[Video/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]
Wuxi is home to many beautiful rivers, with the most famous being the Grand Canal.
The Wuxi section of the Grand Canal is 40.8 kilometers in length. It passes through the city and forms a turtle-shaped space in the downtown area.
Visitors are encouraged to take water bus tours through the downtown area to experience the close interaction between the Grand Canal and Wuxi residents, which shapes the local culture, lifestyle, and economy.
Along the ancient canal flowing through the city, a water bus was opened for public transport and sightseeing to bolster the public transportation system.
The route draws together three historical and cultural blocks, including Qingming Bridge, Xiaolou Lane, and Huishan Ancient Town, three core commercial spheres – Zhongshan Road, Chong'an Temple and Nanchan Temple – as well as 12 national cultural preservation units, one national 5A-level scenic spot, seven national 4A-level scenic spots, and eight intangible cultural heritage items at the provincial and national levels.
The water transit bus provides six tours every day from 7:30 am to 8:30 am and from 5 pm to 6 pm, coming every 30 minutes. The ticket price is 2 yuan (30 cents) per person.
The water tour bus provides 16 tours every day from 9 am to 4:30 pm, coming every 30 minutes. Passengers are required to pay 10 yuan for one stop and 80 yuan for the whole tour.
Both the water routes pass through Nanchan Temple, Yeqin Garden, Beicangmen, Wuxi Railway Station, Grand Canal Park, Wuai Community, Xishuiguan Bridge, and Taosha Lane.
The one-hour water tour, which circles the whole city, perfectly embodies the beauty of the city. Wuxi was once famed as the "Venice of the East" for its concentrated river network encircled by its moat.
