Day Trip to Suzhou's Mudu Ancient Town from Hangzhou

Depart in the morning, bound for the ancient town on the Western fringes of Su’zhou - a tranquil haven of open waterways and narrow pedestrian streets called Mu’du. Here you will drink in the ambience of quiet canals and bustling shopping bazaars.
After enjoying a lunch of locally-farmed produce at midday we head for Ling’yan Mountain.Mt Ling’yan is a forest of mammoth stones, standing as if jolted into the ground – from the top you’ll be able to gaze over the city of old Su’zhou. November means the thick of Autumn here in the Jiang’nan region, and the Tianping Mountain represents an unbridled image of pure Jiang’nan romance – complete with mountain springs, spectacular geology, and a mountain screen of stunning maple forest.
Each year, as the autumn wanes and winter approaches, color bleeds into the foliage like red ink into clouds. Some call this the ‘Sun’s blood pillar’, others plainly the ‘Maple View of Tianping’. Besides admiring autumn leaves you can explore the ancient relics that dot the area. Before the town monastery gates is a memorial archway personally conferred by Emperor Qianlong, which reads ‘Gao Yi Garden’. Other attractions of historical significance include the royal reception kiosk, the pavilion of imperial tablet (found in the old maple forests on the western side of Gu Jing’tang), and Zhong Lie Temple.
We’ll return to Hangzhou by coach in the evening.