Lake Tai is a large lake in east China, 100kms west of Shanghai, and has been a popular tourist spot since the early 1900s. There are many islands within the lake, along with an abundance of plants and animas, and trademark oddly-shaped rocks.
The lake is surrounded by stunning scenery of hills and tea plantations and features around 90 islands inside. They range from a few kilometers across to just a few meters across and a boat trip is the best way to discern everything. The most popular islands in Lake Tai are the Three Hill Islands (Sanshan Islands), a national geological park.
The best spot within Lake Tai for views is Xihui Park, just to the west of Wuxi. Visitors are able to climb the Dragon Light Pagoda (Longguang Pagoda) within the park to get the views in. Another popular spot in Lake Tai is Yuantouzhu, or the Turtle’s Head. It lies in the northeast of the lake and resembles a turtle’s head.
The famous eroded rocks from Lake Tai can be bought throughout the region and there are many parks and gardens with them on display in the traditional Chinese garden setting. Unfortunately, Lake Tai has received a fair amount of bad press of late for its pollution problem caused by the fast growth of towns and cities in the region.
Getting There & Away
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport is the best bet for getting access to Lake Tai, lying about 50kms south of the town of Wuxi. Hangzhou only receives domestic flights. Buses and trains run to Wuxi from Hangzhou in around 90 minutes. Bus 82 and the Wuxi sightseeing bus run to the north entrance from the train station.