Getting There
Wuxi has a small airport which is seldom used. Shanghai offers the nearest major airline connections. Wuxi is connected by daily trains to Shanghai (1-1 1/2 hr.), Suzhou (25-35 min.), Hangzhou (4 1/2 hr. via Shanghai), and Nanjing (2 hr.). The railway station (tel. 0510/9510-5105) is in the northern part of town (counters 7-9 sell same-day tickets for Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou).
From the Wuxi Qichezhan (Wuxi Bus Station) (tel. 0510/230-0751) just north of the railway station, buses head to Shanghai (every 30 min. 6:30am-7:30pm; 2 hr.; ¥38-¥44/$5-$5.70/£2.50-£2.90), Suzhou (every 15 min. 6:20am-7:20pm; 1-2 hr.; ¥15-¥22/$1.95-$2.80/£1-£1.40), Hangzhou (every 30 min. 6:40am-6:30pm; 3 hr.; ¥79]/$10/£5.15), Yixing (every 20 min. 6:30am-7:30pm; 1-2 hr.; ¥18-¥21/$2.35-$2.75/£1.20-£1.40), Nanjing (every 20 min. 6:10am-8pm; 2 hr. 10 min.; ¥44-¥54/$5.70-$7/£2.90-£3.50), and Yangzhou (every 40 min. 6:50am-5:30pm; 2 hr. 30 min.; ¥59/$7.70/£3.85).
To get to Hangzhou along the Grand Canal, a boat departs daily from the Hubin Matou (Hubin Dock) on Hubin Lu at 5:30pm and arrives in Hangzhou the next morning at 7am. A berth in a standard room costs ¥114 ($14/£7); in a quad ¥82 ($10/£5). Conditions are spartan at best. Tickets can be bought at the Hangyun Dasha (Ferry Building; tel. 0510/586-8704; open 7:30am-5:30pm) at the dock.
Getting Around
Taxis cost ¥8 ($1.05/50p) for 3km (2 miles), then ¥2.30 (30¢/15p) per kilometer, then ¥2.80 (35¢/20p) per kilometer after 8km (5 miles). Public bus no. 1 (¥1/15¢/10p) and tourist bus no. G1 (same fare) run from the railway station to Yuantouzhu. Bus no. 2 from the railway station stops at Xihui Gongyuan.
Tours and Guides
China Travel Service (CTS), located directly across from the railway station at Chezhan Lu 88 (tel. 0570/8230-3366; fax 0510/230-4143), can arrange customized tours around the city and to the pottery shops and caves in Yixing County.
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange and ATMs -- The Bank of China at Zhongshan Lu 258 conducts foreign exchange Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. There is an ATM inside the bank.
Internet Access -- Broadband Internet access is available for ¥1 (15¢/15p) per hour at the library, south of Tai Hu Guang Chang. tel. 0510/8575-7830, ext 8401. www.wxlib.cn. 9am to 9pm. Dial-up is available at tel. 163.
Post Office -- There's a post office (7:30am-6:30pm) on Renmin Zhong Lu, west of Zhongshan Lu.
Visa Extensions -- The Gonganju (PSB) is located on the second floor at Chongning Lu 56 (tel. 0510/270-0123, ext. 22215) and is open Monday through Friday from 8 to 11:30am and 1:30 to 5:30pm (2:30-5:30pm July-Sept). Allow 5 business days.
