[2024 Changshu Stay] Travel Guide for Changshu Shanghu Huajianfu Yanboli Hotel (Updated Sep)
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.
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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.
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【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.
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【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".
EMELIA RIOS
Hua Jian Mansion, a residence of Chinese aesthetics
💕 Hua Jian Mansion, entering here feels like stepping into Chinese aesthetics, with an ancient charm that instantly takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
💕 This mansion has the Hua Jian Library, the Hua Jian Tavern, the Hua Jian Restaurant, and four themed meeting rooms: Blue Waves, Mountain Mist, Evening Shadows, and Clear Dawn.
💕 This mansion is located by the Shanghu Scenic Area, making every corner a perfect backdrop for travel photography...
💕 After a busy work week, you can come here on weekends to relax, unwind, and heal your soul...
DestinationExplorer
Changshu Huajian Mansion·In the misty waves, it is the most beautiful national style hotel by Shang Lake
🍁Travel date: 2023.12.15
I spent a day and a half in Changshu, although I didn't catch up with the most beautiful late autumn in the south of the Yangtze River, I encountered a strong cold air moving south, and the temperature dropped by 20 degrees overnight.
The stormy weather affected the travel plan, but this national style hotel, which is part of the Shang Lake landscape, gave me the biggest surprise.
🍁Location
The hotel is right by Shang Lake, and it only takes 2-3 minutes to walk to the entrance of Shang Lake Scenic Area. Unfortunately, I didn't bring a drone on this trip, and the scenery would be more beautiful from a different perspective.
🍁Park
The hotel itself is like a Jiangnan garden, with white-walled and grey-tiled buildings scattered along the edge of Shang Lake, pavilions, small bridges and flowing water, every frame is a landscape painting.
🍁Room
The room is very large, with original wood color, and the beautiful scenery is right outside the window when you open the curtain. The hotel gave welcome fruits, which are especially suitable for sitting on the sofa by the window, drinking tea and eating fruits while enjoying the scenery.
🍁Activities
The best thing about the hotel is the full schedule of activities every day, from morning to night, making guests not want to go out! On the day of check-in, I caught up with the seal carving I wanted to experience the most, and I personally carved a seal with my name, which was very interesting. The next day there was a hand-painted eco-bag, but unfortunately it was delayed on the road due to heavy rain and did not make it back. Also because of the heavy rain, I couldn't ride around Shang Lake, I hope to come again next autumn to see the most beautiful red water fir of Shang Lake.
🍁Meals
Dinner was eaten in the hotel restaurant, ordered a few local specialties, large quantity and good taste, and also got a 15% discount.
Breakfast is also very rich, my favorite is Changshu Yushan special product mushroom oil noodles, the soup noodles with mushroom oil topping are delicious and not comparable to ordinary mushrooms.
If a good hotel is also a scenic spot, then Huajian Mansion is one of the must-visit places in Changshu!