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►A Famous Historical City
Suzhou has a long history of more than 2500 years, dated back to the late Shang Dynasty. As the ancient center of the Spring and Autumn Period and the basis of Wu culture in the ancient China, there are varieties of historical sites in Suzhou, meanwhile, influenced by the culture from Song, Ming and Qing Dynasty, some particular architectures and streets are well protected until now, which combine a distinctive Suzhou with both modern and historical style to all the tourists.
Shantang Ancient Street
►Stylistic Suzhou Gardens
It is said that gardens in Jiangnan Area is the best in the world while gardens in Suzhou are even more extraordinary than in Jiangnan. Suzhou is praised as the city of gardens, with amounts of beautiful classical Suzhou Gardens, among them two gardens have been listed UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Suzhou owns the best designed gardens where you could find a perfect match of water, plants, architectures, sculptures and traditional Chinese calligraphies.
Humble Administrator Garden
►Delicate Handicrafts
The unique culture in Suzhou makes it a wonderful place for seeking delicate handicrafts. As the hometown of silk, the most famous gift you can find in Suzhou is no doubt to be silk products. Furthermore, Su Embroidery which ranks the first among the four famous embroideries in China is also a symbolic Suzhou gift. Other popular products with Suzhou style like Taohuawu Woodcut New Year Pictures, Suzhou Writing Brushes and Song Brocade are also specific things to buy during your visiting in Suzhou.
►Venice of The East
The Grand Canal, which is the longest canal in the world, makes Suzhou Venice of The East, along with the fine combinations of water, bridges and characteristic buildings, Suzhou is also named the heaven on earth from ancient China. Take a boat along the canal and enjoy the glamor of Suzhou, you can find no other way to have a better experience of typical water views consisted by historical relics, stone bridges and natural landscapes.
The Grand Canal
Read more about Suzhou facts.
Suzhou has a moderate climate with obvious four seasons and abundant rainfall, very suitable for visiting for the whole year. The best time to visit Suzhou is from April to October, full of beautiful views in spring and autumn. For those tourists who don’t like rainy days at all may consider avoiding mid-June to mid-July, since it rains a lot during that time.
Annual Temperature: 15.7℃
Rainy Season: June to July
Crowded Season: Late Jan. or early Feb. (Chinese Spring Festival);
first week of May (Labor Day);
first week of October (National Day)
Zhouzhuang Water Town
Notice:
Better to avoid these periods since the price for hotel and transportation may be higher and it’s crowded everywhere. By the way the Suzhou International Tourism Festival is around April and May each year, more people come to visit during that time.
Read more about climate and weather in Suzhou.
Master of Nets Garden
Reputed as a garden city, Suzhou owns the largest number of gardens in China. Suzhou Gardens were first built from the Spring and Autumn Period and then experienced a long flourishing time between Ming and Qing Dynasty, there are still more than 100 well-preserved gardens now. Take those top classic gardens into consideration and arrange your own Suzhou Garden Tour would be an ideal choice to get close to Suzhou culture.
Luzhi Water Town
Known for its beautiful landscapes and specific classical gardens, Suzhou provide an indifferent city view of both modern lifestyle and historical atmosphere. The Grand Canal, ancient bridges and distinctive buildings along the water, and stylistic water towns create an amazing Suzhou. Plan a Suzhou Water Tour will be a good experience during your trip in China if you are keen on water sceneries.
Pingjiang Road
Ancient streets in Suzhou offer tourists a great chance to appreciate the historical architectures combined with water views while seeking for delicious snacks and specific souvenirs in Suzhou. Take a Stoll around Pingjiang Road or Shantang Ancient Street to enjoy a leisure time, you can also take a boat there to get a better view along the water. You may really feel the lifestyle specially in Jiangnan Area back to Tang and Song Dynasty among the well-preserved buildings and bridges.
Kunqu Opera is originated in Suzhou, which is one of the most famous traditional operas in China with a long history. Watch a Kunqu Opera performance in Suzhou may leave you a great memory in China, in the gentle and clear vocals with traditional dances. Places like Suzhou Kunqu Opera Museum, Kunqu Opera House at Shantang Street and Fuxi Tea house are all good choices for a Kunqu Opera performance.
More attractions in Suzhou.
Suzhou is a center of food culture in eastern China, stands for Su stylistic food culture. People in Suzhou love noodles very much, really popular among the local inhabitants and also tourists. The most famous food in Suzhou is Shengjian, Pan-fried Pork Buns in English, which is a kind of bun filled with pork and vegetables. Recommended place like Yaba Shengjian restaurant is worth trying. Other famous food such as the squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, Yangcheng Lake hairy crab and sugar porridge are also delicious. And since people in Suzhou are really fond of sweet flavor, what we still want to mention is the sweets in Suzhou, including kinds of candies and preserves, a good choice of souvenirs for children and seniors.
Read more about food in Suzhou.
►Guanqian Street, a famous pedestrian street which is near the city center, convenient for eating, shopping and transportation and very close to the Humble Administrator Garden and Lion Grove Garden, you can easily get to other attractions by bus or metro from here. There are all levels of hotels around this area, but it may not be so quiet since it’s the commercial center of Suzhou.
Guanqian Street
►Pingjiang Road, the best choice for those who love cultural and artistic atmosphere, with more characteristic inns, hostels and varieties of hotels around. It’s quiet in Pingjiang Road, and you can seek for delicious Suzhou snacks along the street while enjoy the beautiful water view among the historical architectures around. Take a boat at night will give you a different feeling of the night view in Suzhou.
►Shilu Business Circle, close to Shantang Street, Humble Administrator Garden and Lingering Garden, also convenient for everything. Choose your hotel around Shantang Street nearby may be a good choice if you prefer a quieter environment.
There are so many gardens and water towns in Suzhou for you to choose, however, it’s impossible to visit all of them during one trip, the best way to get rid of tiring visiting is to make a list about the exact garden and water town you’re really interested in so that you could have a more comfortable visit in Suzhou. Generally speaking, 2 to 3 days may be enough for a Suzhou tour, including the main popular attractions. You can also make design your Suzhou tour connected with Shanghai, since it’s only 30 minutes from Suzhou to Shanghai by high-speed train.
What to do for 2-3 days
Suzhou City View
Recommended Suzhou Tours:
►3 Days Suzhou Essence Tour: Humble Administrator Garden, Silk Factory, Suzhou Museum
►5 Days Shanghai and Suzhou Tour: Jade Buddha Temple, the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Nanjing Road, Humble Administrator Garden, Silk Factory, Tongli water town
Tailor-made your personal Suzhou Tour: Free Online Tailor-made Tour
More information about Suzhou tours.
By Airplane
There is no direct flight to Suzhou, but it’s fast and convenient to transfer from Shanghai and Wuxi by high-speed train, which will take only 20 to 30 minutes. You can take plane to Shanghai or Wuxi first if you have limited time.
By train
Suzhou is easily approach from most of main cities in China, no matter high-speed trains or normal trains. There are four train stations in Suzhou, usually take trains at Suzhou Railway Station and Suzhou North Station. You can take metro to your hotel from train station.
| Beijing | Shanghai | Xi’an | Chengdu | Hangzhou |
| 5h 13m | 23m | 6-7h | 11h | 1h 32m |
By Highway
There are four bus stations in Suzhou, you can take coach from places nearby to Suzhou. Furthermore, it’s convenient to some water towns around Suzhou by bus, such as Wuzhen Water Town, Xitang Water Town and Zhouzhuang Water Town and so on. Check more transfer tips to help you with your Suzhou tour plan.
Getting around in Suzhou
Metro: fast and convenient, cheap to get around Suzhou within 7 yuan for one way.
Bus: 1 yuan for normal bus, 2 yuan for bus with air-conditioner, tour bus and BTR are available to take.
Taxi: flexible for your time, better to avoid the rush hours in the morning and evening.
Travel around Suzhou
| Zhouzhuang Water Town | Tongli Water Town | Luzhi Water Town | Mudu Ancient Town |
| By coach | Metro Line 4 | Bus No.518 | By bus/metro Line 1 |
| About 2 hours | 50 minutes | 1 hour | Around 1 hour |
Read more about Transportation in Suzhou.
What to Prepare
What to Know
Read more about Suzhou Travel Tips.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
| 你好 | Nǐhǎo | Hello/Hi |
| 再见 | Zàijiàn | Bye/See you |
| 谢谢 | Xièxie | Thank you. |
| 不客气 | Búkèqi | You’re welcome. |
| 对不起 | Duìbùqǐ | Sorry |
| 请问卫生间在哪里？ | Qǐngwènwèishēngjiānzàinǎlǐ? | Excuse me, where is the restroom? |
| 多少钱？ | Duōshǎoqián? | How much? |
Learn more about Survival Chinese Phrases.
How to plan a trip to Shanghai?
Top Reasons to Visit China, China Facts & Where to Visit in China
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