Mudu Ancient Town, Suzhou: The Closest Ancient Town to the City!

Suzhou has many ancient towns, but Mudu is the closest to the city center. Take the subway to Lingyan Shan Station, and you'll arrive right at the town entrance. Admission to the ancient town is free, though there are three gardens inside that charge a fee. Yan Family Garden and Hongyin Shanfang are quite large and showcase typical Suzhou garden style, making them great spots for photos. The ancient town itself is also quite extensive, offering one or two hours of leisurely exploration. If you have time, it's worth a visit. Afterward, you can even climb the free-to-enter Lingyan Mountain just across the way.