The entertainment industry has grown substantially in Wuxi in recent years, ever since a new wave of development began and earned it the nickname ''Little Shanghai''. The most popular are based around two bar streets: one in Hubin Lu in the south of the city, and the newer 1912 Bar Leisure Corridor. On these streets, Japanese restaurants and Korean barbeque joints nestle up against lively bars, clubs and KTV boxes. The People's Conference Hall on Fuxin Lu and Yinchun Teahouse on Zhongshan Lu feature live entertainment.

The traditional arts of China are well represented in Wuxi which has several galleries, theaters and cinemas. The city has been home to many famous artists including Xu Beihong (1895-1953) a painter most famed for his paintings of horses, Qian Zhongshu (1910-1998) a writer best known for Fortress Besieged, a comedy of manners and Li Sheng (772-846) a poet who lived much of his life in Wuxi and was eventually buried there. The city's most famous child is probably Xu Xiake (1587-1641) a travel writer from the Ming Dynasty who is honored in Wuxi with a yearly festival.

At weekends and during festival times, touring boats run along the Grand Canal and can be caught from the Xishan wharf regularly. Night tours also run, lasting about two hours. For visitors not interested in traveling along the canal, there is always the option of a walk beside it. Nanchan Temple is also beautiful at night, when a night market springs up selling cheap goods and local snacks. The local Wuxi Opera (Xiju) is extremely poplar and a Museum of Wuxi Opera has opened up to showcase the history and culture surrounding the art.

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