy the Chinese dining spectacle of a steamy window, packed restaurant complete with three floors of high decible yelling, flowing baijiu, and a superfluous wait staff all under a smokey haze. It’s awesome. The Yangzhou cuisine here is some of the best in town as well. The historic Fu Man Lou (福满楼) is located on the roundabout facing the brown Siwang pavillion.

Yangzhou Fried Rice

"Lion’s Head" - A giant meatball.

An outside view of the Fu Man Lou near the Siwang Pavillion

Second Location

No. 202 Wenchang Xi Lu (文昌西路202号)
+86 (0)514 85108 888, 8786 2777, 8795 9777

Lan Tian Hotel

The 3-star Lan Tian Hotel’s perfect downtown location makes it one of the best places in town to stay. The Wenchang Pavilion, the Qianlong Waterway area, and food street are all within a 5 minute walk of the hotel. The hotel complex even boasts a few bowling lanes! Listed prices start at 500 or 600 RMB, but are always negotiable.

Directions: Look for the blue neon sign on the west side of Wenhe North Road, just north of the brown Siwang Pavilion.

Top Jiangsu Province Tours

$50 Per Day

Nanjing Hiking tour with local tour guide Sam

It`s springtime, it`s hiking time!

This tailor-made tour is for people who like nature, history, and hiking!

Ming Tomb (Admission: FreeCNY) - Nanjing became the capital of China when Zhu Yuanzhang founded the Ming Dynasty in 1368. During his reign, Zhu Yuanzhang built the great city walls of Nanjing, the imperial palace, and his future tomb - the Ming Tomb in Nanjing. The Ming Tomb is a certified UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a must-see for travellers to Nanjing.

It`s springtime, it`s hiking time!

This tailor-made tour is for people who like nature, history, and hiking!

Xuanwu Lake (Admission: Free) - Close to the city center and featuring 368 hectares of water and 104 hectares of land, Xuanwu Lake Park is a favorite getaway for locals. Well before the sunrise and even after sunset, the park is bustling with visitors. Some come to walk, jog, or fly kites, others to practice Tai Chi, and many more just want to enjoy the scenery.

Nanjing Food Court - my favorite local Nanjing restaurant, Nanjing people like to go there with family. It`s a resultant with a lot of Nanjing local food and ancient style of decoration, at night they will have Kunqu playing, coolest restaurant ever.

City Wall (Admission: 45CNY) - Nanjing City Wall, constructed during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties between 1365 and 1386, originally stretched over 30km which made it the longest city wall in the world. Now, with about two thirds of the wall still intact it still remains the longest city wall in China. We could walk on the city wall and feel the history of Nanjing.

*Please contact me for daily tour fees, i charge by per tour, not per person.

$80 Per Day

Relaxing Hot Spring Tour at Tangshan Area

Nanjing Tangshan is famous for the hot spring, hot spring is good for your skin and health, and relaxing your body and get rid of the press.

Maybe you don't like all the tourist attractions in the downtown, here would be one of another option.

This tour will be only visit 2 attractions and the rest will be spend the whole time in the hot spring. Or, if you prefer, you can only go for the spring.

Tour plan would be:

Hotel pick up -----> Yangshan Stele -----> Tangshan Ancient Ape Man Caves -----> Hot Spring -----> Send back to hotel.

Nanjing Tangshan is famous for the hot spring, hot spring is good for your skin and health, and relaxing your body and get rid of the press.

Maybe you don't like all the tourist attractions in the downtown, here would be one of another option.

This tour will be only visit 2 attractions and the rest will be spend the whole time in the hot spring. Or, if you prefer, you can only go for the spring.

Tour plan would be:

Hotel pick up -----> Yangshan Stele -----> Tangshan Ancient Ape Man Caves -----> Hot Spring -----> Send back to hotel.

Since Tangshan is a little town outside of Nanjing city and it`s quite far away, i would suggest to use a private car to drive there directly.

$40 Per Day

Nanjing nightlife tours - Bar crawling

In recent years Nanjing’s nightlife scene has undoubtedly changed for the better. The 1912 bar district is a common place to start a tour of Nanjing’s nightlife as it features Nanjing’s largest concentration of bars and clubs. Besides 1912, bars, pubs, clubs, karaokes, restaurants and not-so-mentionable locales are dispersed across the city, especially near Xinjiekou and close to the student population.

Nail Jazz Bar is a light bar with good Jazz muisc, live sometimes, they have over 50 kinds of imported beer from all over the World, the Draft beer Hoegaarden is with special roam and taste, for lady, here have over 100 cocktail to choose, lovely and enjoyable. The price here is quite as other bars, short cocktail for 28 Yuan, long drink cocktail for 38 Yuan. Hoegaarden draft beer, 38 for 0.3L and 68 for 0.5L.

Behind the Wall - A cozy atmosphere, decent food, live music and cheap margaritas make Behind the Wall a popular hang-out, especially with the foreign student population. Inside, Behind the Wall’s three rooms are linked by over-sized arched doorways, and provide seating for groups of two to ten. Mexican, Latin and Greek cuisine is served. The drink menu is varied and not too expensive by Nanjing standards - margaritas are served for only 15 Yuan from Sunday to Thursday.

Castle Bar - Castle Bar is lively on weekends and can become packed during special events. However, during weekdays staff members often outnumber customers. A good place if you like dancing.

Secco Restaurant and Bar - Great German restaurant and bar in Nanjing, they have a good rang and selection of cocktail made by a German, he is also the manager there, really strict to every cocktail he made, always bring you the best taste.

Finnegans Wake - A traditional Irish bar in Nanjing,offering Kilkenny, Guinness and strongbow cider on draught.

Please contact me for daily tour fees, i charge by per tour, not per person.

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