There are plenty of things to do in Suzhou, from taking strolls through the manicured imperial gardens to relaxing on boat rides through the city’s canals, shopping for silk, or lounging in a tea house. It’s a big city, but it can feel like a small, intimate town. You can spend several days here, seeing the sights in town and the neighboring water towns, too. Or you can do a shorter 1-day visit, which works well as a day trip from its neighbor, Shanghai.
Visit Suzhou in spring, from March to May, or fall, from October to November, for the most temperate, dry weather. Summer is generally hot and humid, and winter is quite cold and humid, making both of those seasons more uncomfortable for boat trips and garden strolls. The summertime Dragon Boat Festival is a fun, competitive outing full of vibrant color and celebration.
If you can ride a bike, then rent one for your time in Suzhou. This pretty cheap mode of transportation is popular with both locals and tourists and is a great way to see the gardens. If bikes aren’t your thing, then choose from the well-connected subway, public bus system, or hop-in taxis that are readily available. A must-do is to travel by boat down the canals and under bridges to get that Venice of the East feel.
Chinese people are proud of their local cuisine, and it's no different in Suzhou. Wake up early for street-food breakfast and find a vendor making huge scallion and egg pancakes—the thin, crepe-like pancakes are filled with fermented veggies, spicy sauce, and a crispy fried dough stick. They’re also delicious. For lunch and dinner, try specialties such as the geometrically cut sweet and sour squirrel fish, hairy crab from Taihu lake, and delicately sweet white shrimp.
Attractions 12 | Tours 124 | Reviews 72 |
Suzhou is famous for its silk, water canals, and classic gardens. It was the center of the silk industry in the Tang Dynasty, and the industry remains today. Its imperial gardens are places to daydream about past dynasties, and its canals have earned Suzhou the nickname, Venice of the East.
...MoreThe best things to do in Suzhou are to visit the classic imperial gardens, go on a canal tour, explore the Silk Museum, shop, and eat Suzhou’s food. You can also visit neighboring watertowns, like Tongli or Zhouzhuang, which are the dramatic settings of many classic paintings for good reason.
...MoreGive yourself around two to three days to get the full feel of Suzhou, with time to leisurely visit the watertowns, classic gardens, and silk museum. If you have just one day, choose one garden, perhaps the Humble Administrator’s Garden, eat Suzhou’s regional food, and buy some famous silk.
...MoreIt takes about 30 minutes to reach Suzhou by high-speed train from Shanghai, making it an easy day trip that costs under $3USD. There are even cheaper trains that take one to two hours, which still make day trips to Suzhou feasible—just a little longer. Both trains run regularly every day.
...MoreVisit Suzhou in spring, from March to May, or in fall, from October to November, for the most accommodating weather. Summer is sticky, hot, and humid, and winter is bitter, cold, humid, making those seasons unpleasant for sightseeing and traveling. Spring and fall are your best bets.
...MoreYes, Suzhou is worth a visit—even for a day—to see the manicured gardens from the Ming and Tang dynasties, cruise down the waterways on a hand-steered boat, and buy some traditional silk qipao, one of the city’s famous products. It’s a wonderful sojourn from Shanghai’s metropolis, too.
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