Shanghai Weekend Getaway｜Second Visit to Changshu, 2 Days 1 Night Leisurely Tour

There are many small towns in Jiangnan waiting to be discovered, and their brilliance seems to be overshadowed. "Changshu" is one of them. The longer you stay in Jiangnan, the more you can't help but fall in love with it. - This is the second visit to Changshu. Last autumn, I visited Shanghu Lake and Xingfu Temple. This summer, I came again to explore the lakes and mountains, play in the water, and appreciate the culture. Different seasons offer different sceneries. A 2-hour drive from Shanghai on the weekend allows for a leisurely tour of the small town. —————————————————— 【Day 1: Shanghai -> Shanghu Huajianfu·Yanboli】 ① "Stay at Yanboli" Depart from Shanghai after lunch and arrive before 3 PM to check in. The afternoon sunlight pours into the room, brew a pot of Pu'er tea provided in the room, and watch the child draw on the small table by the bay window... Lazy and cozy. ② "Stroll in the Courtyard" After having afternoon tea at Huajian, walk into the courtyard with Suzhou-style garden features. There are small bridges, lotus flowers, and crape myrtle trees in full bloom. The soft afternoon light and the pink walls and black tiles of the courtyard make it a perfect time for taking photos. ③ "Shanghu Lake Sunset" After dinner, the sunset over the lake is beautiful. Walk to the pavilion in the middle of the lake, where the sunset reflects on the water. Run along the long boardwalk, watch the wild ducks swimming on the water, and feed the small fish in the lake... This is a paradise for children. - 【Day 2: Enjoy Shanghu Lake Scenery, Visit Jiangnan Gardens】 ① "Shanghu Lake Rafting" A 5-minute walk from the hotel to the entrance of Shanghu Lake Scenic Area, the rafting inside is suitable for families. The first half has gentle water flow, while the second half involves navigating through water columns falling from above, requiring you to row and dodge the water columns, which is very challenging... This was the child's favorite activity. ② "Drive Around the Lake" In addition to driving, you can also cycle around the lake. The hotel offers bicycle rentals. Start from the hotel, cross the Moon Bridge in the center of the lake, and then ride through the shaded trees on the North Ring Road. There are parking lots by the roadside, where you can sit by the lake to admire Shanghu Lake and gaze at Yushan Mountain in the distance. ③ "Visit Zhao Zeng Garden and Fangta Garden" Two Jiangnan gardens in Changshu, Zhao Zeng Garden features large lotus ponds, a stele corridor, and rockeries. Fangta Garden, a national heritage site, has the Southern Song Dynasty Fangta Pagoda, an ancient well, and an ancient ginkgo tree, known as the "Three Treasures of the Garden".