Jiangsu sits between Shanghai and the Yangtze River, and it packs in more genuine day-trip variety than most countries manage. Nanjing gives you six centuries of city wall and a proper food scene. Suzhou has the gardens UNESCO put on its list. Wuxi sits on a lake big enough to lose an afternoon on. Yangzhou invented fried rice and still does it better than anywhere else. All four are under two hours apart on the fast train.

Stay near Nanjing's old wall if you want history and food streets on foot. Base yourself in Suzhou's canal lanes for gardens and antique shopping. Pick Wuxi if a lake view and a slower pace matter more than a sightseeing list. There's a good bed to match whatever kind of trip you're planning.

Where to stay in Jiangsu

• Nanjing: the history-and-food base. The Ming city wall is one of the best-preserved in China, and the Fuzimiao (Confucius Temple) quarter turns into a proper night market after dark, salted duck stalls and all. Stay near the old city and most of it's walkable. See places to stay in Nanjing.
• Suzhou: the garden city. This is where the UNESCO-listed classical gardens are, the Humble Administrator's Garden and Lingering Garden among them, plus the canal town of Zhouzhuang about an hour out for a day trip on the water. Base yourself here for gardens, silk shops and tea houses. See places to stay in Suzhou.
• Wuxi: the lake town. Taihu (Lake Tai) is the third-biggest freshwater lake in China, and Yuantouzhu park is the classic spot to watch the sun go down over it. Good pick if you want green space without giving up city comforts. See places to stay in Wuxi.
• Yangzhou: the quieter one, and worth it. Slender West Lake was landscaped by Qing-era salt merchants trying to impress a visiting emperor, and the city gave its name to the fried rice dish now served everywhere. Fewer crowds, same canal-city charm. See places to stay in Yangzhou.

How much is Jiangsu accommodation?

Expect to pay around AU$110 to AU$140 a night on average across the province, though it swings hard by city, season and how close you are to a garden or lake view.

• Backpackers and hostels: from AU$20 per night. Dorm beds and simple private rooms, mostly near train stations.
• Budget hotels and guesthouses: from AU$45 per night. Clean, no-fuss chain hotels, the kind Chinese domestic travellers use every day.
• Mid-range hotels and apartments: from AU$90 per night. Extra space, a proper breakfast, usually a better location.
• Boutique hotels: from AU$160 per night. Design-led properties, often built around a courtyard or a lake view.
• Luxury hotels and resorts: from AU$280 per night. Full-service five-star stays with spas, multiple restaurants and lake or garden frontage.

Top-rated hotels in Jiangsu

• W Suzhou: on Jinji Lake, with a rooftop pool and interiors that lean more Shanghai design bar than package-tour hotel.
• Pan Pacific Suzhou: a short walk from Shantang Street and the Suzhou Museum, handy if you want the old town on foot.
• Sheraton Nanjing Kingsley Hotel: close to the Ming city wall, with an indoor pool that's a genuine bonus after a day of walking.
• Steigenberger Hotel Wuxi: out in Xishan with lake views and a quieter pace than the bigger cities.
• Shangri-La Yangzhou: 360 rooms in the Hanjiang district, and a solid base for exploring Slender West Lake.

Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Jiangsu

• Book around the fast train stop first, then pick the hotel. Jiangsu's cities are laid out around their railway stations, so a room 10 minutes from South Station beats one that looks close on a map but isn't near transport.
• Spring and autumn are peak. Gardens and lake views are at their best from March to May and September to November, so rooms in Suzhou and Wuxi get booked out early in those windows.
• In Suzhou, check whether a room actually has a canal or garden view before you book it. It's a real difference in what you're paying for, not just listing language.
• If duck for brekkie sounds like a good idea, stay near Fuzimiao in Nanjing. It does the best version in the province.
• Don't rule out Yangzhou as a base. It's smaller and cheaper, and still close enough to Suzhou and Nanjing for day trips both ways.

Shanghai is a quick train ride from any of these four cities, so it's an easy add-on if you've got extra days up your sleeve.