Suzhou
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East China (华东) » Jiangsu (江苏) » Suzhou (苏州)
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[edit] Overview
The first thing to come to mind when someone says Suzhou is its gardens. Indeed, Suzhou is famed for its beautiful gardens and traditional waterside architecture (苏州园林).
The most well-known gardens are Humble Administrator's Garden (拙政园) of Ming Dynasty style, Lion Grove Garden (狮子林) of Qing Dynasty style, Canglang Pavilion (沧浪亭) (Surging Wave Pavilion) of Song Dynasty style, and Lingering Garden (留园) of Yuan Dynasty style. Other notable ones are Wangshi (Master of Nets) Garden (网师园), Yipu Garden (Garden of Cultivation) (艺圃园), Huanxiu (Embracing Beauty) Mountain Villa (环秀山庄), Ouyuan (Couple's Garden Retreat) Garden (耦园).
Suzhou is also popularly known as the 'Venice of the East' because of its network of ancient bridges and canals. Today Suzhou is an important center for China's silk industry, and one of the most prosperous cities for its other modern industries such as papermaking, iron and steel, chemicals, cotton textiles, electronic goods, and telecommunications equipment.
Although Suzhou does not have its own airport, it can be easily reached from Shanghai (about 1 hr) or Nanjing (about 2.5 hrs) through airport shuttle buses or through many tourist buses.
[edit] History
The written history of Suzhou traces back over 4000 years. During the Shang dynasty it was home to the "Gou Wu" people; in the Spring and Autumn Period, King Helu choose the city as his capital and named it the Great City of Helu. In 539 AD, the city was renamed Suzhou.
When the Grand Canal was completed, Suzhou found itself strategically located on a major trade route. As a result, the city has long an important city for industry and commerce on the southeastern coast of China.
Suzhou has been home to many renowned poets, artists, statesmen, thinkers and scientists such as Sun Wu, Fan Zhongyan, Shen Kuo, Tang Yin and Gu Yanwu.
[edit] Video
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[edit] Weather
Current Conditions (2010-09-03 20:00:00, local time)
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Suzhou |
Temp: 75°F (24°C) |
Suzhou Weather Forecast
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| Weather averages for Suzhou | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Avg high °C (°F) | 8 (46) | 10 (50) | 13 (55) | 20 (68) | 24 (75) | 28 (82) | 32 (90) | 31 (88) | 28 (82) | 22 (72) | 17 (63) | 11 (52) | |
| Avg low °C (°F) | 2 (36) | 4 (39) | 7 (45) | 12 (54) | 17 (63) | 22 (72) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 22 (72) | 17 (63) | 11 (52) | 5 (41) | |
| Rain cm (inches) | 7.75 (3.1) | 5.06 (2) | 9.43 (3.7) | 7.17 (2.8) | 9.33 (3.7) | 19.62 (7.7) | 11.66 (4.6) | 22.46 (8.8) | 7.07 (2.8) | 5.86 (2.3) | 4.91 (1.9) | 4.85 (1.9) | |
| Source: per MSN 2008 | |||||||||||||
[edit] Map
Click here to open Suzhou map.
[edit] Getting in & Getting out
[edit] By Air
Suzhou has its own airport, Suzhou Guangfu International Airport , but it has limited connections - flights only from Guangfu in Guandong Province and Beijing only once every week - so you are most likely to come in through another city.
- Through Shanghai
The most common route is via Shanghai — Shanghai Pudong International Airport for the majority of international flights or Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport with mostly domestic flights, which are 120km and 86km away from Suzhou respectively. Shuttle buses run between Suzhou and the airports daily. The whole journey takes about one hour and forty minutes.
| Service | Departure Location | Times of Departure | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai-Hongqiao to Suzhou | Shanghai Hongqiao Airport | on the hour from 10:00-16:00; 17:30 and 19:00 | ¥50 |
| Shanghai-Pudong to Suzhou | The parking lots at the 2nd floor of Terminal 1 building in PVG | 10:40, 11:20, 11:50, 12:50, 13:50, 14:40, 15:20, 16:10, 16:50, 17:50, 18:50, 19:40 | ¥82 |
| Suzhou to Shanghai-Hongqiao | CEAG (China Eastern Airlines Group) ticket office, No.115, Ganjiang Xilu, Suzhou | 6:20, 7:20, 7:50, 8:20, 9:20, 10:20, 10:50, 11:50, 12:50, 13:50, 14:50. | ¥50 |
| Suzhou to Shanghai-Pudong | *There is no such service, so travel to Hongqiao first and take the Hongqiao-Pudong service | - | - |
| Shanghai-Hongqiao to Shanghai-Pudong | Shanghai Hongqiao | Every 10 minutes from 6:00-21:00 | ¥30 |
Transfer by private car (with driver) costs approximately RMB 400 one way from Pudong airport and takes approximately 2 hours in light traffic. Though, when approaching the bus terminus at PVG you may be offered a one way trip for RMB 300. This can be reduced if the driver finds someone to share with you
- Through Wuxi
Wuxi is a small city close to Suzhou with an airport that could be an alternative for flights within China. It is smaller, and easier to get around, than Shanghai. There is almost no transportation to/from there but Suzhou taxis will go for about ￥120-160. You can also take a taxi from the Wuxi airport into central Wuxi train station (about 50-60RMB), and take a short 25 minute train ride from Wuxi station to Suzhou.
It is said that there are three buses from Wuxi Airport to Suzhou at 10:30 / 12:15 / 14:30 everyday.
- Through other cities
Other major cities nearby, Hangzhou and Nanjing, also have international airports. Either is conveniently reached via the new fast trains, or by bus. Air Asia's Hangzhou to Kuala Lumpur flight is usually the cheapest route from central China to Southeast Asia;
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] By train
- From Shanghai
Myriad trains leave from Shanghai for Suzhou daily. The cost for a train is： local without air-con ¥13 for an approximately two-hour ride, or ¥26 with air-con for an approximately 20 or 40-minute ride. Make sure to ask for the next earliest arrival time since booking the next new high-speed train often means a 2-hour wait in order to save 20 minutes on the travel time, hence arriving an hour or so later than the slightly slower train.
Trains are sometimes sold out and it would be a good idea to buy tickets ahead of time. There are plenty of travel agencies that sell tickets, especially in Shanghai, although you can also buy tickets at the train station, which has several ticket windows that cater to English speakers.
Note: Trains with with the D prefix are the new high speed trains. T trains are not as fast as D, but still faster and more comfortable than everything else.The first column is the train number, the third is the departure time and the fourth is the arrival time in Suzhou. Buying round-trip tickets would not probably save you any money but would save you a lot of trouble.
- From Nanjing
You can also reach Suzhou by high speed (CRH) or normal train from Nanjing. Suzhou trains leave from the main (North) train station, which is on the subway line.
- From Hangzhou
Trains run fairly frequently from Hangzhou.
- At Suzhou Train Station into town
On arriving at Suzhou train station, visitors will be confronted by a horde of people offering taxi rides and tours, which are a real nuisance. Ignore these and walk straight ahead about 30 meters to the taxi stand. There is often a queue, but it generally moves quickly. Alternately, turn left, walk the length of the station and a bit beyond, then look for an old-style Chinese-looking bridge on your right. Cross it. Then turn left and look for hotels on your right. Or continue straight off the bridge onto Renmin Lu which leads downtown.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] By Bus
Buses leave regularly from the Shanghai Bus Station adjacent to the railway station for some destination and from the South Bus Station for many buses in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The journey is usually about 2hrs 30mins from Shanghai. Hangzhou is about 2.5 hours by car to/from Suzhou. See Shanghai for more details on additional bus stations.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] By Ship
The overnight ferries between Hangzhou and Suzhou are no longer running.
Riverboats on the Yangtze stop at Suzhou.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Getting Around
[edit] Walking
It's possible to walk around the city although many will find the distances between some attractions too large to make walking an option. Ask the concierge at your hotel to write out the name of your destination(s), as well as how to get back. Make sure to add your own notes so you know what the translation is.
[edit] Taxis
As in most other Chinese cities, are a safe and easy method of travel. If possible try to have your destination written in Chinese on a piece of paper as this will greatly simplify your journey. Always walk past the touts near stations and tourist attractions and get a taxi from the queue. You may get some great mini-lessons in Chinese language from Suzhou's taxi drivers.
[edit] Bicycles
Another option as Suzhou is arranged in a grid-like pattern; navigation is quite easy and bikes can be hired from several locations. Go east from the train station to the traffic circle, south on Renmin Rd. To get to Renmin Lu, cross the canal on the pedestrian bridge due south of the train station, then make your way east to Renmin Lu, you can't miss it. There are two or more bicycle rental places on the right side. WARNING: traffic requires much more respect and attention than in most Western cities.
[edit] Pedicabs
Available on most main streets and always near tourist attractions. Negotiate the price before you get in and don't allow the driver to change it once you arrive at your destination, for example, saying 15 and demanding 50. This is a slow means of travel but it allows you to actually see the city while you go somewhere. Despite what you might expect, pedicabs are often more expensive than taxis- and be warned that 99% of Suzhou pedicab drivers are notorious price-gougers, so bargain hard with these guys. Expect to pay a little more in the summer months since the driver is working hard in the heat to take you there.
[edit] Motorcycle Taxis
Found the same places as pedicabs, and come with all of the pedicabs' caveats listed above. Suzhou motorcycle taxis are usually filthy, dangerously driven, and relentlessly uncomfortable (the seats are about 12 cm above the floor) so traumatic to your spine and are not recommended.
[edit] Tourist Bus
Suzhou has a network of five Tourist buses that are all in Chinese and take you to the tourist attractions throughout the city. They are marked with the Chinese character 游 plus the route number -- 游1, 游2, etc.
Most buses cost Y1, however if an illuminated blue snowflake is displayed next to the route number it means the bus is airconditioned and you should pay Y2 (the fare is usually written both on the timetable and on the farebox). Bus no. 5 is handy for reaching the train and bus stations as well as Shantang Jie from the old-town, while route 2 runs between the old-town and the S.I.P.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Attractions
[edit] Hotels
[edit] Budget
[edit] Mid Range
[edit] Luxury
- 100 Happy Hotel
- Bambo Grove Hotel
- Castle Hotel
- China Garden Hotel
- Citadines Suzhou Xinghai
- Gloria Plaza Hotel Suzhou
- Gold Bridge Hotel
- Holiday Inn Jasmine Suzhou
- Huiyuan Hotel
- Jin Cheng Jin Jiang International Hotel
[edit] Restaurants
Suzhou has its own unique, slightly sweet cuisine. Local dishes here tend to have very light and delicate flavors, and there is a huge fondness for freshwater fish and shellfish. Some traditional sweets made from glutinous rice paste are an old tradition here; these will generally baffle most Western palates. A Suzhou specialty popular with many visitors is 'Song Shu Gui Yu', often rendered in English something like "Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish": the meat of a large fish is delicately cut into strips, breaded in flour, fried, and served covered with pine nuts and a sweet-and-sour sauce. It looks a little like a squirrel's tail...if you've drunk enough of the local spirits or rice wine.
[edit] Budget
- Harbin Dumplings on Shizi Jie. The dumplings are much cheaper than the better-known Yang Yang Dumplings, and just as good.
- Sicily, In the Guanqian (walking street) area very near Renmin Road and Ganjing Road. Very good Italian food at near Chinese prices.
- Vegetarian Food, near corner of Gong Xiang and Furenfang Xiang, across from Christian church. Awesome vegetarian menu (especially the noodle dishes), served at insanely low prices (i.e. hearty dinner for two for 70 RMB.)
- A Bing Cangshu Mutton Soup, 332 Pi Shi Street. Has a long history. People in Suzhou like the soup very much. It is delicious but very cheap--only 20RMB/Person. Eat it once you will twice.
- Let's Rock Hong Kong Restaurant (Hao3 Yue4) , 403 Shi Quan Street. A fun, modern little restaurant with great Hong Kong/Cantonese food. Good dim sum- these folks make a serious Barbecued Pork Bun (Cha Shao Bao). The menu offers lots of quick, inexpensive dishes.
- Good Eats, now in Shamrock Irish Bar, ShiQianJie. North American fast foods like wraps, hamburgers, etc. Arguably one of the better hamburgers-n-fries sold in China. The Baltimore and California burgers are strongly recommended.
- Meimei (美美), at 李公提 - very affordable dimsum and Chinese food.
[edit] Splurge
You can go to Li Gong waterside（李公堤），and you will find the famous Suzhou local food and western food.
Many of the 4- and 5-star hotels have good buffets in the 160-600 RMB range depending on location.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Shopping
If you consider buying arts and craft items, teas, silks, or other items that are somewhat costly, it is strongly recommended that you do with the assistance of a Chinese-speaking person, preferably a Suzhou local who knows the products and markets. Many more upscale hotels will offer the services of a personal assistant, or you can try asking around in one of the local expat hangouts to get connected to a friendly local person with some free time. Informed Chinese assistance can make a HUGE difference in the price and quality of the things you buy.
Note that if a seller sees your foreign face, you WILL pay an inflated price- sometimes wildly so- although it may still seem cheap to you. Bargaining is an absolute must; people who don't bargain are taken for chumps. A good strategy is to offer 40% of the asking price and work from there. Don't be afraid to walk away from any negotiation if you can't get a price you're happy with. Few things sold to tourists are truly unique here, and the identical twins of most items can be found in many other shops.
- As a city famed through the ages for its silk embroidery, Suzhou is one of the best places to pick up silk handicrafts. Shopping is good along Shi Quan Street, especially for many souvenirs. The Silk Embroidery Institute is a lively enterprise producing high quality work which you can see on a tour of the facility. The gift shop has prices a little higher than at the street stalls but they will bargain and the quality is much better.
- Suzhou embroidery, silk fans, musical instruments, scroll mounting, lanterns, mahogany furniture, and jade carving are available at discount prices since they are made or created within the city. Suzhou double-sided embroidery, in which the same picture is rendered in great detail on both sides of a silk screen and the knots are tied in the middle, is a traditional Suzhou specialty and is absolutely amazing. The needles used for this work are finer than a human hair. Be aware that the lower-priced examples of Suzhou embroidery sold to many tourists are probably made by machines.
- Freshwater pearls- The Suzhou area is part of the largest freshwater pearl-producing region in the world. Pearls can be bought in every conceivable price and quality range, either singly or as strings or jewelry.
- Sandalwood fans- folding fans made from thin ornately-stamped sheets of sandalwood- are another very old Suzhou craft and widely sold around the city. The scent of the breeze they generate while fanning is heavenly. Cheap versions are probably more mundane wood dipped in sandalwood oil, and will lose their scent rather quickly.
- Tea is produced in Suzhou; the most famous locally-produced green tea is called 'Biluochun' and is quite nice indeed. Large shops with endless varieties of tea can be found all around the city, and some have seating where you will be encouraged to come sit and try a pot.
- Snuff bottles are also a long-standing Suzhou craft that remains popular today. Tiny glass bottles are delicately painted on the inside with elaborate and beautiful pictures. The best ones are truly incredible works of art.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Night Life & Entertainment
Shiquan Street is the main bar area. It is also the entertainment district for guys looking for a little conversation with gals. Quite a number of the bars on this street are thinly-veiled fronts for the world's oldest profession; numbers of very friendly young ladies sitting around the bar or standing in doorways to tempt in passers-by are an easily-recognized signal. Those wishing to avail themselves of such diversions are encouraged to exercise extreme caution, not overdo the drinking, ask the cost of everything (including the room you are taken to) before accepting it, and never pay anything in advance. During the day, Shi Quan Street is an important shopping district- prices there tend to be high but quality is also often better than most.
- Pulp Fiction Bar, 169 Shiquan Street. Friendly Australian bar on Shi Quan Jie. A great place to go and meet Westerners and English speaking Chinese people. Shoot some American Pool and play a game of darts. Like any place in Shi Quan Jie it is fairly quiet until 10pm then comes to life. Happy hour is until 8:30pm.
- The Shamrock Bar, 775 Shi Quan Street. Hangout for many foreigners - it's popular with both tourists and local expats. Pool (billiards) can be found here, and the new dartboards and foosball table see a lot of hot action, too. Great music; selections tend to rock and hip-hop but the available range is surprisingly eclectic. There's a DJ on duty Thursday-Saturday evenings and requests are welcome. The Thursday night 100 RMB all-you-can-drink special is a genuine local institution. Might try a spectacular drink called a 'Flaming Lamborghini' sometime.
Other notable drinking spots include Guan Qian Walking Street.
- Harry's and Southern Cross western style restaurants are on the east end of Guan Qian street about 100 meters south of KFC. Southern Cross has good Tex-Mex. Harry's has a membership that brings advantages with it.
- Zapata's, Rainbowalk, Jinji Lake. Great tex-mex food, Margaritas and view over the lake. Western DJ plays happy tunes from last 4 decades and free tequila pouring on the bar every night.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Sports & Recreation
[edit] Excursions & Day Trips
- Walk down Shantang Street,a Chinese traditional old street rebuilt in Tang Dynasty more than 1100 years old, then take a boat form here to "Tiger hill" in canals.
- Climb up the North Pagoda for a nice view of the city.
- Visit the Silk Museum and discover the history of Silk making and the 'Silk Road'.
- Visit the Silk Embroidery Research Institute and see the finest embroidery in the world.
- Walk down Ping Jian Road and stop into the Kunqu (Suzhou) Opera school, theater and museum and the Pin Tan Museum. Pin Tan is a local musical tradition with a man and a woman playing traditional instruments and singing. There are nightly performances of Pin Tan at 8pm at the tea house at 793 Shi Quan Rd as well as at other locations.
- Take a boat ride through the city's canals.
- Dine at Li Gong Ti （李公提) - the night view and lights are fantastic
- Stroll down Guan Qian Street (观前街). If you're not the walking sort, you can opt for a ride in the little tuk-tuk down the very long shopping street. Check out the back alleys for good eating places and little quaint shops
--from wikitravel.org
