Suzhou Travel Guide 2025 — Itineraries, Hotels & Insider Tips
- Arron Goh
- Aug 16
- 2 min read
Why We Love Suzhou
Suzhou is famous for its ancient canals, classical gardens, and silk heritage. Just a short 30-min train ride from Shanghai and Hangzhou, this city feels like stepping back in time. We loved the slower pace here — it’s a place to wander, sip tea, and appreciate centuries of Chinese culture.
This page is your one-stop guide to Suzhou itineraries, hotels, and the must-see spots we personally experienced.
Quick Links
Suzhou At a Glance
Best Time to Visit: March–May and September–November when gardens are at their best.
Currency: Chinese Yuan (CNY)
Getting Around: You can just take the Metro to most tourist hotspots.
Language: Mandarin; English limited outside tourist areas.
Top Things to Do in Suzhou
Classical Gardens: UNESCO World Heritage
Suzhou Canals: Take a boat ride through the old waterways — it’s like a Chinese Venice.
Pingjiang Road: A preserved old street lined with teahouses, boutiques, and local snacks.
Tiger Hill (Hu Qiu): Leaning Pagoda and scenic gardens.
Silk Museum: Learn about Suzhou’s silk history and shop authentic silk products.
Shantang Street: Famous for evening strolls with lantern-lit canals and street food.
📍 See our full Hangzhou + Suzhou + Shanghai 8D7N Itinerary for how we fit Suzhou into our trip.
Where We Stayed in Suzhou
Man Ji Hotel 漫季酒店 - It's located really close to LeQiao station, connecting you to all the tourist hotspots such as Suzhou Musuem 苏州博物馆 (where we started our day), Zhuo Zheng Yuan 拙政园 (Chinese classical gardens), Pingjiang Road 平江路, ShiQuan Road 十全街, and finally Qilishantang 七里山塘!
Essential Tips
Stay Connected: Our Hong Kong-based eSIM worked seamlessly for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube in Suzhou. → Get Your eSIM Here
Plan a Day Trip: Suzhou can be fully explored in 1–2 days, making it perfect as a side trip from Shanghai or Hangzhou.
Cashless Payments: Use Alipay or WeChat Pay — they’re essential everywhere from silk shops to street snacks.
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