Less crowded, beautiful scenery, and free! A fairy-tale small town just 1 hour from Suzhou!

📅 Don’t want to be squeezed by crowds at popular tourist spots during the holiday? 🤣 Then you must check out Taicang near Suzhou! This low-key small town hides a free water town with few people and beautiful scenery, a wheat field straight out of a Studio Ghibli film, and an indoor ski resort perfect for kids to have fun. Personally tested and highly recommended! ✔️ A complete guide for food, drink, and entertainment is ready for you 🤲🏻 📝 It’s recommended to drive; it takes about 1 hour from Suzhou 🚗, making the trip relaxed yet fulfilling～ ✔️ First stop: head straight to the Seventy-Two Ideal Village, a pastoral secret for city dwellers. Hop on the “Jianghai” boat to cruise through golden rice fields, where the sound of wind blowing through the wheat waves instantly heals all fatigue; if you want to slow down, visit the village bookstore, order a cup of coffee, and enjoy reading and chatting with the greenery outside the window—a perfect spot for fresh, picturesque photos 📷! ✔️ Next, visit the Green Group (Rose) Creative Park, not only a great place for photos but also home to local handmade mortise and tenon crafts, a must-have for kids who love DIY! ✔️ For lunch, head to 🍴1866 Auto Restaurant, with a photogenic environment and a variety of delicious foods to satisfy both kids and adults, recharging your energy for the afternoon 💪 ✔️ In the afternoon, don’t miss ❄️ Alpine Snow World, an immersive experience of the charm of ice and snow. It features French-style wooden houses, an ice sculpture maze, and 5 ski slopes of varying difficulty. Even beginners can confidently try skiing ⛷️ under professional instructor guidance; the dreamy snow entertainment area has 20+ activities plus a super cute penguin 🐧 base camp, perfect for kids to play for half a day. 🎫 Snow tickets include ski equipment 🎿 and snow suits; bringing waterproof gloves and long socks is recommended for convenience! ✔️ If time allows, the Rose 🌹 Manor is also worth a visit! Beautiful scenery and adorable 🦙 alpacas make it a great spot for family fun with young children! Or come to VS for bowling 🎳 and enjoy the joy of sports 😁—both are excellent choices! ✔️ The last stop of the trip is Shaxi Ancient Town. Compared to heavily commercialized water towns, this place feels like a “living Jiangnan.” Stroll on the bluestone paths along Ming and Qing dynasty streets, watch small bridges and flowing water around ancient houses, and capture stunning new Chinese ink-style photos; the go-kart 🏎️ experience is also very fun! When tired, try local snacks: plum blossom cake crispy outside and soft inside, savory Shaxi pork floss, and soft, flavorful fried dough balls—all great value. You can leisurely enjoy a pleasant evening here～ 🥹 For a wonderful holiday without crowds, remember to start a relaxed and fun 🚄 reverse trip in Taicang!