【Suzhou Hot Travel Guide | Three Days to Explore the Ancient and Modern Faces of Jiangnan】

🌿【Classic Must-Visit · Travel Through a Thousand Years】
▫️ Suzhou Museum (book tickets 7 days in advance at midnight): The final work of I.M. Pei, where white walls and black tiles blend with modern light and shadow. Don’t miss the secret celadon lotus bowl. Enter at 6:30 AM to capture the morning mist over the lotus pond by Xiangzhou boat house, creating an ink painting effect.
▫️ Humble Administrator’s Garden (enter right at 7:30 AM opening): The top of China’s Four Great Gardens, recommended to experience the ancient tree ring decoding project to feel the fusion of ecology and history.
▫️ Shantang Street: Take a night boat tour listening to Pingtan storytelling. From the “Shantang Scenic Archway” along the river for 50 meters, you can capture panoramic views of the ancient street’s stone arch bridge.

🍜【Taste of Jiangnan · Must-Eat List】
▫️ Three Shrimp Noodles: Seasonal special at Yuxingji, mixed with shrimp meat, shrimp roe, and shrimp brain for an incredibly fresh taste.
▫️ Su-style Pan-fried Prawns: Xin Zhenyuan’s juicy pan-fried prawns, crispy bottom and rich juice, even better with bone broth.
▫️ Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crab: Opens on September 26, recommended to have fresh catch steamed at Sha’s Crab Garden. Female crabs in October have rich roe, and in November they are plump and full of crab paste.

🎡【Modern Trendy Fun · Check-in New Landmarks】
▫️ Suzhou Eye Ferris Wheel: The new internet-famous spot on the right bank of Jinji Lake, 120 meters high with panoramic lake views, open Monday to Sunday 10:00-22:00, with dreamy night lighting.
▫️ Chongyun Alley (Yangcheng Lake Peninsula): A pet-friendly street opening in 2025, featuring Da Le Zhi Ye guesthouse, Turnpro Skate Park, and a trendy swimming pool, perfect for young people’s photos.
▫️ Eslite Bookstore: Mainland China’s first store with a must-photograph spiral staircase; at night, you can walk to Moonlight Pier to watch the Jinji Lake sunset.

🏨【Accommodation Recommendations】
▫️ Pingjiang Road Guesthouse: Open the window to see small bridges and flowing water, listen to the sound of oars gliding over the water in the early morning.
▫️ Shantang Street Inn: Enjoy the lantern-lit ancient street night view, within walking distance to the boat dock.

💡【Practical Tips】
✅ Transportation: Download the “Su e Xing” app to take the subway. In the old town, walking plus tricycle rides are recommended (bargaining tip: cut the price in half).
✅ Avoid Pitfalls: Beware of “low-price one-day tours” in scenic spots; choose 2-3 gardens only (recommended: Humble Administrator’s Garden + Yi Pu Garden).
✅ Seasonal Special: Mid-November is best for Tianping Mountain’s red maple, with colorful maple leaves dyeing the forest.

📸【Photo Tips】
✔️ Ou Garden: Shoot the “Love Garden” at sunset, with slanting light on the Moon Gate for a super romantic effect.
✔️ Yangcheng Lake Church: Looks like a Disney castle when lit up at dusk; light-colored outfits make photos stand out.

Suzhou is half garden poetry and painting, half modern metropolis. Whether capturing the mist at dawn in the Humble Administrator’s Garden or watching the Ferris wheel spin by Jinji Lake late at night, this city always surprises you. Save this guide and embark on a spontaneous Jiangnan trip now!✨