If you can, arrange a two-day stay at a farmer's house at Bright Moon Bay Village on Western Hill, an island located in the middle of Taihu Lake in Suzhou. The Jiangsu province village has a history of more than 2,000 years. A 1,200-year-old camphor tree, treasured by the locals, stands at the entrance to the village.

The village, with around 100 families and 400 people, used to thrive on selling tea, fruits and fishes. But tourism has taken off in recent years and many residents are running home stays and restaurants.

Taihu Lake is known for its "three whites", namely, white fish (pictured), white shrimp and a small, semi-transparent silver fish. At the village you can try wild vegetables, free-range chicken and eggs.

Do try the famous Biluochun (emerald spiral spring) green tea, with a particularly good fruity and flowery aroma.

If you go

Song He Lou Restaurant (Guanqian Jie branch)

72 Taijian Nong, Pingjiang district, near Xuanmiao Temple, Suzhou.

Tel: 0512-6770-0688