Suzhou Sanjiaozui Azalea Wetland Park

Suzhou Sanjiaozui Azalea Wetland Park

Sanjiaozui Azalea Wetland Park is located in Xiangcheng District, Suzhou, bordered by Yongfang Road and Suyuzhang Highway to the east, Chaoyang River to the south, Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway to the north, and Xitang River to the west. The planned total area covers 12.04 square kilometers, including 5.38 square kilometers of water area.

Originally named Changdang Lake, the area was mainly composed of fish ponds, open land, or low-lying areas, with severely silted waterways, numerous stagnant ponds, sparse and disorderly vegetation, and poor environmental hygiene and landscape quality. The entire Sanjiaozui Wetland Park project aimed to transform the original 7,400 acres of fish ponds into a wetland park—5,600 acres in Xiangcheng District and 1,800 acres in Jinchang District— with a total investment of 650 million yuan. After two years of ecological restoration, 2,700 acres of lakes have regained their natural beauty with rippling blue waters, and water quality tests show it is close to Class II national standards.

The park features a landscape highlight of millions of azaleas and expansive water systems. Over 1.2 million azaleas of four major types—Mao’anzhu, Chun’anzhu, Xia’anzhu, and Zi’anzhu—have been planted. There are also more than 100 varieties and over 2 million flowering shrubs, including crape myrtle, cherry blossom, magnolia, camellia, crabapple, hibiscus, Bauhinia, and yellow jasmine. Additionally, over 100,000 native tree species such as camphor, beech, Chinese hackberry, sweet gum, pomelo, cedar, and osmanthus have been cultivated.

Centered around the themes of greenery, ecology, and wetlands, Sanjiaozui Azalea Wetland Park combines “forest, lake, farmland, and garden” through the development of ecological islands, lakeside ecological belts, and three functional zones for ecological protection, eco-tourism, and leisure entertainment. It forms a multifunctional urban ecological gem integrating flower viewing, leisure, sightseeing, and wetland conservation.

The park currently includes six functional areas: flower viewing, camping, fishing, natural bathing beach, water sightseeing, and visitor services. Convenient transportation options such as bicycles and sightseeing vehicles offer visitors a brand-new park experience. As the largest “green lung” in Suzhou’s urban area, the park not only fulfills its ecological restoration role but also serves as an ideal destination for citizens’ leisure, vacation, and outings.

Transportation Guide

Address: Intersection of Suyuzhang Highway and Yangchenghu West Road, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Public Transport: In Suzhou city, take bus routes 76, 82, 79, or 805 to Yuyuan Jiayuan on Yangchenghu West Road. Walk 30 meters west, cross Suyuzhang Highway, then walk another 30 meters west to the intersection where the park is located. It faces the Xiangcheng District Highway Management Office.

Self-Drive: Take Xiangcheng Avenue → Yangchenghu West Road → go straight west (all the way to the end).