Wuxi

Lackluster at first glance, Wuxi is blessed with an idyllic feel from the rice, fishing, and fruit cultures of the neighboring rural area. The area was once rich in tin deposits but the natural metal mine was soon exhausted because of excessive exploitation. The name of Wuxi means without tin.

Wuxi rose economically and culturally after the completion of the Grand Beijing-Hangzhou canal, a water passage connecting north and south China. It was an important trade center in the area for centuries, however, the city's commercial role gradually declined as the transportation route fell into disuse.

Many travelers use Wuxi simply as a stopover between Nanjing and Suzhou but the city's top attractions including the Taihu Lake, China's third largest fresh water lake, the Lingshan Grand Buddha, Mei Garden, and Turtle Head Island are well worth spending some time on.