Check out our guide to life in Wuxi
The historical and cultural city of Wuxi dates back around 3,000 years to the Shang Dynasty. It’s popular with tourists thanks to its beautiful hills, lakes and rivers, historic old city, and modern metropolitan conveniences. The local cuisine is a distinct blend of sweet and savoury, with soup dumplings a speciality. Wuxi is a port city and boasted the busiest rice and cloth market in China prior to the 19th century. It’s also criss-crossed by several canals which rely on the near-by Yangtze River and ancient Grand Canal. Due to its prosperous economy, Wuxi is known as ‘Little Shanghai’.
Wuxi Fast Facts
Prefecture-level city
Founded 202 BCE
Population 6,553,000
Wuxi Weather
Hottest Month July (29 °C avg)
Coldest Month January (15 °C avg)
Wettest Month June (172.2 mm avg)
Windiest Month October (10 km/h avg)
Annual Rainfall 773.4 mm (per year)
10 Things to See and Do in Wuxi
China Dinosaurs Park
This is the perfect amusement park for enthusiasts of dinosaurs and rollercoasters.
Grand Buddha at Ling Shan
Live performances, a giant 88m-high Buddha statue, palace, park and temple.
Xihui Park
This state park has great views of the city, the adjacent Grand Canal, and beautiful Lake Tai.
Tianning Temple
This Buddhist complex includes a 13-story pagoda with gold, brass and jade decorations.
The Plum Garden
Ideal to visit in spring when the 4,000 plum blossoms are blooming throughout the park.
Lihu Park
A 300-acre parkland including a giant Ferris wheel, carousel, maze and many sculptures.
Nanshan Zhuhai
A national park full of bamboo, it’s a great place to see pandas and take a cable car ride.
Shanjuan Cave
Colourful lighting, beautiful statues and natural rock formations are a highlight for visitors.
Wuxi Museum
The museum exhibits date back 6,000 years and include art, craft and artefacts.
Centre 66
Shop till you drop at this conveniently located mall, that’s packed with popular brands.
Cost Of Living
| ITEM | RMB | GBP | AUS | RAND |
| Cinema | 60 | 6.85 | 12.52 | 124.78 |
| Water | 2 | 0.23 | 0.42 | 4.18 |
| Beer in a bar | 23 | 2.63 | 4.80 | 47.83 |
| Beer in a shop | 9 | 1.03 | 1.88 | 18.72 |
| Coke | 4 | 0.46 | 0.84 | 8.35 |
| Meal at a cheap restaurant | 20 | 2.28 | 4.17 | 41.59 |
| Meal at an average restaurant | 50 | 5.71 | 10.43 | 103.98 |
| Meal at a high end restaurant | 100 | 11.41 | 20.86 | 207.96 |
| Gym per month | 205 | 23.40 | 42.76 | 426.32 |
| City bus | 3 | 0.34 | 0.63 | 6.27 |
| Monthly utility bills (electricity, heating, water, rubbish) | 280 | 31.96 | 58.40 | 582.29 |
| Loaf of bread | 11 | 1.26 | 2.29 | 22.88 |
