Ancient Village of Mingyue Bay in West Taihu Lake, Xishan

Piaomiao Peak Scenic Area in West Taihu Lake

The Piaomiao Peak Scenic Area is located in the southwestern part of Xishan Island in West Taihu Lake, Suzhou, encompassing three scenic zones: Piaomiao Peak, Shuiyue Wu, and Hancun Wu. Among the seventy-two peaks of Taihu Lake, Piaomiao Peak is known as the “dragon head,” standing at an elevation of 336 meters. Often shrouded in mist, it resembles a mythical, ethereal paradise—hence its name. At the summit lies a massive rock shaped like an eagle’s beak, inscribed with the three characters “Piaomiao Peak” (缥缈峰) handwritten by Li Genyuan, a veteran statesman of the Republic of China. Nearby, there are also historical relics such as the Purple Cloud Spring, Dizhi Spring, Immortal’s Table, Climbing Platform, and Lake-Viewing Pavilion. The weather on Taihu Lake is ever-changing, and the peaks are often veiled in mist, creating an otherworldly scene as if the mountains are separated from the sea of clouds or connected by jade ribbons amid rosy mountain ridges. This forms the “Piaomiao Clear Hills” landscape, one of the Eight Great Scenic Views of Xishan.

Of the seventy-two peaks of Taihu Lake, forty-one are located on Xishan. The Piaomiao Peak Scenic Area represents the essence of Taihu’s landscapes, long renowned for its majestic and picturesque lake-and-mountain scenery and numerous historical sites. Centered around Piaomiao Peak and complemented by surrounding major valleys, the scenic area spans approximately 10 square kilometers, with a forest coverage rate of nearly 80%.

In ancient times, it was customary to climb Piaomiao Peak during the Double Ninth Festival in the Taihu region, and generations of literati have left behind many beautiful poems. Fan Chengda, a great poet of the Song Dynasty, wrote the famous lines: “Carrying ease alone upon a small boat, / The long wind bears me to this immortal abode. / Do not worry that your heart finds no release— / From Piaomiao Peak gaze out over Taihu Lake.” The scenic area features a 10-kilometer mountain loop road and 5 kilometers of walking trails. There are many traditional routes to the summit of Piaomiao Peak, with trails accessible from Shuiyue Wu, Hancun Wu, Qili Wu, Baoshan Wu, Dongcai, and other areas. You can take a vehicle or hike directly to the peak from either valley, enjoying panoramic views of the 36,000 hectares of lake and mountain scenery.

Scenic Area Address: Within Jinting Town, Xishan, Taihu Lake, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Transit Directions: Take a bus bound for Jinting Town of Taihu Lake within Suzhou City, then transfer to bus routes 697 or 699 and get off at the Piaomiao Peak Scenic Area stop.

Self-Driving Directions:

From Shanghai: Take G50 - G1501 - S26 Shanghai-Changzhou Expressway - S9 Suzhou Ring Expressway, exit at Xishan and turn right;

From Nanjing: Take G42 Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway - Dongqiao Junction - S9 Suzhou Ring Expressway, exit at Xishan and turn right;

From Hangzhou: Take G60 - Jiaxing Junction - G15W - Yinshan Junction - S9 Suzhou Ring Expressway, exit at Xishan and turn right.

Address: Miaoyue Road, Jinting Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City

Type: Forested Mountain

Recommended Visiting Time: 3–4 hours

Phone: 0512-66310058

Opening Hours:

Monday–Friday: 8:30–16:00; Saturday & Sunday: 8:30–16:30

Ticket Information:

Includes 20 RMB for scenic area transportation

Suzhou Xishan Scenic Area

Linwu Cave

Suzhou Shigong Mountain

Ancient Village of Mingyue Bay in West Taihu Lake, Xishan

Xishan Carved Flower Mansion (Renben Hall)

Shuiyue Temple in West Taihu Lake, Xishan

Luohan Temple in West Taihu Lake, Xishan

Baoshan Temple