City guide: Suzhou

1. General introduction

    An old Chinese proverb praising the beauty and prosperity of Suzhou says, "In heaven 

there is paradise, on earth there are Hangzhou and Suzhou." It has long been a heaven

for scholars, artists, and skilled craftsmen, and it still is today.

Location & population

    Suzhou is located in southern Jiangsu Province in the center of the Yangtze Delta. 

Shanghai lies to the east, Zhejiang Province to the south, Wuxi City to the west and 

the Yangtze River to the north. The city is divided by the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand 

Canalfrom north to south. Since 42% area of the city is covered by water, including

a vast number of ponds and streams, it is praised as the 'Venice of the Orient'.

Built in 514 BC, this is an ancient city with over 2,500 years of history. The unique 

characteristics of the past are still retained today. The double-chessboard layout of 

the city, with 'the streets and rivers going side by side while the water and land 

routes running in parallel', is preserved intact. Suzhou has a population of around 

6 millions and a total area of 8,488 square kilometers.

Climate

    Suzhou has a four-season, monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate with hot,

humid summers and cool, cloudy, damp winters with occasional snowfall (Köppen

climate  classification Cwa). Northwesterly winds blowing from Siberia during winter

can cause temperatures to fall below freezing at night, while southerly or

southwesterly winds during the summer can push temperatures above 35 °C (95 °F).

The hottest temperature recorded since 1951 was at 41.0 °C (106 °F) on 7 August

2013, and the lowest at −9.8 °C (14 °F) on 16 January 1958.

Economy & industry

    Suzhou’s agriculture revenue has been in shrinking over years and now it only 

occupiesabout 3.5% of the GDP of the city. The traditional agricultural products 

are rice, wheat, cotton, mulberry and fruit. The city is spending more funding in 

developing itsecological forest and agriculture, high efficiency nurture and special 

aquatic products.Today, Suzhou has also been recognized as the "Most Aspiring City 

of Prosperity and Civilization in the Southeast of China", and is an open city with 

fast growing economyand frequent exchanges with other nations. It has officially been

declared as part of "the Coastal Economic Open Zone of the Yangtze Delta". 

Comprehensive industrial system has been taking shape, and there has been tremendous 

expansion in foreign trade and international economic co-operation.

2. Transportation

Metro

    The Suzhou Rail Transit (SRT) is a metro system serving the city of Suzhou, in 

Jiangsu province, China. Line 1 began operation on April 28, 2012. Line 2 opened 

on December 28, 2013. Another five lines are also planned to be completed before 2020. 

Upon completion, the system will be about 140 kilometers long and have 109 stations.

Railway

Suzhou Railway Station

    Reconstructed in 2011, this is the main gate for passengers to and from this city by 

rail. Through the Shanghai-Nanjing High-Speed Railway, there are bullet trains from 

Suzhou to Shanghai, Kunshan, Wuxi, Zhenjiang and Nanjing. On the other hand, from this 

station, passengers could take fast trains to Chengdu, Xian, Yinchuan, Zhengzhou, 

Xining, Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Yantai and etc. On the tickets, this station is printed 

as Su Zhou.

North Railway Station

    This station serves for Beijing-Shanghai and Shanghai-Suzhou high-Speed trains. 

Departing from Suzhou, passengers could get to Beijing in five hours and Shanghai 

in about half an hour.

Suzhou New District Railway Station

    This station operates 11 scheduled bullet trains on the Shanghai-Nanjing Intercity 

High Speed Railway everyday. On the tickets, this station is printed as Su Zhou Xin Qu.

Industrial Park Railway Station

    Everyday, this station serves for 46 bullet trains of the Shanghai-Nanjing Intercity 

High Speed Railway. On the tickets, this station is printed as Su Zhou Yuan Qu.

Air

    Despite being an important tourist destination, Suzhou does not have its own 

international airport at present. It is best to use the airports of nearby Shanghai. 

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) and Pudong International Airport (PVG)

are used frequently by domestic and international visitors.

    Hongqiao Airport (SHA) is 86 kilometers (about 53 miles) away from Suzhou. Upon 

arrival, passengers could walk to the connected Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, 

and then take a bullet train to get to Suzhou in 30 minutes. The nearby Hongqiao 

West Traffic Center also operates coaches to Suzhou.

    Pudong International Airport (PVG) is located 120 kilometers (about 65 miles) away 

from Suzhou. There are scheduled airport bus running between.

Buses from PVG to Suzhou:

Address: The parking lots at the 2nd floor of PVG's terminal building.

Operating Time: 10:00 10:40 11:10 11:40 12:10 12:40 13:10 13:50 14:20 14:50 15:20 

16:10 16:50 17:20 18:10 18:50 20:00

Durations: 3 hours

Ticket Fare: CNY84

Buses from Suzhou to PVG:

Address: 115, Ganjiang Xi Lu, Jinchang District

Operating Time: 06:20 07:20 07:50 08:20 08:50 09:20 09:50 10:20 10:50 11:30 12:10 

12:50 13:30 14:10 14:50 15:30 16:10

Duration: 3 hours

Ticket Fare: CNY84

3. Education & Health care

International Schools

Kindergartens

Suzhou Netwon Kindergarten 

    Newton is an educational institution geared towards international students aged 

from 18 months to 6 years old. With a motto of "Explore. Play. Learn", the qual

-ified and experienced teachers approach learning holistically by incorporating

 elements of exploration and creativity as well as the involvement of sensory 

activities. Their two programs (international and bilingual) follow the American 

Scholastic curriculum and are offered at pre-nursey, nursery, and K1&K2 levels. 

Additional classes such as piano, tae kwon do, ballet, arts and crafts, and aer

-obics can also be explored.

Regent International

    Set up in 1996, Regent is a veteran in providing preschool education to Suzhou's 

youngsters. Their staff of 23 teachers from China and Canada provide an Early 

Childhood Education curriculum that promotes hands-on learning experiences and 

fosters self confidence,independence and creativity. All English teachers are 

trained Early Childhood Educators while all Mandarin teachers are graduates from 

Suzhou College of Early Childhood Education. They offer pre-nursey, nursery, kind

-ergarten 1 and kindergarten 2 programs for students aged from 18 months to 6 

years old.

Landmark Skylight International Kindergarten 

    Set in the Landmark Skylight Compound, this international kindergarten offers qua

-lity early childhood education for both local and foreign children. The well

trained Chinese and English teachers provide bilingual classes to cater to the 

school's mix of students.

International Schools

Suzhou Singapore International School

    Suzhou Singapore International School (SSIS) has been providing international 

education for Suzhou students since 1996 and has grown from a student body of 27 

students to over 1,300. Their campus features state of the art facilities for tea

-ching, performing, athletics, and visual arts. As an IB World school, they offer 

the PYP, MYP, and DP programs.They recently implemented a German Department that 

offers the German National Curriculum in elementary school and a chance to earn a 

DP in German in Secondary. A "North American" style high school dipolma is also 

available to ensure students have two parallel programs from grades 9 to 12.

Address:  208 Zhong Nan Jie Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou

Contact:  0512-62580388  

Website:  http://www.ssis-suzhou.com/

Eton House International 

    While the Eton House International School was set up in 2003, it acquired a brand 

new campus in 2008 with top quality facilities for academia, athletics, and perfor

-ming and visual arts set on a 3 hectares of land. The school offers international 

education for students ages 2 to 18. Eton House is an authorized IB World School 

for primary years and middle years. High school students are offered the Advanced 

Placement International Dipolma (AP) or the Eton House High School Diploma.

Address:  70 Jinshan Lu, New District, Suzhou 

苏州新区金山路70号

Contact:  0512-68255666  

Website:  http://www.etonhouse-sz.com

Dulwich College Suzhou 

    Internationally respected, Dulwich College is a private school that provides British 

International education based on the National Curriculum of England. The institution 

has over 400 years in education experience and currently enrolls approximately 800 

students ages 2 to 18 at their Suzhou location. Following their motto of "Building 

Bridges to the World", Dulwich College offers holistic, student-centered learning 

focused in four core areas: academic excellence; commitment to sport; engagement 

with the community; and the promotion of the arts, music, and drama.

Universities

Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University 

    Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool (XJTLU) is an independent science and engineering univer

-sity formed from a partnership between the University of Liverpool UK and Xi'an 

Jiaotong China, therefore students graduate with a University of Liverpool degree 

as well as XJTLU degree. The university has an academic staff of over 400, all ho

-lding Doctorate degrees and a student population of  5,700, including 100 inter

-national students. Students can chose from 23 degree programs in science, engin

-eering, management and culture. XJTLU strives towards becoming a research-led 

international university in China and has implemented first-class research faci

-lities over the years along with 50 research programs.

Soochow University 

    Soochow University is one of Suzhou's oldest university. Established in 1900, 

it has a renowned reputation among the city and is ranked as one of China's top 

100 universities under the Ministry of Eduaction's "Project 211". Currently the 

university offers 108 undergraduate programs, 209 professional masters programs, 

and 86 Ph.D programs. The student population has grown to 50,000 students, inclu

-ding 12,744 postgraduates, 22,853 undergraduates, and 9,010 adult education stu

-dents. Over the years, Soochow has developed cooperative relationships with more

than 100 universities and institutions worldwide and each year accepts over 2,000

international students as part of their exchange. The 5-campus university boasts 

impressive research and academic facilities to foster learning.

National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute 

    Founded in November 2010 by a strategic partnership between National University of 

Singapore (NUS) and Suzhou  Industrial Park (SIP), The National University of 

Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute (NUSRI) is an independently operated, top 

research center in science and technology. Along with their research capacities, 

the institution offers a pre-masters program, masters program as well as organized 

seminars, workshops, and executive training for professionals and scholars.

Hospitals

    If you ever have an injury or illness, and are looking for doctors or hospitals in 

Suzhou, you’re in luck. There are some excellent hospitals and plenty of doc-

tors who speak English and understand western standards in medicine and personal 

privacy.

1) No. 1 Hospital. Affiliated with Suzhou University

    The largest and most famous hospital in the city is the No. 1 Hospital. Affiliated 

with Suzhou University, No. 1 handles thousands of cases a day and claims to employ 

1,600 medical professionals. Beyond regular treatment in all fields, No. 1 is also 

a research institution. A lot of old party cadres and government  officials are 

treated here. Perhaps it is because the hospital provides for so many elderly Chi-

nese patients that it offers less modern services than other hospitals in town. 

This is the kind of hospital that one would more classically associated with China: 

crowded hallways with people smoking, overworked doctors  with only two minutes for 

a diagnosis, and a complicated system of payments and receipts that delays treatment 

greatly. While there is a VIP service at No. 1, it is not recommended. VIP service 

usually means an English-speaking doctor and often includes a private room or at 

least a curtain. The English level of the doctors is low, although the hospital’s 

proximity to bar street means that they have handled foreigners. Go here if this is 

the hospital closest to you when you are injured, or if you can afford a more expen-

sive hospital. If, however, you got the time and money, you’d be wise to go elsewhere.

Add: The No. 1 Hospital of Suzhou University, 88 Shizi Jie, Suzhou

2)Suzhou Municipal Hospital

    Not far from Suzhou No. 1, this is probably the best public hospital in town, espe-

cially for its VIP service. Here, like most places, VIP really just means a doctor

 who can speak English. Newer and cleaner than the No. 1 Hospital, this place serves 

less government-related patients and also does not deal with research. It was former

-ly called the No. 2 People’s Hospital. It is crowded, and staffs a similar makeup

of doctors and nurses just like other Chinese hospitals, but they do have plenty of 

experience with foreigners. I became aware of it when a friend went in for an app-

endectomy, and spent a few days recovering in a private room. Unlike other Chinese 

hospitals, you can get an examination behind a curtain, where you get at least a few

 minutes with the doctor before being harassed by the next person in line.

Add: Suzhou Municipal Hospital (No. 2 People’s Hospital) 26 Daoqian Street, Canglang

District, Suzhou

3)Suzhou Kowloon Hospital

    The best choice is Kowloon Hospital in the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP). Affiliated 

with Shanghai Jiaotong University, it offers high-quality services with standards 

that are similar to the West. The taxi out there may cost you 60 RMB, but from the 

moment you pull up to the impressive building, you’ll understand why it’s so trusted. 

The English level of the staff quite high, and it’s also common for the nurses to speak 

a bit of English as well. The hospital was designed for the expats who manage factories 

in SIP, so it has modern equipment to deal with the high volume of foreigners they 

receive. But it is, of course, the most expensive hospital by far. Beds can run as low 

as 100 RMB a day, or 600 RMB for VIP service. Interestingly enough, a few people have 

commented that the VIP service here is not worth paying for, as the staff’s English 

level is already so high. Either way, this is the most trusted destination in Suzhou.

Add: Suzhou Kowloon Hospital, 118 Wangsheng Jie, Suzhou Industrial Park Zone.

4. Recreation

Shopping

    Having a history of more than 2,500 years, Suzhou was a flourishing city of Southern 

China in ancient times, with abundant products and highly-developed economy. The an-

cient painting of "Gusu (the name of Suzhou in ancient times) Prosperity" demonstrates 

exactly the prosperity of Suzhou during the reign of Qing Qianlong Emporer (1736-1759). 

Today shops with varieties of commodities are standing along the street corners of 

Suzhou. A trip to this ancient city would certainly amaze you.

Local Products and Gifts

    Suzhou has a concentration of over 2,000 kinds of goods featuring local flavor, such

 as Su embroidery, mandarin coats, pure silk clothing, carvings, carpet and tapestry. 

Anyway, Suzhou provides tourists with various kinds of souvenirs according to their 

different requirements.

Su Embroidery

    Suzhou embroidery, multi-colored and gorgeous, is regarded as a pearl of Chinese art. 

The vivid descriptions of animals, people, landscapes and flowers are popular themes 

of Su embroidery. Contemporary embroidery in Suzhou is blended with fashionable 

elements, yielding a unique style of embroidery that is popular all over the world.

Su Embroidery Museum

Address: No.262, Jingde Road

Jade Carvings

    Suzhou jade carvings are well-known for their exquisite workmanship. There are two 

types: plain or three dimensional. The designs are made based on the different shapes 

of materials and fine carvings are done with appropriate skills.

Suzhou Jade Carving Department Store

Address: No.33, North Pagoda Road (west), Suzhou

Suzhou Fan

    Suzhou folding fans are beautiful with the lively paintings and calligraphy。

Besides the function of cooling people down, Suzhou fan has another function of giv-

ing people a chance to appreciate the great charm of traditional Chinese culture. 

Well known for its long history and refining craftship, Suzhou fan is a kind of 

folding fan which attractes many experts to write poems and draw pictures on it. 

The "Old Fan Face", well-known for its fine, strong, even and endurable quality, 

is the best among all the Suzhou fans. The area of Peach blossom Shipyard of Chang

-men has been the centralized place for Suzhou fan ever since.

The Marketplace of Sandalwood Fan, Suzhou

Address: No.58, Northwest Street, Suzhou

Biluochun Tea

    Biluochun green tea is well-known for its smooth shape, fresh color, fragrant aroma 

and mellow taste. The best Biluochun tea leaves are usually picked during March and 

April, and the prepared tea leaves are curled like screws and covered with white 

fuzz. Production of authentic Biluochun tea is very limited, making it quite expen

-sive and hard to find.

Recommended Shopping Sites

For Clothes and Shoes

In City Plaza 印象城购物中心

Address: No.1699, Xiandai Avenue, Gongyeyuan District (工业园区现代大道1699号)

Tel: 0512-6280 2222

Jiuhuang Department Store 久光百货

Address: No.268, Wangdun Road, Gongyeyuan District (工业园区旺墩路268号)

Tel: 0512-6733 3600

Yuanrong Times Square 圆融时代广场

Address: No.268, Wangdun Road, Gongyeyuan District (工业园区旺墩路268号)

Meiluo Shopping Mall 美罗商城

Address: No.245, Guanqian Street, Pingjiang District (平江区观前街245号)

Tel: 0512-6522 7777

For Consumer Electronics and Computers

Youtong Cyber Port 友通数码港

Address: No.456, West Jianggan Road, Jinchang District (金阊区干将西路456号)

Tel: 0512-6558 0808

Linghua Digital Mall 领华数码城

Address: No.688, Zhuhui Road, Langcang District (沧浪区竹辉路688号)

Tel: 0512-6516 1918 / 6516 9088

For Home Appliances

Gome Appliance 国美电器

Address: Dongjin Shopping Mall, No.889, East Ganjiang Road, Pingjiang District 

(平江区干将路889号东锦商城)

Tel: 0512-8765 4611

Suning Appliance 苏宁电器

Address: the Pedestrian Street, Shilu Road, Jinchang District (金阊区石路步行街)

For Furniture and House Decoration

B&Q 百安居

Address: No.208, Jinjihu Road, Gongyeyuan District (工业园区金鸡湖路208号)

Tel: 0512-67616611

MUJI 无印良品

Address: No.1699, Xiandai Avenue, Gongyeyuan District (工业园区现代大道1699号)

Tel: 0512-6956 6121

Nightlife

    Suzhou is not only an ancient city of thousands of years' history, but also an 

open modernized metropolis, so that it boasts a great varieties of traditional 

and modern entertainment options for different tourists. Suzhou is rich in cul-

tural heritage, Musical performances and Kun Opera (a form of traditional Chinese

 opera) are popular among tourists from around the world. Folk music and dancing 

and six other artistic performances will provide lasting memories of Suzhou City.

Pubs or Clubs

Suzhou Pub Street - Shiquan Street (十全街)

    There you can enjoy the cheaper wine, warm service, good food and pool games during 

your Suzhou tour. The pub is always the place for musicians and artists getting to-

gether, and performance is available in most pubs in the street. Besides the numer-

ous pubs, the 1,800-meter Shiquan Street with ancient trees and elegant bridges is 

also a great place to have a walk.

Harry's Forbidden Pub 哈利的酒吧

Address: No.118, Qimen Road, Pingjiang District (平江区齐门路118号)

Tel: 0512-6754 6411

Average Price per person: 97 yuan

ZAPATA'S Pub

Address: No.158, Xinggang Street, Gongyeyuan District (工业园区星港街158号湖宾新天地A1)

Average Price per person: 127 yuan

Baidu Pub 百度酒吧

Address: No.208, Zhu Hui Road (沧浪区竹辉路208号竹辉商厦1楼)

Tel: 0512-6526 1999

Average Price per person: 169 yuan

SOS Pub  SOS酒吧

Address: No.826, Panxu Road, Langcang District (沧浪区盘胥路826号)

Tel: 0512-6812 9999

Average Price per person: 113 yuan

Cafés and Teahouses

U.B.C. Coffee 上岛咖啡

    Some people who have been there are more like the environment for meeting friends 

rather than tasting great coffee. The average price per person there is about 

40 yuan.

Addresses:

Dongda branch: No.5-8, South Street

Fenghuang branch: No.19, Fenghuang Street

Shilu branch: No.223, Changxu Road

Yuehai branch: No.8, Yue Hai Square, Guan Qian Street

Starbucks Coffee

    It is a brand originated from the USA, and the average price per person there is 

about 30 yuan.

Huihao Branch: No.58, Shishan Road, Gaoxin District (高新区狮山路58号), and the 

number is 0512-6805 0858

Xincheng Mansion Branch: the 1st Floor of Xincheng Mansion, No.158, Xiandai Avenue, 

Gongyeyuan District (工业园区现代大道158号邻里中心新城大厦1楼), and the number is 

0512-6288 7967

Momi Café 猫的天空之城概念书店

    It is really a unique café in Suzhou. There are a lot of postcards for customers' 

choices. The most special is the hand painted Suzhou maps with version both in Eng-

lish and Chinese in the 1st floor, it is said that the map was drawn by the shop-

keeper after he travel all over Suzhou in person.

Address: No.25, Pingjiang Road, Pingjiang District (平江区平江路25号)

Tel: 0512-6755 7912

Average Price Per Person: 20 yuan

    There is a branch in No.49, Xiatang Area, Tonggui Bridge, Shantang Street, Jinchang 

District (金阊区山塘街通贵桥下塘49号), with the telephone number is 0512-6556 5221 

and the average price per person is 22 yuan.

    Teahouse is always a quiet place, so is the teahouse in Suzhou. The ancient culture 

of Suzhou gives the teahouses in Suzhou more peace and elegance.

Bi'an Teahouse 彼岸茶馆

Address: No.36, Wenhua Block, Pingjiang Road, Pingjiang District

(平江区平江路历史文化街区内36号)

Tel: 0512-6729 9881

Qiantang Teahouse 钱塘茶人

Address: No.793, Shiquan Street, Langcang District (沧浪区十全街793号)

Tel: 0512-6530 0001

Golf Courses

Taihu Lake Golf Club 太湖高尔夫俱乐部

Address: No.68, Hubin Road, Taihu Lake Holiday Resort, Wuzhong District 

(吴中区太湖旅游度假区湖滨路68号)

Tel: 0512-6598 3584 / 6621 8888

Jinji Lake Golf Club 金鸡湖高尔夫俱乐部

Address: No.2, Guobin Road, Gongyeyuan District (工业园区国宾路2号)

Guangming Golf Club 光明高尔夫俱乐部

Address: No.128, West Huanzhen Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Kunshan City 

(近郊昆山市周庄镇环镇西路128号). 

Notice: Kunshan City is a county-level city in Suzhou)

Tel: 0512-5720 3888

Tennis Courts

Guangda Tennis Court 光大网球馆

Address: No.183, Sanxiang Road, Jinchang District 

(金阊区三香路183号体育中心综合健身馆2楼)

Tel: 0512-6862 0999

Junyi Tennis Club 君逸网球俱乐部

Address: No.528, Xinghai Street, Gongyeyuan District 

(工业园区星海街528号星海国际广场体育休闲中心4楼)

Tel: 0512-7251 8777

Cuisine

    Suzhou has a long tradition of very distinct local foods, and the city is flush 

with restaurants reflecting the tastes of people both rich and poor. Suzhou food 

is of course pretty traditional, and the most famous dishes have remained unchang

-ed for decades if not centuries, but there are a few modern interpretations that 

provide a refreshing change that's still representative of the local flavor. The 

vast majority of traditional restaurants are in the Guanqian Walking Street area, 

since the temple was the city's main draw in ancient times.

    Suzhou food is sweet. Even regular dishes like eggs and tomatoes and twice-cooked 

pork have a hint of sugar in them. The more refined dishes are respected for their 

subtle flavor, which can come off as bland to the uninitiated. Black chicken soup 

with goji berries seems indistinguishable from much less expensive regular  chic

-ken soup, but connoisseurs detect a slight difference in flavor that, to them, justi

-fies the cost. The combination of sweetness or blandness can lead some people 

to conclude that the cuisine is not very sophisticated, but a well-rounded samp-

ling of a few different restaurants can give great insight into the centuries-old 

tradition of Suzhou cuisine.

    Two of Suzhou's oldest restaurants are really close to each other in the Guanqian 

walking street area and either of these 200 something year old restaurants should 

be the first stop in any tour of the local cuisine. Songhe Lou, the more famous of 

the two, is reputed to have the best Mandarin Squirrel Fish in the world. The marble 

and wood-paneled walls, flanked by crane statues greeting you at the door, are a 

good indication of the kind of meal that you're in for. It's pricey, opulent, and 

sure to make you feel like a real high ranking government cadre being treated during 

an official visit. Most of the other special dishes have enough shrimp and crab to 

satisfy any seafood lover.

Deyuelou Restaurant

    Founded during the years under Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty, the Deyuelou 

Restaurant has a history of over 400 years and mainly specializes in Suzhou cuisine. 

The restaurant consists of three smaller restaurants featuring different flavors. 

More than 300 dishes are served. Moreover, visitors can enjoy a nice view of the 

surrounding gardens.

Chinese name:得月楼De Yue Lou /duh-ywair-loh/

The specialties of the restaurant: Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish, Deyue Spring 

Chicken

Price per person: about 100 yuan

Address: 43, Taijian Lane, Guanqian Street, Pingjiang District 

(平江区观前街太监弄43号)

Reservation phone: 0512-65222230 0512-65238940

Address: 8-18, Ligongdi Road (李公堤路8-18号)

Reservation phone: 0512-62656066 0512-62656999

Xiehe Restaurant

    Xiehe Restaurant is an old restaurant in Suzhou. Although not as famous as 

Deyuelou Restaurant and Songhelou Restaurant, it offers almost all Suzhou dishes 

at reasonable prices. Fried shrimp is a must-have, as it offers a tender and re-

freshing taste. The environment is quaint and the staff is enthusiastic.

Chinese name: 协和菜馆 Xie He Cai Guan /yeah-her tseye gwann/

The specialties of the restaurant: Fried Shrimp, Stir-fried Shredded Eel Paste

Price per person: about 50 yuan

Address: 15, Phoenix Street, Suzhou (苏州凤凰街15号)

Reservation phone: 0512-65117830 0512-65154569

Guanyu Chi

    The interior decor is quite elegant and creates a feeling of home. The restau-

rant mainly offers Su and Chuan cuisine. The braised pork in soy sauce has great 

color and a fantastic flavor. Paper Pot Tofu is unique, as it is boiled in a paper

-made pot over a burning fire.

Chinese name:关于吃. COME Guan Yu Chi. Come /gwann-yoo chrr/. come

Restaurant specialties: Braised pork in soy sauce, boiling fish

Price per person: about 45 yuan

Address: 133, Shizi Street, Canglang District (沧浪区十梓街133号)

Reservation phone: 0512-65222726

Songhelou Restaurant

    This 200-year-old Songhelou Restaurant in Taijian Alley has long been known for 

its authentic Suzhou dishes. Prepared with the freshest of seasonal ingredients, 

Songhelou's most popular dishes are freshwater fish and shrimps, including sweet 

and sour mandarin fish, fried snails with shrimps, and braised eel. The sweet 

mandarin fish was a favorite of Qing Emperor Qianlong, who dined here every time 

he visited Suzhou.

Chinese name:松鹤楼菜馆 Song He Lou Cai Guan /song her loh tseye gwann/

Restaurant specialties: Sweet Mandarin Fish, Fried Shrimp

Price per person: about 105 yuan

Address: 72, Taijian Lane, Pingjiang District (平江区太监弄72号)

Reservation phone: 0512-67272285 0512-67277006

Beimen Restaurant

    Founded in 1985, this restaurant mainly offers Su cuisine. Intestine and Lung Soup 

has a great reputation, and it is so delicious that even those who do not eat offal 

cannot help but commend it. Chicken Sauce Boiled Radish is worth a try. The cuisine 

is abundant and reasonably priced.

Chinese name:北门饭店  Bei Men Fan Dian /bay mnn fan-dyen/

Restaurant specialties: Intestine and Lung Soup, Chicken Sauce Boiled Radish

Price per person: about 75 yuan

Address: Zuo’an Business Street, 78, Suhui Road (苏惠路78号左岸商业街内)

How to get there: Buses106, 258, and 28. Show the above address to the taxi driver 

or guide.

Reservation phone: 0512-67630368 0512-67630608

Panyulin Sugar Porridge Stall

    The owners are a kind, elderly couple, and they supply authentic Suzhou sugar por-

ridge. The sugar porridge is stewed glutinous rice, doused with thick and viscous 

sweet bean paste, and mixed with sweet-scented osmanthus, giving it a sweet and 

fragrant flavor. The locals say that the sugar porridge is like a taste of child-

hood.

Chinese name:潘玉麟糖粥摊 Pan Yu Lin Tang Zhou Tan /pan yoo lin tung joh tan/

Restaurant specialties: Little Wine-Brewed Glutinous Rice Ball, Yuanyang Sweet-

Scented Osmanthus Porridge

Price per person: about 4 yuan

Address: North Gate, Bird and Flower Market, 172, Pishi Street, Pinjiang District 

(平江区皮市街172号花鸟市场北门)

Tongdexing Noodles

    Today, seldom do Suzhou noodle restaurants sell red soup, white soup, broad noodles, 

and narrow noodles separately, but Tongdexing does. The noodles are slippery, the 

white soup with stewed meat is delicious and not greasy, and the fired fish with red 

soup is fragrant.

Chinese name:同德兴 Tong De Xing /tong-der sshying/

Restaurant specialties: Stewed Meat Noodles with White Soup, Fengzhen Meat Noodles

Price per person: about 12 yuan

Address: 6, Jiayu Lane, Renmin Road, Pingjiang District (平江区人民路嘉馀坊6号)

Reservation phone: 0512-65113808

Attractions

    When Suzhou is mentioned, naturally, people will think of its abundant classical 

gardens. The ingenious man-made landscape and the concept of maintaining harmony 

between mankind and nature have gained a high reputation worldwide. Possessing 

wonderful gardens, exquisite water towns, charming natural scenery and splendid 

history and culture, the city is praised as 'a paradise on earth'.

Top Attractions

Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhuo Zheng Yuan)

    Being one of the four most famous gardens in China and the largest garden in Suzhou, 

the Humble Administrator’s Garden is a masterpiece of classical gardens in South 

Yangtze River region. The garden is divided into three sections and each has its 

own features. The delicate pavilions and corridors, windows of various shapes, along 

with winding paths fully represent the skillful techniques of ancient gardeners. 

Meanwhile, the names of most structures in the garden have a connotation, usually 

conveying the former owners’ wills or attitudes towards life.

Tiger Hill

    A noted poet Su Shi in Song Dynasty (960-1279) once said, “It’s a lifelong pity 

if one visited Suzhou without going to the Tiger Hill”. From his words, we can know 

what Tiger Hill means to the city. It’s a luxuriant hill where the Tomb of King He 

Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC) is located. Besides, it abounds 

in precious cultural relics, including the Tiger Hill Pagoda, Sword Testing Stone and 

Sword Pool. The Buddhism culture, excellent landscape, profound history background, 

as well as the legendry tales all contribute to the charm of Tiger Hill.

Lingering Garden (Liu Yuan)

    First built in 1593 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the garden has a long history 

of more than 400 years. In the Lingering Garden, buildings, trees and flowers blend 

harmoniously with their surroundings. Liu Shu, one of the previous owners, was an en-

thusiast for stone collection. He collected many unusually-shaped lake stones in the 

garden, among which Guan Yun Feng is the most precious one and gains honor for the 

garden.

Zhouzhuang Water Town

    Zhouzhuang Water Town, inheriting the splendid culture of Wu State in the Spring 

and Autumn Period, is the best example of water countryside in China. There, you can 

enjoy a view like a Chinese landscape painting, just as what described by Ma Zhiyuan 

(a poet of Yuan Dynasty) in his lyric - a few houses hidden past a narrow bridge and 

below the bridge a quiet creek running. The pastoral waterside scenery and peaceful 

life will definitely enchant you.

Tongli Town

    Only 11 miles (18 kilometers) from the downtown, Tongli is a wonderful travel 

destination where you can experience the original water town life in rural China. As 

a land divided into seven sections by fifteen rivers, Tongli relies heavily on bridges 

for the sake of transportation. The antique bridges there are exquisite and well

preserved and the Ternate Bridges are the most famous of all. The locals have a tradi

-tion to walk on the three bridges on happy occasions. In addition, the residential

 houses and gardens are also very charming.

More Attractions

    Canglang Pavilion (Blue Wave Pavilion) is the oldest Suzhou garden which can be 

traced back to more than 1,000 years ago.

    Couple’s Retreat Garden (Ou Yuan) was once dwelled by a couple seeking secluded 

life and thus got its name.

    Guangfu Ancient Town is mainly reputed for the plum flowers blooming in the Sea of 

Fragrant Snow in early spring. Apart from this, there are interesting temples and 

handicrafts worth appreciating.

    Hanshan Temple (Cold Mountain Temple) is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in 

Chinese history and boasts its bell rings.

    Lion Grove Garden (Shizilin) is known as “a Kingdom of Rockery”, rich in various 

rocks resembling lions.

    Luzhi Town is a peaceful and pristine land typically representing an ancient water 

town in lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

    Mudu Ancient Town is a town full of fine structured gardens, including Yanjia Garden, 

Hongyin Shanfang Garden, Ancient Pine Garden and Bangyan Mansion.

    Panmen Scenic Area, lying to the southwest of Suzhou, consists of Ruiguang (Auspicious 

Luster) Pagoda, Water and Land City Gates and Wumen Bridge.

    Shantang Street (Seven-Li Shantang) is a riverside pedestrian street from Changmen 

Gate to the Tiger Hill, in parallel with the Shantang River.

    Suzhou Silk Museum unveils the secrets of making silks and is the best place to learn 

the city's prosperity of silk in the past.

    Suzhou Museum is an attractive place famous for its rare cultural relics and unique 

architectural style.

    The Master of Nets Garden (Wang Shi Yuan) is the best example of small and medium

-sized gardens.

    West Garden Temple was initially one part of the Lingering Garden, featuring sacred 

temples and beautiful landscapes.

    Xuanmiao Taoist Temple (Temple of Mystery) is a place where you cannot only admire 

the majestic buildings, but also enjoy Taoist music and the flying cymbals performance.