Suzhou Local's Survival Guide π£: Dodge the Duds & Make Your Jiangnan Trip Legendary!
-
Hello everyone! I'm Zhou Zhou, your personal guide to Suzhou! Recently, I've noticed so many people talking about how Suzhou has become overly commercialized, overcrowded, and how their experiences were disappointing... As a local of Suzhou, I simply can't stand it anymore.
Today, I'm genuinely sharing with you this "Suzhou Guide to Avoiding Disappointments"
to help everyone navigate away from hidden pitfalls and truly experience the beauty and charm of Suzhou~
How should one visit popular attractions without being let down?-
Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street: Don't spend your money unwisely!
Intelligent visits: Both are famous old streets in Suzhou. The main streets are incredibly crowded; snap a few pictures and move on quickly! If you wish to experience real Old Suzhou ambience, make sure to explore the nearby alleys such as Dianjing Lane and Daduru Alley, where the atmosphere is much more 'old Suzhou'~
Watch out for tricks: Do not be deceived by the roadside stalls selling scented jasmine bead bracelets at RMB15 per string. These have no significant difference in scent compared to the RMB3-bracelets sold at elderly ladies' stalls.
-
Less-crowded spots in Suzhou's scenic gardens: Photography tips
What to do when Suzhou Humble Administrator's Garden(*) is overcrowded? (One of China's four great classical gardens, it is very famous with huge crowds!)
- Local tricks:
- Either get up early and rush into the park at the first hour after 7:30 AM.
- Or visit Yipu Garden (Only RMB10 entrance fee! It's an old garden from the Ming Dynasty nestled within a residential community where fewer visitors know about it.)
- Visit Wangshi Garden at night for an even better experience. Enjoy performances of Kunqu opera (a traditional Suzhou opera style) along with the beautiful night-time views of the garden!
-
Non-recommended 'internet-filtered' scenic spots
The 'Little Kamakura' near Taihu Lake: Driving for an hour just to snap photos of a sign post reminiscent of Kamakura, Japan? Not worth it! Take a trip to Xishan Island instead if you want to enjoy the beautiful sights of Taihu Lake~
- A bit of background: 'Little Kamakura' refers to some Chinese imitation scenic spots of part of a seaside city called Kamakura in Japan.
οΈ Jinjialake Sunset: Recommended viewing spot: Chun Dao Hu Pian Plaza. This place is ten times less crowded than under the 'Chinese pants,' or the nickname of the Suzhou landmark 'Eastern Gate' because of its appearance resembling clothing! Here you get a wider view of the sunset too!
Suzhou Transportation Tips to Avoid Misguidance
οΈ [Important Alert!] Avoid taxi drivers who come to pick you up near tourist sites.
- They might offer you a ride to "Lions Rock Garden (another well-known garden)" for only ten dollars, however they could start urging you to buy things from a 'Silk Museum.'
- Recommended modes of transportation:
- For those heading to Humble Administrator's Garden and Suzhou Museum, hop on Subway Line 1, exit from Exit 1 at Xi Men Station, or Line 4 at Bei Si Ta Station and walk there.
- In Suzhou, ride-sharing bicycles and walking around the historic downtown area is the best option!
Food recommendations (all locals' favorites!)
οΈ Top-rated local culinary establishments
Muteβs Pan-fried DumplingsοΌ Best consumed fresh out of the pan! Hot, succulent, rich in juice!
(Pan-fried dumplings are a characteristic snack in Suzhou, similar to crispy-bottomed baozi/pockets)- Zhu Xin Nian Pastry Shop:Their radish shreds stuffing buns have been a childhood taste for many Suzhou natives~
(The soup dough bun is sticky rice flour with a stuffing, made into a small round shape in Suzhou) - Fengmen Hengjie Street: This is a commercial street teeming with real-life flavors. Try the green sticky rice balls made with mugwort juice, water chestnut slices (deep-fried crisp root-vegetables), oil-wrapped sticky rice balls (deep-fried sticky rice balls)... all priced at around 5 yuan each. They are delicious and affordable!
An additional reminder from the locals- Visit to Suzhou Museum (Main Pavilion)requires pre-booking online 7 days in advance! However, nearby Zhong Wang Fu Building (a mansion from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom era, also a part of the museum) allows free entry, and you may explore it at your leisure.
- οΈ During June and July every year, the rainy season, Suzhou can encounter heavy rains. Carry an umbrella when you go out. The old flagstone roads like Ping Jiang Lu become extremely slippery after rain, which is dangerous for walking...
- οΈ If you encounter someone forcedly offering you flowers or red cords on the street usually followed by requests for payment, firmly reject them!
Saying, "Not too late for spring, I've traveled thousands of miles to the south of Yangtze River," some find themselves overcrowded in Suzhou, ha-ha! As long as you avoid the crowds and unreliable recommendations,
the true charm of Suzhou lies in the distant eaves of the old town, where pingtan singing (a traditional saying-singing art of Suzhou) whispers through narrow alleys,
in a grandma-made bowl of river prawn noodles (a special noodle in Suzhou), full of freshness,
and in the quietly blooming rosy peonies in the corner of Yipu Garden's scenery.There are still countless yummy and fun places around Suzhou that Zhou Zhou have summarized; feel free to explore my other tips~
If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in comments! I, Zhou Zhou, will answer them for you, making your Suzhou trip trouble-free! -
-
I can only make it on weekends, any suggestions?
-
Then you should go soon, it's the off-season.
-
How do I navigate the small alleys? I can't tell which are the main roads.
-
Pingjiang Road is basically one main north-south street. You can freely explore the side alleys. If you get lost, just use GPS.
-
I'm starting my trip tomorrow at 11 AM and will be here for three days. Do you have any suggested itineraries and food recommendations?
-
Day 1: Humble Administrator's Garden β Suzhou Museum β Lion Grove Garden β Pingjiang Road β Jinji Lake. Day 2: Tiger Hill β Xiyuan Temple β Lingering Garden β Shantang Street.
-
Any accommodation tips?
-
How about checking out my place? Otherwise, I'd suggest staying in the city center, perhaps near Pingjiang Road, Guanqian Street, Shantang Street, or the museums.
-
Hey sis, could you share a travel guide? Thanks!
-
Sweetie, check out my collection of guides, it has everything. Feel free to ask if you have more questions!
-
I'm only planning a one-day trip, round trip from Shanghai. I'm not sure where to go or what the must-sees are. I'd love to try boating and see the night views. I've been looking at guides for two days and my head is spinning!
-
Humble Administrator's Garden β Suzhou Museum β Pingjiang Road β Xiyuan Temple/Tiger Hill β Shantang Street (for a night tour). You need to book the Suzhou Museum (likely referring to the West Branch if booking is stressed) in advance. This itinerary is quite packed, so feel free to adjust it to your liking.
-
Hello, sorry to bother you. I'm planning to take my parents to Suzhou, but they have mobility issues and will need a wheelchair. Could you recommend some wheelchair-friendly places?
-
Suzhou's public facilities are quite good, and most places have accessible routes. The Humble Administrator's Garden, Lion Grove Garden, Pingjiang Road, and Jinji Lake should be fine. However, I'd advise avoiding public holidays as the attractions get extremely crowded.
-
Hey dear, any recommendations for trendy garden hotels in Suzhou? Looking for something picturesque and great for photos β price isn't an issue.
-
You could check out Scholar Inn Pingjiang Fu, Pingjiang Lodge, Nanlin Hotel, or Pan Pacific Suzhou.
-
Hey sis, I'm taking my kid for a three-day, two-night trip. We just want to wander around, take some photos, eat good food, and avoid crowded spots. Any suggestions?
-
In that case, the Suzhou Museum West Branch is great for kids. There are also many museums downtown, you can stroll through the alleys, do a city walk, and Jinji Lake is suitable. These are all good options. Most of the best food is concentrated in the city center.
-
Hi, I'll be arriving at Suzhou Station at 5 PM on April 17th and leaving at 1 PM on the 19th. I'm traveling with my mom. Could you recommend some must-visit places? We're staying on Dongguan Street. Thanks!