Lake Tai Lake

Address: Lake Tai (Taihu), bordering Suzhou and Wuxi (Jiangsu) and Huzhou (Zhejiang), China

Hours: Open 24 hours

Admission: Free to visit the lake itself; some parks, gardens and boat tours around Taihu charge separate fees

Lake Tai (Taihu) is a major freshwater lake on the Yangtze River Delta near the cities of Wuxi, Suzhou and Shanghai. It is one of China’s largest lakes and is an important regional resource for fisheries, irrigation and tourism.

The lake features extensive shallow areas, peninsulas and small islands; well-known visitor spots on the lakeshore include parkland and promenades used for day trips from nearby urban centres. Traditional Taihu limestone rocks from the lake are prized in Chinese garden design and are widely collected and displayed.

Over the late 20th and early 21st centuries the lake has also been the focus of water-quality management and infrastructure projects to address eutrophication and seasonal algal blooms.

Geographically the lake sits at the junction of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces and is within easy reach of Wuxi and Suzhou on its northern and eastern shores.

• Scale and character: One of China’s largest freshwater lakes, it has extensive shallows and a network of bays and peninsulas that are popular for short excursions from nearby cities.
• Environmental note: Seasonal algal blooms have affected water quality in recent decades; local authorities manage tourism and water treatment in response to environmental concerns.

What to See#

• Yuantouzhu (Turtle Head Isle): A popular peninsula and park area on the lake used for shoreline walks, cherry blossoms in spring, and views back to the Wuxi waterfront.

Lake Tai (Taihu) is served from the nearby cities of Wuxi and Suzhou. From Shanghai or Nanjing take a high-speed train to Wuxi or Suzhou (frequent services), then take a local taxi or intercity bus to one of the lakeside parks or towns on Taihu’s shore (travel from the city railway stations to the lakeside typically takes under an hour by car). Major roads serving the lake area include local provincial roads around Wuxi and Suzhou; once at a lakeside town you’ll usually walk a few minutes from the bus/taxi drop-off to park entrances and viewpoints.

• Aim for early morning (shortly after sunrise) for clearer air and softer light over Taihu - many boat trips and shoreline promenades are far less crowded then, making photography of the lake and Taihu stones easier.
• Use Wuxi's Yuantouzhu (Turtle Head Isle) area as a jumping-off point: it's the most developed scenic access to the lake and has regular ferries and viewing piers that reach classic viewpoints quickly, saving time compared with scattered shore stops.
• Most visitors stick to the main promenades; to see something different, take a short public boat or local ferry to smaller islets and look for displays of Taihu stone at nearby gardens and markets, where the island geology and traditional stone craftsmanship are on show.