Suzhou
Everything you need to know before you go.
Suzhou is a great spot if you want a mix of old world China and hyper modern urban planning. It is famous for its canals, which earned it the nickname Venice of the East from Marco Polo, and its traditional waterside architecture. The vibe depends on where you are. In the Gusu District, you get the feel of the old city with temples, remnants of 6th century BCE walls, and a network of canals. If you want something different, head to the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) around Jinji Lake. It is a joint project with Singapore and feels like a masterpiece of urban planning with high rise buildings and wide boulevards.
You will love this city if you appreciate art and history. The Classical Gardens of Suzhou are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and were originally built by retired scholars and officials. For those into crafts, the Wuzhong District is known as the Hometown of Chinese Folk Culture and Art, specializing in things like embroidery, bronze casting, and calligraphy. While the reference data does not list specific dishes or USD prices, you can find plenty of eating and drinking streets in the SIP area and shopping hubs in Gusu. It is a prosperous region, so expect a high standard of living across the city.
Sightseeing
- Master of the Nets garden - A classical Chinese garden that served as a model for gardens in New York and Vancouver. $10, 2h.
- Suzhou Museum - A world class museum designed by a renowned architect. $5, 3h.
- Canal Boat Ride - A way to see Renmin Bridge and the city network from the water. $15, 1h.
Outdoor Nature
- Yangshan Hot Springs - Fancy outdoor hot tubs and spas located in the western outskirts. $27, 4h.
- Jinji Lake - A great spot for a casual bike ride around the city. $4, 2h.
Cultural
- Yangtze River Culture Festival - An autumn event in Zhangjiagang featuring heritage bazaars and exhibitions. Free, 5h.
- Embroidery Institute - A facility where you can tour the production of high quality silk work. $10, 2h.
Shopping
- Shi Quan Jie - The downtown area for everything from cheap souvenirs to fine antiques. $10+, 3h.
- Guanqian Street - A general shopping street with local craft shops in the back alleys. $15+, 2h.
- Su Embroidery Studio - A distributor on North Dongwu Road specializing in double sided embroidery. $50+, 1h.
Day Trips
- Lake Tai - A 30 km one way cycle ride often organized by local bike shops. $4, 8h.
- Zhouzhuang - A water town located 40 km away, reachable via a guided cycle tour. $20, 10h.
Here are some spots to stay in Suzhou based on what I've found. Note that prices from the data are in CNY, so I have converted them to USD for you.
Budget
- Mingtown-Suzhou Youth Hostel - Pingjiang Rd. $6-$28/night. It is in an old building with a nice garden and is a short walk to the Humble Administrator's Garden.
- Suzhou Watertown Youth Hostel - near Renmin Rd. From $6/night. This one is in a traditional block-house and actually lets you rent bicycles for around $3.50.
Mid-range
- Guibinlou Hotel - Pingjiang District. Around $56/night. It is located in the Guanqian Commercial Area and is close to the railway station.
- Bamboo Grove Hotel - Zhuhui Rd. Prices are reasonable. It feels like a traditional Chinese hotel and is within walking distance of the Master of Nets garden.
Luxury
- Gloria Plaza Hotel - Ganjiang E Rd. Often over $140/night. It has clean rooms and a decent restaurant near the pedestrian mall.
- Citadines Xinghai Suzhou - SIP (Suzhou Industrial Park). Price varies. These are apartments with full kitchens and living areas if you prefer more space.
Where to eat
- Jack's Place (Italian) - Zhuhui Rd area. Mid-to-high range.
- Gloria Plaza Hotel Restaurant (International/Chinese) - Ganjiang E Rd. Mid-range.
- Mingtown Cafe (Cafe/Light bites) - Pingjiang Rd. Budget.
- Guibinlou local eateries (Suzhou cuisine) - Guanqian Commercial Area. Budget to mid-range.
Since Suzhou doesn't have its own civilian airport, you'll need to fly into a nearby city. Most people use Shanghai, but Nanjing, Hangzhou, or Wuxi are options depending on your flight path.
Airports and Flight Costs The primary international gateways are Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA) in Shanghai. From major US cities like LAX or JFK, expect to pay between $900 and $1,600 for a round trip, though prices spike during holidays.
Getting from the Airport to Suzhou If you land at PVG or SHA, you have a few practical choices:
- Shuttle Buses: This is the most straightforward way. From Pudong (PVG), buses leave almost hourly from 10:40 to 19:40 from the Terminal 1 parking lot (2nd floor) and cost Ā„82 (about $11 USD). They drop you at 26 Kerry Road. From Hongqiao (SHA), buses run on the hour from 10:00 to 16:00, plus trips at 17:30 and 19:00, costing Ā„50 (about $7 USD).
- Trains: You can take a bullet train from Hongqiao Railway Station. The station is about one kilometer from Hongqiao Airport (SHA), which is a long indoor walk or one metro stop away. The ride to Suzhou takes less than 30 minutes. Just make sure your ticket is for Hongqiao and not the original Shanghai Railway Station, as they are far apart.
- Metro: You can get from Hongqiao Station to Pudong Airport via Metro Line 2, but it takes over an hour and requires a platform change.
Other Entry Points
- Wuxi: This airport is closer to Suzhou than Shanghai but mostly handles domestic flights. Take a bus (every 30 minutes) to Wuxi center, then a high speed train for about 15 minutes to reach Suzhou.
- Nanjing: You can fly here and take a frequent high speed train to Suzhou, which takes about an hour.
- Hangzhou: There is a bus from the Arrival Hall (north of Entrance 5) to Suzhou costing between Ā„20 and Ā„30 ($3 to $4 USD). You can also use fast trains via Shanghai or take a direct bus.
Pro Tip If you are already in Suzhou and need to return to Pudong Airport, go to the CEAG ticket office at No. 115 Ganjiang West Rd. Buses run almost hourly from 6:20 AM to 2:50 PM for Ā„80 (about $11 USD).
Since the provided text doesn't list specific monthly temperatures or price lists, I will combine the reference data with general travel knowledge to give you a realistic breakdown.
Spring (March to May) This is a peak period. The weather is mild, but this is when most people flock to see the Classical Gardens of Suzhou. Because these gardens are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, they get packed. Expect temperatures between 10Ā°C and 20Ā°C. It is a great time for photos of the Jiangnan architectural style in the old city center, but you will be fighting crowds.
Summer (June to August) Avoid this if you can. It is hot and humid, often topping 30Ā°C. While the high tech hubs like the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) and Suzhou New District (SND) are modern and air conditioned, walking through old neighborhoods or along the canals in this heat is draining.
Autumn (September to November) This is the sweet spot. The weather cools down to a comfortable 15Ā°C to 25Ā°C, and the crowds thin out compared to spring. It is the best time to wander off the beaten path into old neighborhoods to see the contrast between traditional life and the modern billboards of suburban developments. Prices for hotels usually dip slightly after the national holidays.
Winter (December to February) The lowest prices and fewest tourists are here, but it is cold, often dropping below 5Ā°C. If you don't mind the chill, it is the easiest time to visit the silk trade markets or explore the SIP without the summer heat.
Practical Tips
- Where to go: Spend time in the old city center for those postcard photos of canals and traditional buildings. For a look at the modern economy, head east to the SIP or west to the SND.
- What to expect: Don't trust guidebooks that describe it as a quaint town. It is a massive city of over five million people in the core. You will see four lane highways with pedicabs and bicyclists in the breakdown lanes.
- Budget: A meal at a local spot in an old neighborhood might cost 5 to 10 USD, while dinner in the SIP or SND near the corporate offices will be more expensive, likely 20 to 40 USD per person.
- Transport: Use the highways connecting Suzhou to Shanghai if you are basing yourself in one city and visiting the other.