I gave up on Suzhou and Hangzhou; this place has great food and fun!

### **Suzhou · Outside Gusu City | Advanced Short Trip Guide to Classical Gardens and Zhouzhuang Ancient Town**

**🏯 Must-Visit Attractions Outside Gusu City**
1. **Hanshan Temple**
- **Charm**: Famous for Zhang Ji’s poem "Night Mooring by Maple Bridge," with distant midnight bell sounds full of Zen spirit. The temple’s steles, bell tower, and sutra library are worth seeing.
- **Tips**: Visit early morning or evening to avoid crowds and enjoy the poetic Zen atmosphere.

2. **Tiger Hill**
- **Charm**: The top scenic spot in Wuzhong, the leaning "Yunyan Pagoda" rivals the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Sword Pool legend is mysterious.
- **Tips**: Take the sightseeing bus (30 RMB) up the hill and walk down, enjoying bamboo groves and ancient pavilions along the way.

3. **Selected Classical Gardens**
- **Humble Administrator’s Garden** (80 RMB): One of China’s four famous gardens, with stunning water views and ever-changing scenery.
- **Lion Grove Garden** (40 RMB): A rockery maze, a must-visit during Emperor Qianlong’s six southern tours.
- **Night Tour of the Master of Nets Garden** (40 RMB): Kunqu opera and Pingtan performances, the garden looks even more elegant at night.

**🍜 Gusu Food Recommendations**
- **Suzhou-style Noodles**: Near Hanshan Temple, noodle shops with an average price of 20 RMB per person, extra noodles at no extra cost.
- **Shiquan Street Food**: A cluster of popular restaurants, recommended dishes include crab roe soup dumplings and squirrel mandarin fish.
- **Li Bai Crab · Crab Roe Noodles (Pingjiang Road Branch)**: Signature crab roe noodles and crab roe rice, paired with desserts like “Sticky Little Green Rice Balls and Iced Tofu Pudding,” with scenic seats overlooking the Pingjiang River.

**🏨 Selected Accommodation Recommendations**
1. **Gusu District**
- **Home Inn (Fengqiao Road)**: Double room 130 RMB, close to Hanshan Temple, quiet night view from the window.
- **Suzhou Huamao Gusu Serviced Apartments**: Modern art rooms, adjacent to classical gardens, offering a private garden experience.

2. **Zhouzhuang Ancient Town**
- **Zhouzhuang Yunting Villa**: Modern manor near Shuangqiao and Shenting, with herb garden and barbecue area.
- **Jinshuiloutai Inn**: Waterside residence with antique charm, experience Ming and Qing dynasty home style.

**✨ Unique Charm**
- **Classical and Poetic**: The bell sounds of Hanshan Temple, garden rockeries, and soft Pingtan storytelling create a refined literary atmosphere everywhere.
- **Water Town Slow Life**: Rowboats in the morning mist of Zhouzhuang and stone-paved roads resemble an ink painting.

**📌 Tips**:
- Use the “Gusu Tourism Bus Line” to connect attractions, saving time and effort.
- Night tours of the Master of Nets Garden require advance booking to enjoy intangible cultural heritage performances.

The beauty of Suzhou lies in the exquisite gardens, the Zen of ancient temples, and the gentleness of water towns. A three-day tour is enough to get enchanted.