江苏 · Land of Fish and Rice · 鱼米之乡
Where classical gardens meet imperial grandeur — Jiangsu's canal cities, UNESCO heritage sites, silk culture, and ancient Wu-Yue civilization define the very soul of China's Yangtze Delta.
Click any section to expand — maps, weather, sights, activities & travel resources for each destination.
Practical tips to help you plan your Jiangsu journey.
Jiangsu's main international gateway is Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) with flights from major Asian hubs. Most international visitors also use Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) or Pudong (PVG), both within 30–60 minutes of Suzhou by high-speed rail.
Wuxi Sunan Shuofang Airport (WUX) and Lianyungang Airport (LYG) serve domestic routes.
Jiangsu has one of China's densest high-speed rail networks. The Shanghai–Nanjing corridor (90 min) and Shanghai–Suzhou (30 min) are among China's busiest HSR routes. Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Changzhou all have metro systems.
For water towns and rural areas, hire a car or take buses. DiDi works throughout the province.
China uses WeChat Pay and Alipay for nearly all transactions. International visitors should link a foreign card to WeChat Pay before arrival. ATMs accepting foreign cards are widely available in cities.
Jiangsu is mid-to-high cost. Budget travel: ¥250–350/day; comfortable travel: ¥600–900/day. Suzhou and Nanjing are pricier than smaller cities.
Mobile data is fast (4G/5G) and cheap with a Chinese SIM card, available at airports and phone shops. WhatsApp, Google, Instagram, and most Western apps are blocked — download a VPN before entering China.
Wi-Fi is standard in all hotels. Major tourist sites often have free Wi-Fi but may require a Chinese phone number.
China offers visa-free entry to citizens of 38+ countries for stays up to 30 days (2024–2025 policy, expanding). Check the latest official list before travel. Most Western European passport holders are now eligible.
Apply for an L (tourist) visa via Chinese embassies if your country is not on the visa-free list. Processing takes 3–5 business days.
Mandarin (Putonghua) is universal. English is spoken at major hotels and tourist sites in Nanjing, Suzhou, and Wuxi, but limited elsewhere. Download Pleco (dictionary) and Google Translate with offline Chinese packs before you travel.
Suzhou's Wu dialect and Nanjing's Jianghuai dialect are widely spoken locally — both very distinct from Mandarin.
Jiangsu is home to Huaiyang cuisine (淮扬菜) — one of China's eight great culinary traditions. Hallmarks include delicate knife skills, subtle seasoning, and beautiful presentation. State banquets in Beijing still follow Huaiyang principles.
Highlights: Nanjing salted duck, Suzhou sweet-braised ribs, Yangzhou crab roe soup dumplings, and Taihu hairy crabs (October–November).
Jiangsu is one of China's safest and most visitor-friendly provinces. Tap water is not drinkable — use bottled water. Summers are hot and humid (35–38°C in July–August); plan indoor activities for midday.
The plum rain season (梅雨, mid-June to mid-July) brings persistent rainfall. Travel insurance with medical coverage is strongly recommended.
Curated links for planning your Jiangsu trip — official, editorial and community sources.