太湖

Why this place

Lake Tai is the third-largest freshwater lake in China, and it is surrounded by the wealthiest and most gardened part of the country — Suzhou, Wuxi and Huzhou all sit on it. Its stone and its water are the raw material of classical Chinese gardens, and its islands and peninsulas are the classic Jiangnan scenery.

What to see

• Yuantouzhu (Turtle Head Isle) at Wuxi, with cherry blossom in late March
• The Dongting hills and the islands of the lake, with their fruit orchards
• Suzhou's lakeside villages and the Taihu stone quarries
• Huzhou's southern shore, and the bamboo hills behind it

What to eat

• Taihu hairy crab in autumn — the best-known of the Chinese lake crabs
• White shrimp, silver fish and the lake's 'three whites'
• Biluochun tea from the Dongting hills on the lake's edge

How to plan

Two days: Wuxi one day, Suzhou or Huzhou the other.

Best time

March–May and September–November; hairy crab season is October–November