Plan at a glance
Entrance, scope and time
The regular entrance to Yuantouzhu Scenic Area is Chongshan Gate at No. 1 Yuanzhu Road. On ordinary days, entering and leaving here is the most straightforward option; Dushan Gate mainly helps with crowd control during the cherry-blossom season and other peaks, and is often used as an exit on regular days. The park includes Taihu Fairy Island, Changchun Bridge, the Yuantouzhu Spring Waves Lighthouse, Wanlang Bridge and Guangfu Temple. A full walk is about 6 km and takes 4–6 hours; a quick route takes about 2–3 hours.
Ticket, boat service and opening hours
The adult ticket is CNY 90 and includes the free park shuttle and the return boat to Taihu Fairy Island. The area opens from 08:30 to 17:00, with last entry at 17:00; the ferry usually runs until 16:50. Buy ahead through the official mini program or a travel platform and enter with your ID card. Visitors arriving in Wuxi within the previous five days with a high-speed rail or flight ticket may be eligible on some dates for a first-entry discount or free admission at the Chongshan Gate visitor centre, paying CNY 10 for the boat; confirm the promotion for your date.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
View Visit Optionsvia Trip.comChoose your visit
Taihu Lake, the island and the garden sites
Yuantouzhu combines lake views with a long garden walk. Taihu Fairy Island is for the boat ride and island loop, Changchun Bridge is good for water and bridge views, the Yuantouzhu Spring Waves Lighthouse looks over Taihu Lake, and Wanlang Bridge and Guangfu Temple offer a lakeside stop and a temple visit. From December through February, red-billed gulls may be seen from the boat; this is a winter feature rather than a year-round attraction.
Who it suits
The spring cherry-blossom season is good for photographing Changchun Bridge and its reflections, but crowds, traffic controls and entrance arrangements increase sharply. In winter, focus on the gulls and the open lake views. Photographers can plan the lighthouse for sunset and Wanlang Bridge for waves and old sailing boats; families with older people or children should decide whether to use park transport based on the 6 km walking distance.
Build your day
A 2–3-hour quick route
After entering through Chongshan Gate, walk about 350 metres to the free shuttle stop included with the ticket, then take the shuttle to the ferry pier. After reaching Taihu Fairy Island, you can either stay on the boat for a short turnaround or get off for a brief visit; return to the shore, see Changchun Bridge and then leave through Chongshan Gate along the same general route.
A 4–6-hour full route
Take the free shuttle from Chongshan Gate to the pier, ride to Taihu Fairy Island for a loop, then return and continue through Changchun Bridge, the Yuantouzhu Spring Waves Lighthouse, Guangfu Temple, Wanlang Bridge and Chongshan Yin Xiu before exiting at Chongshan Gate. Guangfu Temple is a practical place for a bowl of noodles, while the lighthouse and Wanlang Bridge require more walking; move back toward the exit earlier in the afternoon because both the boats and park transport have closing times.
Get there
Bus and metro connection
Bus K1 runs from the city to Chongshan Gate. You can also take Metro Line 2 to Meiyuan-Kaiyuan Temple Station, leave through Exit 4, and transfer to a seasonal cherry-blossom shuttle or a regular bus. The cherry-blossom shuttle is seasonal, so use the available local bus connection on regular days.
Driving and entrance choice
Navigate to the Yuantouzhu parking lot and walk about five minutes to Chongshan Gate. On regular days, using Chongshan Gate for both entry and exit is simplest; during the cherry-blossom peak, follow the on-site crowd-control directions if Dushan Gate is opened for diversion. Do not stop at the first paid sightseeing-car station just inside the entrance: the free park shuttle to the pier is already included with the ticket.
Know before you go
Walking, transport and return timing
The area is large, with about 6 km of walking on the full route. Wear comfortable, non-slip shoes and carry water. Park sightseeing vehicles generally run 08:30–17:00, buses about 08:45–17:00 and the ferry about 08:50–16:50; missing the return boat can disrupt the Taihu Fairy Island plan.
Photography and food
Changchun Bridge works well for sunrise and cherry-blossom reflections, the lighthouse for sunset, and Guangfu Temple's vegetarian noodle shop for a meal during the visit. Wu Yun Yaju near Chongshan Gate serves Wuxi-style food, and there are local restaurants outside the scenic area; parking and roads can queue on holidays, so arriving early is easier than searching for a space at the last minute.