Suzhou Travel Guide: A Journey Through a City of Gardens
Located in the southern part of Jiangsu province in east China, Suzhou is a prominent city famous for its exquisite gardens and rich culture. As the core bearer of “Jiangnan culture,” Suzhou has earned a good reputation for its Kunqu opera, Pingtan storytelling, classical gardens, and Suzhou embroidery. Besides, this city has many attractions, including the famed Humble Administrator’s Garden, Tiger Hill, Suzhou Museum, and Pingjiang Road.
With a history spanning over 2,500 years, it honors the banks of the Grand Canal and the shores of Lake Tai. Since the construction of the Great City of He Lv by Wu Zixu in the Spring and Autumn Period, Suzhou has maintained a distinctive dual chessboard layout of “parallel water and land, adjacent rivers and streets.” It is characterized by small bridges, flowing water, white walls, and black tiles, with many historical sites and famous gardens.
Chinese: 苏州 sū zhōu
Location: Southeast Jiangsu Province
Population (urban area): 12,911,000
Why Visit Suzhou
- Exquisite Classical Gardens: Suzhou is home to over 60 classical gardens, including nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Besides, this city shows the Chinese art of landscaping as well as the harmony between architectural and natural beauty.
- Rich Silk Culture: As the silk capital of China, Suzhou is a source place of Yunjin, Suzhou Embroidery, and Song Brocade. It offers silk exhibitions for you to marvel at the exquisite techniques of silk production.
- Enchanting Suzhou Countryside: Water towns are also highlights of Suzhou, and they offer a good opportunity to explore traditional lifestyles and architecture.
- Ancient Temples: Suzhou has many temples that show the religious and cultural diversity of the city, including Hanshan Temple, Xiyuan Temple, Baosheng Temple, and Confucian Temple.
- Culinary Delights on Every Corner: Suzhou’s rich culinary culture is mainly embodied in its delectable street food, from steamed white fish and squirrel-shaped mandarin fish to wonton soup and sweet osmanthus cake.
- A Haven for Tea Enthusiasts: Suzhou is famous for the Biluochun tea, which has a history of over 1,000 years and is one of China’s top ten teas. Never miss it if you are a tea lover.
Top Attractions in Suzhou
Top Things to Do and See in Suzhou
Immerse Yourself in the Beauty of Classical Gardens
As a city of gardens, Suzhou surprises visitors with its charm of classical gardens. Visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the Lingering Garden, and the Master of the Nets Garden, you will be amazed by the beauty and craftsmanship of these Suzhou gardens.
Embark on a Water Town Adventure
Water towns in Suzhou of Jiangsu in China attract an increasing number of visitors from home and abroad. It must be a wonderful experience for you to wander across charming bridges and lanes and take a black-awning boat on the Suzhou rivers. Through this, you can explore the enchanting water towns surrounding Suzhou and experience their traditional lifestyles and culture.
By the way, Suzhou’s Zhouzhuang, Tongli, and Luzhi are included on the list of China’s Top 9 Water Towns, never miss them on your trip to Suzhou.
Unveil the Secrets of Silk Production
As the silk capital of China with a long history, Suzhou invites visitors to marvel at the art of silk making. Visit the Suzhou Silk Museum on your Suzhou tours, and you will gain insights into the techniques and history of silk production. Moreover, it will also be great to acquire some exquisite silk products as treasured souvenirs. See also Suzhou Silk Factory.
Wander the Historic Streets
Strolling along Suzhou’s ancient streets is like stepping back in time. When touring Suzhou City of Jiangsu, one of the best things to do is take a walk down Pingjiang Road, Shantang Street, or Guanqian Street. During that, you can soak in the charm of whitewashed houses, tea shops, and temples nestled along serene waterways.
Watch Kunqu Opera Performances
Go on a tour of Suzhou by watching Kunqu Opera, which is ornate and melodious with elegant spoken and exquisite performances. Coupled with perfect stage settings, it can be said that Kunqu has reached the highest level in every aspect of theatrical performance. By the way, you can experience Kunqu Opera in Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theater or the tea houses in the ancient streets like Pingjiang Road or Shantang Street of Suzhou.
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Suzhou Weather and Best Time to Visit
Suzhou of China experiences a subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons and ample rainfall. Hence, the best time to visit Suzhou spans from March to May and September to November when the weather is pleasant. Besides, the gardens and water towns are beautiful then, and you can enjoy the natural beauty and cultural heritage of this city without extreme heat or cold.
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Suzhou Transportation
How to Get to Suzhou
Suzhou does not offer air services and there is no airport in Suzhou of China, but it is convenient for you to travel to Suzhou by train or bus.
By train
Suzhou City of Jiangsu boasts four railway stations, including Suzhou Railway Station, Suzhou North Railway Station, Suzhou Xinqu Railway Station, and Suzhou Yuanqu Railway Station. They connect Suzhou to major cities across China, including Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and more. By the way, the train travel from Shanghai to Suzhou is particularly swift, taking only about 25 to 35 minutes.
By bus
Suzhou has four long-distance bus stations, among which the most convenient for travelers are Suzhou South Bus Station and Suzhou North Square Bus Station. They operate buses connecting Suzhou to Shanghai, including Shanghai Pudong Airport and Hongqiao Airport, as well as Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Huzhou, and other nearby cities.
Suzhou offers various types of transportation for you to travel within the city. The five metro lines take you to travel throughout the city and neighboring towns with fares ranging from CNY 2 to 8, and buses reach most areas of the city with CNY 1 or 2. Besides, taxis are also available to get around this city.
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