Suzhou: Been There, Dodged the Traps! My Real-Talk Travel Tips.

[Ms. Wanda Kilback]

Hello everyone! If you're planning to visit Suzhou, take a look!

Always thinking that as a historical and cultural city in China, as well as the representative of the water town in South Jiangnan, Suzhou would definitely be like the hazy southern Jiangnan feeling presented by ink wash painting: old urban areas (they call it “Gusu”), streams flowing beside bridges, with families living near rivers; in the gardens, there are artificial hills, ponds, and winding paths full of poetic sentiment, which is a kind of place where ancient literary scholars loved to stay. I went in early April and will share some real experiences with you:

• Babies heading for the Suzhou Museum, please make sure to make the reservation beforehand! Or you might waste the trip.
• There are really too many people in Zhuozheng Garden (a famous classical garden). As far as you look into the distance, there are only heads! Make sure you are mentally prepared.
• As for Pingjiang Road, I personally don’t think it’s particularly worthy to go around.
  • It’s overly commercialized and looks the same as all other scenic shopping streets in the cities in China.
  • The waterway doesn’t smell very fragrant either.
  • As well, the amount of people is very overwhelming; they are likely attracted by the overly glorified pictures and itinerary攻略 on social media Apps.
• I must say LOUDLY! This is really very important!
  • Try your best not to buy train tickets which arrive/stay at "Suzhou South Station". The best choice is Suzhou Station.
  • Why? Because "Suzhou South Station" has terrible transportation connections and is so far away from the city center that you will never feel at ease no matter in the day or night.
    • If you accidentally need to take a bullet train back home at night from Suzhou South Station, you might have to sit a special bus , waiting until you doubt yourself.
    • The most important thing is there'll be NO real-time information for this special bus, so you never know when the bus comes, which is most likely to cause you to miss the train (Also metro stops operating after midnight and even if you call a taxi by App, it'll take a long time before it gets picked up, also some cabs tend to request price too high on the road).
  • So the best choice is : buy the tickets which arrive/stay at "Suzhou Station" ahead of time, so that no matter what, you can always get around.
    • (No matter what kind of station you choose, at what time of day, or what buses to ride, buying tickets in advance has many more good options for you to select. Don't forget, during the peak season, if you want to have tickets, that'd already be a good thing, and it's even harder asking for good time to travel. If this affects you traveling, I bet it'll put a big dent in your impression of this travel!)
• If you wish to find booth for Polaroids at scenic spot:
  • Just follow your first instinct! If you see a shop owner who looks kind and patient, then go and check out the pricing and models.
  • Do NOT choose the booth which looks terrible without kindness, unwillingness to help, and impatient manners, even though they may display beautiful photos just to attract customers for Polaroids （I’ve been fooled by such booths before, and didn’t feel satisfied with service provided）.
  • My personal advice: avoid “hotspots” at popular routes like Pingjiang Road-Zhuozheng Garden-Suzhou Museum（unless you really just want to visit these places for "check-in");
• There is a local food place next to the Suzhou Museum with an excellent taste, which fits well in Eastern China（江浙沪’s） cuisine culture flavors! （“江浙沪” refers to the eastern parts of Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, and Shanghai in China, whose cuisine tends to be sweeter while paying more focus on natural texture and flavor）
  • SuyaXing Literature-style Noodle Shop (Suzhou Museum Branch）
    • Less than 300m away from the museum, just take some steps and there it is! The decoration style of shop fits well into the water town taste.
    • The sweetness of the dessert is just right, not too sticky. Those who like soft glutinous texture (we call “glutinous”) and taro can try their taro Mochi! There are also nice stuffed meatballs.
    • I ordered the signature dish Loach Fish in Sweet & Sour Sauce, which is one famous Suzhou cuisine made with fried loach-like fish and sweet & sour sauce taste, delicious!
    • Note: This place might need a queue, so go earlier preferably to get a seat on second floor. There is a huge window where you can even see the beautiful scenery nearby!

Everyone has different needs and preferences regarding travel and it’s never wrong to do more research. But this tip to avoid getting "pitted" is worth being referred by everyone, hoping to help you enjoy this trip more!

[Timothy Denesik]

It seems like you've picked the most exhausting, crowded, and commercialized route. If it were me, I'd suggest visiting Tiger Hill on your first day. From there, take a boat to Shantang Street. After disembarking at the Shantang Street pier, you can grab a bite at a mall near Shilu Road. Then, explore Shantang Street. Once you're done there, you could visit a smaller garden like the Lingering Garden or Canglang Pavilion. For the evening, you could stay near Guanqian Street, or if your budget allows, find a place near Jinji Lake to enjoy the beautiful lake and night views.

[Dr. Mandy Walter-Reichert]

Hi, I'd like some advice. The main attractions I'm planning to visit include Jinji Lake, the Gate of the Orient, Shangfang Mountain National Forest Park, and Shantang Street. I was wondering, where would be the most convenient area to book a hotel?

[Glenn Ryan PhD]

Suzhou's old town is a small, exquisite city, and it definitely gets incredibly crowded during any holiday! My friend, you actually went in the wrong direction. South of the intersection of Pingjiang Road and Ganjiang Road, there's an alleyway with both land and water paths, known as Guan Taiwei Bridge ~ Yejia Lane ~ Shengjia Dai. This route reflects the everyday life of Suzhou. Apart from the Twin Pagodas Market and Dinghui Temple Lane, which can be a bit busy, the further in you go, the more tranquil it becomes. Plus, in recent years, Suzhou has renovated many small historical and cultural spots within these alleys. In spring, you can even stumble upon seas of flowers there – it's truly beautiful! Dinghui Temple Lane has Dinghui Temple and the Twin Pagodas. After walking through Shengjia Dai, you'll reach Shiquan Street. If you turn right and head east, you'll find the Master of the Nets Garden, Canglang Pavilion, Ke Garden, and more. If Shiquan Street seems too crowded, try exploring the alleys on its north side at a leisurely pace; it feels like a completely different world! You visited some very popular and famous attractions, and the Humble Administrator's Garden and Suzhou Museum are indeed worth seeing. Even on a weekday like Tuesday, they're quite busy, but they are genuinely valuable sites. It seems your timing was just off.

[Tracy Hoppe]

A savvy traveler.

[Dr. Wade Boyer]

Ordering so many dishes for one person! They must be taking it all back to Hangzhou.

[Faye O'Conner]

Is this kind of stuff actually tasty...?

[Karen Bruen]

Suzhou is a lot of fun, but it's really tough on your legs. I was clocking 20,000 steps a day like crazy!

[Byron Larkin]

I'm a bit confused, can someone explain? Doesn't Suzhou only have Suzhou Station and Suzhou North Station? Where did this 'South Station' come from? I'm planning to visit Suzhou for the Dragon Boat Festival.

[Brenda Shanahan]

I went to Suzhou alone on May Day for a day trip, and I can honestly say it was the happiest day I've had in the last six months. So, it's not an issue with Suzhou itself, but rather with how you choose to experience it.

[Terrence Beer]

Could you share your itinerary? I'm thinking of going during the Dragon Boat Festival.

[Antonio Sawayn]

Well... all I can say is it sounds like you unfortunately picked a problematic route.

[Kristopher Schultz PhD]

Most people haven't been to Suzhou South; if you're taking the high-speed train, it's usually to Suzhou Station or Suzhou North. That's really tough luck for you; you definitely should have done more research. Seriously, skip those overhyped 'internet famous' spots. Pingjiang Road used to be pleasant for a stroll, but nowadays, even locals don't want to go there. I hope that next time you visit, you'll have a better experience. [Thumbs up emoji] To truly appreciate the small alleys, traditional gardens, and ancient architecture, you either need someone to share insights into the local life and heritage, or you need to discover that unique atmosphere for yourself.

[Shawna Keebler-Satterfield]

Wow, such a thoughtful and detailed review!!! Very insightful. I also ended up at the South Station out of necessity, not choice. But to be fair, when it's not crowded, it's actually worth checking out.

[Mr. Nathan Waelchi]

Try to avoid Suzhou's main tourist attractions during peak holidays; it's much better to visit during off-peak times. You don't necessarily have to go to the biggest gardens; smaller ones can offer delightful, unexpected discoveries. You can also book evening garden tours to enjoy intimate, up-close performances. While the commercial sections of Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street get incredibly crowded, you can venture further into the non-commercial parts. Shantang Street's residential areas are home to many old, local eateries. If you keep walking, you can leisurely make your way to Tiger Hill. Alternatively, spend a peaceful half-day at Xiyuan Temple (5 RMB entrance, which includes three incense sticks). Or, take some time to visit the 'Big Pants' (Gate of the Orient) building and Eslite Bookstore in the Industrial Park. The subway is quite convenient in that area, and there are tourist buses too. As for food, just search on Xiaohongshu and be selective about where you go.

[Dr. Lance Glover]

Absolutely, visiting on a weekday during the off-season is ideal. It's still a lovely place to wander around then.

[Courtney Hickle Jr.]

Oh no! I've already booked my tickets for the May Day holiday!

[Abel Schulist MD]

Travel is always full of unknowns and uncertainties! If you've managed to get reservations for must-see attractions like the Suzhou Museum and the Humble Administrator's Garden, then you still have something to look forward to. (Perhaps the road conditions were just really bad when I visited; the streets were dusty from construction and constantly being watered down, which definitely dampened my experience.)