east · Jiangsu (Extended) (Jiāngsū)
Jiangsu (Extended) Travel Guide
Jiangsu is the prosperous eastern half of "Jiangnan" (south of the Yangtze). The province is one of China's wealthiest per capita, with the UNESCO classical gardens of Suzhou, the Ming capital of Nanjing, and the UNESCO-listed Grand Canal.
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TL;DR
Eastern coastal province with the UNESCO classical gardens of Suzhou, the Ming capital of Nanjing, and the Grand Canal.
Quick facts
| Capital | Nanjing |
|---|---|
| Population | 85.1 million |
| Area | 107,200 km² |
| Best season | March–May and September–November |
| Famous for | Suzhou classical gardens (UNESCO), Nanjing (Ming capital), Grand Canal (UNESCO), silk embroidery |
| UNESCO sites | 2 sites |
Why visit Jiangsu (Extended)
For Suzhou's classical gardens — UNESCO World Heritage, the Ming/Qing era masterpiece of Chinese garden design. For Nanjing — the Ming Dynasty capital with the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Confucius Temple, and Ming city wall. For the Grand Canal — the world's longest artificial waterway.
Key cities
UNESCO World Heritage sites in Jiangsu (Extended)
- Classical Gardens of Suzhou (inscribed 1997)
- The Grand Canal (inscribed 2014)
Getting there & around
Getting there: Nanjing Lukou (NKG) and Wuxi (WUX) airports. HSR Shanghai-Nanjing: 1.5h. From Beijing: 4h.
Getting around: HSR is the fastest way between cities. Suzhou, Wuxi, and Nanjing are all connected. Within cities, metro is extensive.
Suggested itineraries
3 days — Nanjing
Day 1: Confucius Temple + Qinhuai River. Day 2: Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum + Ming city wall. Day 3: Nanjing Museum.
5 days — Nanjing + Suzhou + Tongli
Day 1-2 Nanjing, Day 3-4 Suzhou gardens, Day 5 Tongli water town.
Local cuisine
Sweet Mandarin Fish (Sōngshǔ guìyú)
Su's signature dish — crispy fried fish in sweet-sour sauce, named after a Song Dynasty poem
Yangzhou Fried Rice (Yángzhōu chǎofàn)
The classic fried rice with shrimp, ham, egg, and peas — Yangzhou is in Jiangsu
Frequently asked questions
How many gardens should I see in Suzhou?
Two is enough. Humble Administrator's Garden (largest, most famous) and Lingering Garden (most refined). Both UNESCO.
Is Nanjing worth a day trip from Shanghai?
Yes — 1.5h HSR. Day trip covers Confucius Temple and Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. Stay overnight for the Qinhuai River lantern-lit evening.
When is best for Suzhou gardens?
April-May (spring blossoms) and October-November (autumn foliage). Avoid Chinese national holidays.