About
Jiangsu Province lies on China's eastern coast, close to Shanghai, and makes a rewarding destination for travellers who want to combine a modern region with traces of older China. It is one of the country's most developed provinces, so getting around its major cities is straightforward, and the countryside between them often holds a quieter side.
The province is best known for its major cities. Nanjing and Suzhou are the two names most visitors come to see, each offering its own character within the same region.
What to look for
- Classical gardens. Suzhou is famous for its traditional gardens, designed as carefully arranged landscapes of water, stone, pavilions and plants. Walking through them slowly is the best way to appreciate their layout.
- Ancient water towns. Jiangsu's canal-side towns, with their old streets and waterways, give a sense of how life once moved through the region.
- Urban life. As one of China's more developed areas, the province offers well-connected cities, modern shopping and dining, and easy onward travel.
Planning a visit
Because Jiangsu sits near Shanghai, it works well as a day trip or as part of a longer journey along the east coast. Many visitors pair the gardens of Suzhou with time in Nanjing, moving between the cities by rail or road. Allow more than a day if you want to see both the historic sites and the water towns at an unhurried pace.