Yuantouzhu (鼋頭渚） is a beautiful scenic spot located on Lake Tai in Wuxi, China, known for its rock formation resembling a turtle's head.
As soon as I heard about it, I was curious to take a look at this unique formation.
The easiest way to get to Yuantouzhu from Wuxi Train Station is by taking the Lane 1 bus, which is only about 34km away and costs just 4CNY for a return trip, which is roughly AUD85c.
Comparing it with Melbourne, the minimum price for public transport is 9.20AUD per day, approximately 43CNY. Moreover, taking a Vline to travel further can cost even more.
You may be wondering why we didn't drive a car in Wuxi.
In Melbourne, it's almost a must to drive a car when visiting the regional areas of Victoria, as there are hardly any speeding cameras (excluding Melbourne City).
In contrast, cameras are everywhere in some major cities of China, like Shanghai and Wuxi.
My husband used to enjoy driving a car in Shanghai and other cities, but as a very skilled driver, he started worrying about losing points or getting fined, which could happen at any time.
When we arrived at Yuantouzhu, we bought an entrance ticket for 90YUAN, about AUD19. If you're over 60, you pay half price, free for locals.
After we entered the park, I was amazed by how tourism is booming in China. It was full of retired people in their 50s to 70s and 80s.
Some Chinese women can retire at 50 years old, and men at 60. And the current retirement policy will be a bit later.
In Australia, for people born after 1 July 1964, the preservation age is 60 years old.
In the park, I saw some men taking photos of their wives or friends who dressed beautifully some in traditional Chinese Qipao.
Seeing the tourists reminds me that the majority of Chinese are living a better life, and they have so much passion for exploring nature.
There's no better or worse place to stay, as long as the lifestyle fits you, that's the best.
