Why this ride
251 km from Wuxi to Wuxi, about 3 h 30 of riding. The stops in between: Classical Gardens of Suzhou, Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal, Nanxun Section of Jiangnan Canal and back through Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Wuxi City Section of Jiangnan Canal and Nanxun Section of Jiangnan Canal
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 251 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 3 h 30
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Wuxi City Section of Jiangnan Canal
The Grand Canal is the longest artificial waterway in the world, stretching from Beijing to Hangzhou, and some of its sections have been in use for more than two thousand years. In the Jiangnan region, south of the Yangtze, it flows through a landscape of rice paddies, lakes and old towns, and in Wuxi it runs right through the city. The canal was listed by UNESCO in 2014, and the Wuxi section includes historic streets, bridges and warehouses along its banks.
Read the complete Wuxi City Section of Jiangnan Canal write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Wuxi City Section of Jiangnan Canal is where the day begins. Next is Classical Gardens of Suzhou.
2. Classical Gardens of Suzhou
A classical Chinese garden is a whole landscape squeezed into a courtyard: rocks stand in for mountains, ponds for lakes, and a winding covered walkway reveals one framed view after another, each window cut in a different shape. Suzhou, a canal city west of Shanghai, perfected the art over centuries, as scholars, officials and merchants built private retreats behind high white walls. Nine of its gardens are listed by UNESCO as the Classical Gardens of Suzhou, among them the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Lingering Garden and the tiny, exquisite Master-of-Nets Garden, and the Retreat and Reflection Garden in the water town of Tongli.
Read the complete Classical Gardens of Suzhou write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Classical Gardens of Suzhou comes up about 35 km into the recorded legs. Next is Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal.
3. Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal
The Grand Canal is the longest artificial waterway in the world, running from Beijing to Hangzhou, and the Jiangnan section through Suzhou is one of its most storied stretches. Here, the canal winds through a landscape of water towns, rice fields and lakes, past ancient bridges, temples and gardens. It is part of the World Heritage site that recognises the canal as one of the greatest engineering achievements of the pre-industrial world.
Read the complete Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 71 km into the recorded legs you reach Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal. Next is Nanxun Section of Jiangnan Canal.
4. Nanxun Section of Jiangnan Canal
Nanxun is one of the water towns of the Yangtze delta, south of Lake Tai, where life has revolved around canals for more than a thousand years. In the nineteenth century, it became immensely rich through the silk trade, and its merchant families, known by nicknames like the four elephants and the eight bulls, built mansions that mixed Chinese courtyards with European columns, stained glass and Western-style furniture, an unusual blend you will not find in many other water towns. The canal running through the town is part of the Grand Canal, the immense waterway linking Beijing with Hangzhou, which UNESCO listed in 2014.
Read the complete Nanxun Section of Jiangnan Canal write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Nanxun Section of Jiangnan Canal, about halfway. Next is back through Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal.
5. back through Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal sits at 173 km, about halfway. Next is back through Classical Gardens of Suzhou.
6. back through Classical Gardens of Suzhou
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Classical Gardens of Suzhou write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Classical Gardens of Suzhou comes up about 211 km into the recorded legs. Next is Wuxi City Section of Jiangnan Canal.
7. Wuxi City Section of Jiangnan Canal
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Wuxi City Section of Jiangnan Canal write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Wuxi City Section of Jiangnan Canal closes the day.
Leg by leg
Wuxi City Section of Jiangnan Canal to Classical Gardens of Suzhou
Wuxi City Section of Jiangnan Canal → Classical Gardens of Suzhou is 35 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Classical Gardens of Suzhou to Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal
Classical Gardens of Suzhou → Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal is 36 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal to Nanxun Section of Jiangnan Canal
Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal → Nanxun Section of Jiangnan Canal is 53 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Nanxun Section of Jiangnan Canal to back through Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal
Nanxun Section of Jiangnan Canal → back through Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal is 53 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal to back through Classical Gardens of Suzhou
back through Suzhou Section of Jiangnan Canal → back through Classical Gardens of Suzhou is 34 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Classical Gardens of Suzhou to Wuxi City Section of Jiangnan Canal
back through Classical Gardens of Suzhou → Wuxi City Section of Jiangnan Canal is 40 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.