18 kilometres southwest of Wuxi, Turtle Head Isle (Yuantouzhu) is the city’s most attractive park. It is actually not an isle at all but a peninsular shaped, unsurprisingly, like the head of a turtle. A small lighthouse stands at the western tip of the park. To its north is the dock, which operates ferries to the Three Hills Isles (Sanshan) where the view of the Taihu Lake is spectacular. A visit to the park is incomplete without a stop off at the highest point - Brightness Pavilion (Guangming ding). If you get tired, enjoy the scenery of the lake from the comfort of one of the teahouses dotted along the banks.

How to get there: Take bus No.1 from the north bus terminal in Wuxi and get off at the terminus (about half an hour). Ferries also connect the peninsular with Plum Garden and Li Garden.
Cost: RMB50. The boat fee and the admission for the Three Hills Isles are included. If you’re taking the tourism shuttle bus, get off at the Dushan stop; the entrance is another 10 minutes’ walk ahead.
Opening hours: 06:00-17:00.