Planning a trip to Wuxi
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. 0510/8383-1234) 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. 0510/8258-8188) just north of the railway station, buses head to Shanghai (every 30 min. 7:10am-7:30pm; 2 hr.; ¥41-¥47), Suzhou (every 15 min. 6:30am-7:20pm; 1-2 hr.; ¥16-¥21), Hangzhou (every 30 min. 6:40am-6:30pm; 3 hr.; ¥82]), Yixing (every 20 min. 6:30am-7:30pm; 1-2 hr.; ¥18.50-¥22.50), Nanjing (every 30 min. 6:30am-7pm; 2 hr. 10 min.; ¥57-¥63), and Yangzhou (every 40 min. 6:50am-5:30pm; 2 hr. 30 min.; ¥62).
Getting Around
Taxis cost ¥8 for 3km (2 miles), then ¥2.30 per kilometer, then ¥2.80 per kilometer after 8km (5 miles). Public bus no. 1 (¥1) 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 & Guides
China Travel Service (CTS), located directly across from the railway station at Chezhan Lu 88 (tel. 0570/8230-3366; fax 0510/230-4143; 8am-6pm), can arrange customized tours around the city and to the pottery shops and caves in Yixing County.
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange & ATMs -- The Bank of China at Zhongshan Lu 258 conducts foreign exchange Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. An ATM is inside the bank.
Internet Access -- Broadband Internet access is available for ¥.50 per hour at the library, south of Tai Hu Guang Chang (tel. 0510/8575-7830, ext 8401; www.wxlib.cn; 9am-5pm). 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 54 (tel. 0510/8270-6842) 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.
