Suzhou travel guide

Suzhou is extremely well connected, with fast and convenient transport options in and out of the city.

Suzhou has no commercial airport. The nearest are Shanghai Hongqiao and Pudong airports, as well as Wuxi Shuofang Airport.

Buses run from both Shanghai airports to Suzhou. For timetables and fares, call the Shanghai passenger flight information hotline at 021-96990. Shanghai Hongqiao Airport is also integrated with the railway station, and multiple trains run to Suzhou every day. Buses to both Shanghai airports depart from Suzhou North Square Bus Station and Jinji Lake Square.

Buses run from Wuxi Shuofang Airport to Suzhou. Buses to Wuxi Airport depart from Suzhou North Square Bus Station and Suzhou West Bus Station.

Suzhou currently has five railway stations: Suzhou Station (苏州站), Suzhou North Station (苏州北站), Suzhou Industrial Park Station (苏州园区站), Suzhou New District Station (苏州新区站) and Weiting Station (唯亭站). Suzhou Station is the city's main railway station, 3 km from the Humble Administrator's Garden. If you plan to explore the old city, it is best to get off here. It is shared by the Beijing–Shanghai Railway and the Shanghai–Nanjing Intercity Railway, making onward travel to Shanghai, Hangzhou and Nanjing very convenient.

Suzhou North Station is far from the city centre and mainly serves high-speed and bullet trains, with connections to Beijing South and Shanghai Hongqiao, among others. To see the modern side of Suzhou around Jinji Lake, get off at Suzhou Industrial Park Station. Suzhou New District Station also mainly serves high-speed and bullet trains, with services to Nanjing, Shanghai and Wuxi.

The Shanghai–Nanjing Intercity High-Speed Railway has three stops in Suzhou: Suzhou New District Station, Suzhou Station and Suzhou Industrial Park Station. The Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway has only one stop in Suzhou, Suzhou North Station, on Fulin Road in Xiangcheng District.

Suzhou is the “southeastern gateway” to Jiangsu's road network.

Suzhou Nanmen Wharf is at No. 8 Renmin Road. Passenger services to Hangzhou have ceased; only regular sightseeing boats operate now.

Water transport ticket office:

The best options are Suzhou Station, Suzhou New District Station or Suzhou Industrial Park Station. Take the Shanghai–Nanjing Intercity Railway to Shanghai Hongqiao Station. The trip takes about 30 minutes and costs about ¥40. From Shanghai Hongqiao Station, you can transfer to the metro to reach any part of central Shanghai.

There are three rail lines and numerous long-distance bus routes between Suzhou and Shanghai, so there is no need to book in advance. Just turn up and go.

As one of the centre's services, tourist shuttle buses also operate from here, mainly for independent travellers. There are two lines, east and west, connecting Suzhou's major sights and shopping districts. Each line costs ¥10 and allows unlimited rides on that line for the day. Visitors can also buy attraction tickets on the shuttle buses and enjoy discounted admission.

City buses in urban Suzhou (excluding Wujiang District) serve all the major sights. Most are self-service, with no conductor. Routes of 18 km or less cost ¥2. Routes longer than 18 km use a flip-card fare system, meaning the fare is not a single flat rate: a sign by the front door shows the fare from the boarding stop, and the driver flips the card along the way.

Suzhou Metro currently has Lines 1, 2, 3, 4 (including its branch), 5 and 11 in operation. Line 1 runs between Mudu and Zhongnan Street, passing Jinji Lake, Pingjiang Road and Suzhou Amusement Park. Line 2 runs between Qihe and Sangtian Island, passing Tongjing Park and Yinshan Lake. Line 4 runs between Longdaobang and Tongli. Line 11 runs from Weiting Station in Suzhou Industrial Park east to Huaqiao Station in Kunshan, and connects with Shanghai Metro Line 11.

Some suburban bus routes in Suzhou use “flip-card fares”, meaning the fare varies depending on the boarding stop. A sign by the front door shows the fare for that stop, and the driver flips the card along the way, which gives the system its name.

A water bus ride is a great way to experience the character of Jiangnan's water towns, passing Xumen, Panmen, Midu Bridge and Loumen. The journey takes 80 minutes.

Suzhou's pedicab trade has no well-established industry standards, so agree on a price with the driver before getting in to avoid being overcharged.

1. Water town tourist shuttles:

Nanmen Bus Station — Tongli

North Bus Station — Zhouzhuang

2. Railway stations have tourist shuttles to Zhouzhuang, Tongli and other water towns, which are convenient.

The Suzhou municipal government has introduced new peak and off-peak rules for seven garden scenic spots. Peak season runs from April 16 to October 31, and off-peak season from November 1 to April 15 of the following year. During Golden Week, all sites charge peak-season prices.

Flag fall is ¥10 for the first 3 km, then ¥2 per km. After 5 km, a 50% empty-running surcharge applies. Waiting time over 5 minutes is charged as 1 km for every 5 minutes. After 23:00, fares (including the flag fall) rise by 30%.

Most pedicab drivers today are not native Suzhou residents. Before setting off on a pedicab tour, be sure to agree on the fare. Also be wary of unscrupulous drivers who offer very low fares but take you to shops or venues where you are pressured to spend, and overcharge you.

Suzhou's sights are fairly concentrated, so cycling through the old lanes is a great option. Public bikes can be rented on the city streets, and there are many rental shops around Pingmen Bridge, east of the railway station.

Suzhou cuisine enjoys an excellent reputation across Jiangnan. It excels at stewing, braising, simmering and keeping food warm, and places particular emphasis on soup-making, preserving the soup's original flavour and keeping dishes light. Beyond being light, Suzhou dishes tend toward sweetness.

Suzhou snacks are distinguished by their exquisite craftsmanship. Date-paste sesame cakes and savoury lard cakes are the most popular, and other snacks include honey-glazed dried tofu, pine nut candy and rose melon seeds.

Signature dishes include Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish, Barbel Lung Soup, Stir-Fried Crab Roe and Lotus-Leaf Baked Chicken. In addition, Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs are the iconic river delicacy, especially famous for stir-fried crab with rich roe, crab butter and crab roe shark's fin.

Locals in Suzhou often go to restaurants such as Xinjiayulou, Tianzhu, Xiangyun, Runji, Qinghua and Nankai. Compared with the famous old restaurants, they offer better service and environments.

As a tourist city, Suzhou has convenient accommodation, and since the city is not large, the distance between sights and places to stay is not a major concern. The old town of Suzhou lacks the bustle of a metropolis, so staying there is very pleasant, but room rates are relatively high.

Suzhou embroidery is one of China's Four Great Embroideries, and Suzhou's double-sided embroidery is considered unrivalled. The Biluochun green tea from the East and West Dongting Mountains is one of China's Top Ten Famous Teas; the best quality is sold at Sanwanchang on Guanqian Street. Taohuawu woodblock New Year prints are also among Suzhou's most representative local specialties. All of these can be found on Guanqian Street. Most streets near the famous gardens have small shops selling Suzhou embroidery, and many have embroiderers working in the shop. Prices for a single piece are generally around ¥100, while more finely crafted works can sell for around ¥500.

Combining reading, leisure and shopping, this lifestyle complex sells thoughtfully designed goods with exquisite packaging. It is a bookstore much loved by young artists and creatives.

At midnight on New Year's Eve, after the monk at Hanshan Temple has rung the bell 108 times, visitors may ring the lucky New Year bell themselves. In Buddhist teaching, a person has 108 afflictions, and hearing 108 chimes is said to bring release from them layer by layer, wishing everyone happiness and good health in the year ahead.

Located near the Humble Administrator's Garden and the museum, Pingjiang Road is not only a historic old street with Jiangnan charm but also a famous food street. Must-try treats include the yogurt cheese at Huli Jia, the chicken feet at Jijiao Gala, and the handmade yogurt at Liushanmen.

1. Due to practical constraints, boat cuisine is known for being “refined, clean, elegant and dainty”, and its cooking methods are mainly “stewing, braising, simmering and keeping warm”. Later, boat cuisine was absorbed into Suzhou cooking, which made Suzhou dishes even more exquisite and refined. The dishes mostly feature Lake Tai seafood, most famously the “three whites” of Lake Tai: silver fish, white shrimp and white fish. Their flesh is tender and their flavour distinctive, attracting many diners.

2. Today, a “boat dining” craze has spread across Jiangsu and Zhejiang. From an environmental standpoint, this is particularly harmful to the environment and water quality of the lakes.

Famous snack stalls on Guanqian Street include Wenkuizhai's pear paste candy, Guanzhenxing's noodles, Wangyuanxing's soy milk, Xiaoyoutian's lotus root starch, as well as Dafangzhai, Wufangzhai, Liufangzhai and Qifangzhai.

Sanwansi and Pinfang are two teahouses with a century of history.

Shiquan Street, Taijian Lane, Jiayu Fang, Gong Lane, Fenghuang Street and Ganjiang Road (near Renmin Road) are several well-known food streets in Suzhou.

The “China Pearl City” in Hejiawan, Weitang Town, is a large pearl trading and distribution hub, with good quality at low prices. Take Bus 83 directly from Suzhou Railway Station, or Bus 12 or 84.

Suzhou is no longer the gentle, delicate town many outsiders imagine; fashion has long taken root here. Suzhou's long-established bar street is Shiquan Street, on the southeast side of the city moat, with classical street lamps and elegant whitewashed walls. Its bars have a relaxed mood. Most are quiet bars with small storefronts but strong themes, and Mr.Bartender, LA NUIT and Jellyfish all have a wonderful atmosphere. Younger Suzhou residents prefer the newer bar street on Panxu Road beside the Grand Canal, where the alluring night scene makes you forget the old Suzhou of deep courtyards. SOS Bar and Couple are very popular nightclubs.