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Top 10 Attractions in Suzhou (Tips, Photos & Maps)

Monday, January 17th, 2022

Plan your Suzhou tou r? We’ve rounded up a list of the top 10 attractions in Suzhou, which may be helpful for your planning your short trip to Suzhou.

Suzhou is located on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake in the province of Jiangsu Province, China.

Suzhou is renowned for its world famous private gardens – stone bridges, pagodas, lakes, rockeries and traditional architectures and meticulously designed gardens which have contributed to its status as a great tourist attraction.

In 1997 and 2000, eight of the finest gardens in Suzhou along with the ancient water town of Tongli were selected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site to represent the art of Suzhou-style classical gardening.

Suzhou enjoys great fame internationally for its elegant gardens. It is said that the gardens to the south of Yangtze River are the best in the world, and Suzhou gardens are the best among them. Suzhou attracts many visitors both home and abroad every day.

Now follow us to have a virtual tour of the top 10 attractions in Suzhou.

1. Humble Administrator’s Garden 拙政园

Humble Administrator’s Garden is representative of Chinese classical gardens in the Ming Dynasty, which are focused on a central pond with pavilions. At 51,950 m2, it is the largest garden in Suzhou and generally considered the finest garden in southern China.

For more information, check out the link: How to Visit Humble Administrator’s Garden .

Its lake view borrows the scene of the North Pagoda outside the garden.

The Humble Administrator’s Garden was a scholar garden during the Tang dynasty and a monastery garden during the Yuan dynasty. It then changed hands many times.The structures are grouped round a labyrinthine lake, rather like a Chinese water village. The garden consists of Eastern, Central and Western sections as well as some residences of the former owners.

The Humble Administrator’s Garden is easily accessible by public buses – Tourism Bus No.01, Tourism Bus No.02, Bus No.313 and get off at the stop of Suzhou Museum (苏州博物馆) since Suzhou Museum is very close to both the Administrator’s Garden and the Lion’s Forest Garden.

Entrance Fees
Off-season: 70 yuan/person (January, February, March, June, November, December)
Peak Season: 80 yuan/person in peak season (April, May, July, August, September, October)

Opening Hours
7:30~17:30 (March 1 ~ November 15) and 7:30~17:00 (November 16 ~ February 29).

2. Tongli Ancient Town 同里古镇

If you plan Suzhou tour, don’t miss a side trip to Tongli. Tongli Town (同里）is one of the famous ancient water towns in the Yangtze River Delta, which are specifically scattered around the large river and crisscross the triangle area of Suzhou, Huzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai.

For more information, check the link: How to Visit Tongli Ancient Town.

Bridges, trees, canals, boats and happy holidaymakers

The ancient Tongli Ancient Town has a history of over 1000 years, a typical water town in the Yangzte River area. The ancient town is scenic enough to be surrounded by waters. The town is cut into 7 islands by 15 canals which are linked by 45 bridges. It is reputed as “the Venice of the East”.

3. Tiger Hill 虎丘

Tiger Hill, which is located at the northwestern suburb of Suzhou, is a popular tourist destination and is known for its natural beauty as well as historical sites. The hill is so named because it is said to look like a crouching tiger. The Tiger Hill covers about 14,100 square metres and is 36 metres in height.

The Tiger Hill includes Tiger Hill Pagoda, Sword Testing Stone and Sword Pool, Lu Yu Well, Verdant Mountain Villa and Wanjing Villa.

Tiger Hill Gardening ( Image Credit: xinhuanet.com )

Tiger Hill Pagoda is just a another version of Pisa, a leaning in Italy, an iconic structure, but you cannot go inside the pagoda but nice viewing and picture opportunities.

The hill has been a tourist destination for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, as is evident from the poetry and calligraphy carved into rocks on the hill.

Entrance Fee: CNY 70 (peak seasons); CNY 60 (low seasons)
Opening Hours: 07:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 949, 146, 316, 816, Y 7, Y 2 or Y 3 to the south gate of the Tiger Hill; or take Buses No. 32 or 36 to the north gate of the Tiger Hill

4. Hanshan Temple 寒山寺

Hanshan Temple is a Buddhist temple and monastery in Suzhou which is located at the town of Fengqiao ( Maple Bridge), about 5 kilometres west of the old city of Suzhou.

It was first constructed in the Liang Dynasty (502-557). During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a famous monk called Hanshan lived in the temple. The temple was later renamed after his name. The temple used to be one of the 10 most famous temples in China. Zhang Ji, a noted Tang-dynasty poet once wrote a poem “A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge,” which, as a result, made the temple even more famous all over China.

The lit Hanshan Temple Welcoming the New Year (Image Credit: NEWS.CN)

So the temple has been famous since the Tang Dynasty. The temple compound is a scene of luxuriant green creating a secluded atmosphere. The buildings in it are in an unadorned and natural style. In the center of the compound stands Mahavira Hall. Behind the hall stretches a wooden corridor, at the end of which stands a small tower with a wall behind and a stream in front.

Entrance Fee: CNY 20
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:30
How to get there: Take Tourism Bus 3, and Bus No.313, no.6, No.9, No.17, No.21, No.31, No.301 and get off at Heshan Bridge (何山大桥站).
Add: 24 Hanshan Temple Lane, Gusu District, Suzhou

5. Jinji Lake Scenic Area 金鸡湖景区

Jinji Lake Scenic Area is located in Jinji Lake business district of Suzhou Industrial Park, and about two thirds of the scenic area, precisely, 7.4 square kilometers，are covered by water. It is lauded as the first “Prototype-zone of National Business Travel” in China.

Jinji Lake Scenic Area Suzhou ( Image Credit: english.jinjilake.sipac.gov.cn)

The scenic area has numerous of attractions, including the ten top the list, known as “Suzhou Center”, “The Gate of the Orient”, “Music Fountain”, “Jinji Lake Bridge”, “Culture and Arts Center”, “Moon Harbor”, “Eslite Bookstore”, “Suzhou International Finance Center”, “Lake Watching Corner” and “Ligongdi Causeway”. All the ten attractions are linked by Jinji Lake Fitness Trail which is 14 kilometers long.

Architecture around the lake is generally attractive – and dramatically illuminated in the evening. Restaurants and cafes either near the plaza or especially near the Culture & Arts Centre, also on East side (Western) or SW section. There are many places to pop in for food or a drink nearby and the area is lined with quite a few metro stations and getting here and away is a breeze.

6. Suzhou Museum 苏州博物馆

Suzhou Museum is a museum of ancient Chinese art, ancient Chinese paintings, calligraphies, and hand-made crafts, situated in Suzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China.

Most of the must-see attractions in Suzhou are walkable within the ancient city wall including the Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lion’s Grove Garden, Canglang Garden, Lingering Garden, Garden of the Master of the Nets, Suzhou Museum, and Pingjiang Road in Suzhou.

Check out Suzhou Museum for more information.

The museum has a display area of 2,200 square meters. It has more than 15,000 pieces in its collections. Most are ancient paintings and calligraphy, ceramics, crafts, unearthed relics and revolution relics.

Among them 247 pieces are ranked first-class. The collection of paintings and calligraphy includes works of masters from Song Dynasty to Ming and Qing Dynasties.Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 529, 811, 55, 202 or Y 2 to the Suzhou Museum

7. Pingjiang Road 平江路（Ping Jiang Lu）

Pingjiang Road (平江路) in Suzhou! The name “Pingjiang Road” originated from the old city name of Suzhou – “Pingjiang”.

This 800-year old street is the best preserved ancient “water lane” ( in contrast with “water town”) in Suzhou.It is a 1600 meters long street set alongside with a north-south canal, starting from East Beita Road (北塔东路) in the north to East Ganjiag Road (干将东路) in the south.You cannot find a better place in China in which modernity and tradition match hand in hand.

The 1600-meter cobblestone path runs alongside with a canal with willows dipping their branches in the water, cute little bridges that cross and all flanked by old white-washed local houses. The paddle boats rows on the canal while people stroll along the cobblestone path.

For more information, check out the link: How to Visit Pingjiang Road in Suzhou.

Pingjiang Road and its accompanying canal are sandwiched by the houses along the way

People often choose to walk along Pingjiang Road after visiting either the Humble Administrator’s Garden (拙政园) or the Lion Forest Garden (狮子林) since Pingjiang Road is located just a 10 minute-walk from both of them.

Google Maps recognizes “Pingjiang Road” as “Ping Jiang Lu”. Please note that when you google “Ping Jiang Lu”, there appears another “Ping Jiang Lu” which is far away from the Lion Grove Garden, just forget it and try to zoom out the “Ping Jiang Lu” close to the Lion Grove Garden.

8. Lion Grove Garden 狮子林

The Lion Grove Garden (狮子林) is one of the most famous gardens in Suzhou and the other three are the Humble Administrator’s Garden, Canglang Pavilion and the Lingering Garden.

The Lion Grove Garden is located at 23 Yuanlin Road (园林路）in Pingjiang District, just about 10 minutes’ walk south from the Humble Administrator’s Garden.

For more information, check out the link: How to Visit Lion Grove Garden.

The lion-shaped rockeries are dotted around the lake and the garden.

So basically you can put the famous attractions together for a half day garden tour in Suzhou. Generally people will visit Lion Grove Garden after having a walking tour of the Humble Administrator’s Garden, since the two are so quite close to each other.

9. Lingering Garden 留园

Lingering Garden (留园）is one of the most famous gardens in Suzhou and the other three are the Humble Administrator’s Garden, Canglang Pavilion and Lion Grove Garden.

It is located outside the Changmen gate of Suzhou. The Lingering Garden was built by an official named Xu Taishi in Ming Dynasty.

Covering an area of 23,310 square meters, today the Lingering Garden is separated into the four parts of the eastern, central, northern and western parts.

The four scenic spots of the Lingering Garden are of different features. They set off each other with certain connection, but distinguish from each other at the same time. The corridor connecting all the scenic spots is 700 meters long in total, winding with the topography and making the scenery endless and changeable. It is really a masterpiece of gardens in China.

Check out Suzhou Lingering Garden for more information.

Each building has its own distinct personality in Lingering Garden.

Especially in Suzhou gardens, the buildings inside Lingering Garden are not only large in number, but also densely distributed, with reasonable layout and clever space treatment. Each building has its own distinct personality, from the overall point of view, there is no sense of chaos, giving people a continuous, overall concept.

Entrance Fee: CNY 55 (peak seasons); CNY45 (low seasons)
Opening Hours: 07:30-17:00
How to get there: take Tourism Bus 1, Bus 85, Bus 317 and Bus 933, get off at the stop of Lingering Garden.

10. Canglang Pavilion 沧浪亭

Plan your Suzhou tour? Suzhou has four most famous classical gardens listed as World Cultural Site which includes Canglang Pavilion (沧浪亭). Canglang Pavilion is typical of the classical gardens in Song Dynasty (960 – 1279), the oldest private garden in Suzhou. The other three world-heritage crowned gardens are Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lingering Garden , and Lion Grove Garden.

Check out How to Visit Canglang Pavilion for more information.

Canglang Pavilion literally means “Surging Waves Pavilion”. The garden was built in the year 1044 by the famous poet named Su Shunqing (1008–1048) in Song Dynasty.

The garden features the Song Dynasty layout and design. The name Canglang originates from a verse in a poem written by Qu Yuan (340 BC-278 BC). Qu Yuan wrote the verse to allude to an honest official who rather resign from his office than do in a corrupt way.

Su Shunqing (苏舜钦) used the verse to express his emotion after his removal from office. In Northern Song Dynasty ( 960 -1279). In 1044, He was removed from office and and settled down in Suzhou. He later bought the abandoned the land and built a garden named “Canglang Pavilion”. He often sailed a boat for playing. Often with Ouyang Xiu, Mei Shengyu and so on to write poems. Since then the name of Canglang spread.

The ownership of the garden changed many times and went through a bunch of renovations and revamping. The garden was opened to the public in 1955 and in 2000 it was listed the UNESCO world cultural heritage site together with other three classical gardens in Suzhou.

Tip: Hassle-free Jiangsu Guided Tours

If you don’t want to do a self-guided tour and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for organized tours to Jiangsu Province:

Suzhou Tour
Nanjing Tour
Jiangsu Tour

How to get to Zhouzhuang Ancient Town

1. Suzhou – Zhouzhuang Water Town

You may take a long-distance bus to Zhouzhuang from the Suzhou Railway Station North Square Passenger Bus Station or from Suzhou North Bus Station.

Operating hour: 6:00 – 17:30
Bus ticket: RMB 17
When you arrive at Zhouzhuang Long-distance Bus Station, you still need to take a RMB10 taxi ride from the bus station to the entrance to Zhouzhuang.

2. Suzhou – Tongli – Zhouzhuang Ancient Town

You may visit Tongli Ancient Town and Zhouzhuanng on the same for a day trip from Suzhou. From Suzhou to Tongli, you can can take subway line 4 from Suzhou Railway Station and get off at the last station of Tongli ( 同里). The subway ride takes about 50 minutes.

After sightseeing in Tongli, take a half hour bus ride from Tongli Bus Station to Jiangze (江择). Jiangze County is only 300m away from Zhouzhuang, but Jiangze is under the administration of Wujiang District of Suzhou while Zhouzhuang is under the jurisdiction of Kunshan City.

3. Kunshan – Zhouzhuang Water Town

In Kunshan City, take Bus No. 133 to Zhouzhuang bus station, then transfer to Bus No. 261 to Xinpai Lou, then walk to Zhouzhuang Ancient Town.

4. Shanghai – Zhouzhuang Old Town

From Pudong International Airport station, take maglev to Longyang Road station, then interchange for metro Line 2, again interchange for line 11 and get off at Huaqiao station, then transfer to Zhouzhuang.

There are also direct shuttle buses to Zhouahzuang from Shanghai General Bus Station, Shanghai West Hongqiao Railway Station and Shanghai South Railway Station.

5. Hangzhou – Zhouzhguang Ancient Town

Hangzhou North Bus Station (Jiubao Passenger Transport Center): Take the bus from Hangzhou North Bus Station to Zhouzhuang.

It takes about 100 minutes to drive to Zhouzhuang ancient Town.

Entrance Fee: RMB 100
Enquiry: 4008282900
Complaint: 0512-57211654
Medical Care: 0512-57216107 (Day)
Medical care: 0512-57219990 (Night)

Virtual Tour of Zhouzhuang Ancient Town

Follow me to visit Zhouzhuang Ancient Town.

After visiting Tongli ancient water town, I walk to the Tongli Bus Station and jump on the bus for Jiangze (江泽）,the last stop of the bus line with a bus fare of RMB 1.

Taking a public bus from Tongli to Jiangze (江泽), which is only 300m away from Zhouzhuang Town.

The bridge is a division line between Zhouzhuang(周庄) and Jiangze County (江泽). I get off the bus and leave the bus station of Jiangze. I walk on my right side. Soon I come across a bridge which is said to be the divided line between Zhouzhuang and Jiuangze.

I walk across the bridge, the divided line between Jiangze and Zhouzhuang.

Crossing the bridge, soon I see a decorated archway inscribed with two big Chinese characters “周庄” – Zhouzhuang. It is the main street of Zhouzhuang Town leading to the main entrance to its old charming water town.

Entering the traditional archway, I find myself on the new town area of Zhouzhuang Town. The 4-story buildings line along the wide and clean main road in the town.

Soon I come arcoss a road direction sign pointing to the main entrance to the Zhouzhuang old water town.

The road direction sign (The Entrance of Tourism) to the old town

Looking at the road sign, I turn to the right and stroll on a wide street leading to the main entrance to the water town. The street is teeming with street front shops and restaurants.

Local specialities like tea, wine, snacks and the list could be much longer.

Wanshan Hock is one of the most delicious local flaovers. Wansan pork hock,named after Shen Wansan, the richest man in the late Yuan and early Ming Dynasty in Jiangnan.

Wanshan Hock is one of the most delicious flavors.

A stone archway bridge with its reflection on the water and overhead willow trees falling over the bridge.

A boat at anchor well protected with rain proof cover.

The old residential houses with faded white-washed wall and still inhabited by the local villagers

The boat is passing by the residential canal house.

A stone bridge built with large flat slabs

The white-washed canal houses l with their amazing reflections on the water.

The famous double bridges – a round archway bridge and a square archway bridge.

Boating on the canal like The Venice in the East.

Tip: Hassle-free Jiangsu Guided Tours

If you don’t want to do a self-guided tour and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for organized tours to Jiangsu Province:

Suzhou Tour
Nanjing Tour
Jiangsu Tour

ABC of Tongli Town

The Tongli Ancient Town has a history of over 1000 years, a typical water town in the Yangzte River area. The ancient town is scenic enough to be surrounded by waters. The town is cut into 7 islands by 15 canals which are linked by 45 bridges. It is reputed as “the Venice of the East”.

Location of Tongli Ancient Town

Under the administration of Wujiang District in Suzhou, Tongli Town is located 30km to the southeast of the downtown Suzhou, one and half hour from Hangzhou and one and half hour from Shanghai by road.

How to Get to Tongli Town

When you visit Suzhou, Shanghai or Hangzhou, you may have a side trip to Tongli Town. Of course, having an excursion from Suzhou to Tongli is the most convenient by bus, subway or by taxi.

For me, the best way to travel from Suzhou to Tongli is to take subway. You can take subway line 4 from Suzhou Railway Station and get off at the last station of Tongli ( 同里). The subway ride takes about 50 minutes.

Suzhou to Tongli Water Town

You have three choices to go from Tongli Subway Station to Tongli Town:
1) You exit from the Exit 10 where you can connect the special shuttles going to Tongli water town (Non-stop);
2) You exit from Exit 02 where you take the Bus 725 for Tongli ( 4 stops );
3) You can also take a taxi from Tongli Subway Station to Tongli Town: 5 km and about 20 yuan.

Subway Line 4 from Suhzhou Railway Station to Tongli

Shanghai to Tongli Town

For a long-distance bus from Shanghai to Tongli Town, you may take the bus either from Shanghai Sightseeing Bus Center (Shanghai Stadium) leaving at 9:30am or Shanghai Long-distance Bus Station (Zhongxing Road) every leaving every half hour.

Hangzhou to Tongli Ancient Town

For the public transportation from Hangzhou to Tongli Town, you should go to Hangzhou North Bus Station for an hourly bus ride to Tongli.

Entrance fee: RMB 100 (combined tickets)
Opening Hour:
07:30-17:30 (May-October)
07:30-17:15 (November-April)
Enquiry: 0512-800882990
Complaint: 0512-63321999
Emergency: 0512-63320995

Virtual Tour of Tongli Water Town

Just follow us to have a virtual tour of Tongli Ancient Town. A bunch of the ancient buildings in Ming and Qing dynasties are well-preserved and open to the public including Retreat and Refection Garden, Pearl Pagoda, Chongben Hall, Genhle Hall, Chen Qubing’s former residence, Wang Shaoao’s Memorial Museum and Songshiwu Garden.

The ancient water town is mainly composed of canals, roads, bridges, residences and gardens where you will be lost in the beautiful view.

You can take the clean energy vehicles at 5 yuan for an easy ride taking you to the entrance from the ticketing office.

Tongli Tourist Information Center and ticketing Office

Each ticket allows visitors to have access to the 10 major pay attractions within the Tongli Town.

If you want to learn more about the town’s history and anecdotes behind, you can hire a local English-speaking tour guide rated RMB 120 per group.

I didn’t use the green energy vehicle in the scenery and I loved to have the half an hour stroll to get to the main entrance to Tongli Ancient Town. On the way, you can easily spot some road signs leading you to the old town.

The road signs leading you to the old town (Old Town Sightseeing Zone)

About half an hour walk from the ticketing office takes me to the street leading to the decorated archway entrance to the ancient town. The street is lined with shops selling local products and restaurants offering the local snacks and dishes.

An old bridge straddles a canal with a decorated archway. The local residents live a slow life, fishing, drinking, reading and the list could be much longer.

An old bridge straddles a canal after the decorated archway.

These canal houses feature the traditional houses – white walls and black tiles.

You won’t be lost since there are a slew of signboards en route reminding you of your next right direction.

Numerous pleasure boats are waiting for passengers to be on board for the canal cruise.

Passengers walking on shore while the pleasure boat is plying on the canal.

The canal cuts through the canal houses in the town.

You’ll see many arch stone bridge spanning the canals in the town.

Bridges, trees, canals, boats and happy holidaymakers constitute a pretty picture of the old town.

A cup of tea keeps life pressure away. The narrow old faded lane tells you the history.

Tip: Hassle-free Jiangsu Guided Tours

If you don’t want to do a self-guided tour and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for organized tours to Jiangsu Province:

Suzhou Tour
Nanjing Tour
Jiangsu Tour

Archive for the ‘Suzhou Travel’ Category

Top 10 Attractions in Suzhou (Tips, Photos & Maps)

1. Humble Administrator’s Garden 拙政园

2. Tongli Ancient Town 同里古镇

3. Tiger Hill 虎丘

4. Hanshan Temple 寒山寺

5. Jinji Lake Scenic Area 金鸡湖景区

6. Suzhou Museum 苏州博物馆

7. Pingjiang Road 平江路（Ping Jiang Lu）

8. Lion Grove Garden 狮子林

9. Lingering Garden 留园

10. Canglang Pavilion 沧浪亭

Tip: Hassle-free Jiangsu Guided Tours

Further Readings

How to Visit Zhouzhuang Ancient Town (Tips, Photos & Map）