Suzhou Taihu Lake National Tourist Resort

The stunning sunrise view at Suzhou Taihu Lake National Tourist Resort [Photo/VCG]

Suzhou Taihu Lake National Tourist Resort is one of 12 national tourist resorts approved by the State Council in October 1992. It covers a land area of 173 square kilometers and a water area of 854 sq km. It contains a population of about 110,000. The Xiangshan sub-district and Jinting and Guangfu towns are under its jurisdiction.

The tourist resort boasts an excellent location. It is 15 kilometers away from downtown Suzhou, 95 km from Shanghai, and 42 km from Wuxi with the Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway, Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway, Suzhou Ring Expressway, and 312 National Highway running through it. It is also not far away from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and Sunan Shuofang International Airport.

Its tourism resources are abundant. There are two major tourist areas along Taihu Lake, one national forest park, one national modern agricultural demonstration park, one national geological park, two provincial-level historical and cultural towns, four provincial-level cultural protection units, and 36 recognized tourist attractions.

In recent years, the resort has introduced numerous functional projects with a focus on the tourism service industry, including Suzhou Taihu International Conference Center, Suzhou Taihu Park, Suzhou Aquarium, and Xiangshan International Hotel. In addition, a number of themed events are held annually at the resort, such as the Taihu Plum Blossom Festival, Taihu Lake Fishing Festival, and Taihu Dragon Boat Race, which has bolstered its popularity.

By the end of October 2017, Suzhou Taihu Lake National Tourist Resort had received a total of 8.53 million tourists, generating tourism revenue of 11.7 billion yuan ($1.7 billion), a year-on-year increase of 2.08 percent and 4.43 percent respectively.