Truly extraordinary beauty

Here's a Suzhou travel guide covering attractions, cuisine, accommodation, and more.

Recommended Attractions

- Classical Gardens: The Humble Administrator's Garden represents Suzhou's finest garden design; Lion Grove Garden is famous for its rockeries and maze-like experience; Lingering Garden showcases exquisite window-framed landscapes at every turn.
- Historical Sites: Hanshan Temple gained fame through the poem "Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night," offering Zen ambiance; Tiger Hill Scenic Area features cultural relics like the Leaning Pagoda; the I.M. Pei-designed Suzhou Museum blends modern elegance with tradition.
- Water Towns: Shantang Street displays old Suzhou charm with boat tours available; Pingjiang Road Historic District preserves the "small bridges, flowing water, and households" scenery; Tongli and Mudu ancient towns epitomize delicate Jiangnan water town characteristics.
- Modern Leisure: Jinji Lake combines urban recreation with nature - perfect for lakeside walks, boat rides, or night cycling; Suzhou Center is a hub for shopping, entertainment, and dining, showcasing the city's modern vibrancy.

Culinary Recommendations

- Suzhou Cuisine: Try century-old restaurants like Deyuelou and Songhelou for their iconic squirrel-shaped mandarin fish with sweet-sour sauce. Other specialties include sizzling eel paste, braised pork noodles, Fengzhen noodles, hidden-book lamb, and red bean dumplings.
- Local Snacks: Yaba Shengjian's pan-fried buns have crispy bottoms and juicy fillings; Yu Xing Ji's shrimp/crab roe noodles are richly flavorful; Xin Zhen Yuan's Suzhou-style shrimp dumplings are also popular. Don't miss osmanthus taro balls, gorgon fruit sweet soup, and Pan Yulin's sweet congee for desserts.

Accommodation Suggestions

- Old Town Area: Stay near Pingjiang Road or Guanqian Street for convenience and cultural immersion, with options like Pingjiang Mansion Boutique Hotel surrounded by attractions.
- Jinji Lake Area: Choose hotels like InterContinental Suzhou or Crowne Plaza Suzhou for beautiful lake/city views, ideal for modern-style travelers.

Itinerary Planning

- 3-Day Tour
Day 1: Humble Administrator's Garden - Suzhou Museum - Pingjiang Road Historic District. Morning garden visit, afternoon museum tour, evening boat ride with pingtan performance and dining.
Day 2: Lingering Garden - Tiger Hill - Shantang Street. Morning garden exploration, afternoon historical site visit, evening stroll through Shantang's night scenery.
Day 3: Master-of-Nets Garden - Jinji Lake. Morning garden tour, afternoon lakeside activities including sunset viewing at Moon Harbor and entertainment options.