No matter if you’re in Shanghai for the World Expo or if you’ve always wanted to travel to beautiful Suzhou, you won’t regret making a weekend trip to the “Venice of the East”.  This guide will help you and your travel companion get the most out of 48-hours-worth of spectacular sights, sounds, and tastes in this culture-packed city.  We’ll take you through the city, hour by hour, and show you when and where to have the best time, all on the cheap.

Friday, 7pm: Go ahead and splurge on 1st class tickets from Shanghai to Suzhou for just 31 RMB (2nd class 26 RMB) - it’s just a 39-minute ride away.  You may want to go ahead and book your return tickets, as lines for these tend to get pretty long in Suzhou. After all, you don’t want to waste precious vacation time on queuing up!

7:40 - 10pm: Suzhou’s newly renovated train station has yet to open to the public, so visitors may be put off by the chaotic scene one encounters when visiting. While the line to catch a cab seems daunting, it generally takes only 5-10 minutes to be on your way. To get the best experience of downtown Suzhou, at a good price, I recommend staying at the Gusu Hotel.  The rooms are nice, the staff seems to be able to handle English pretty well, and it’s right off Shi Quan Street (十全街) - the heart of Suzhou’s night scene. After you and your sidekick check in and drop your things off, walk to Shi Quan and hang a left. The street should already be awash with tourists and locals, perusing brightly lit clothing shops or enjoying a cold pint in one of the many bars here. For dinner, Feng Huang Street is a much better option, so take a right when you get to the intersection; a nice 500-metre stroll from the hotel. On Feng Huang Street you’ll find most kinds of Chinese cuisine, with Cantonese, Hunanese, and hotpot featured in the most popular restaurants. Prices are very reasonable, with dinner for two under 200 RMB.

Shi Quan Street, Suzhou

10pm - sleep: When you’re done eating, explore all Shi Quan Street has to offer.  From the canal on the far eastern side to the intersection of Ren Min Road in the middle of the city, Shi Quan Jie contains a variety of pubs, coffee shops, snack stands, and shops for the curious. Drinks can be had for as low as 10 RMB at seedier establishments, but generally run between 20-30 RMB for beers with a bit more for cocktails. With your hotel just minutes away, enjoy yourselves, but not too much; ancient Suzhou’s treasures await you in the morning.

Saturday; 9am - lunchtime: Tiger Hill is one of the better tourist spots in the city and has plenty of lush foliage to keep the sun at bay. A good 1-2 hours is required to fully enjoy this park, holding one of China’s few stone pagodas. Afterwards, another quick cab ride to Shan Tang street will give visitors a chance to get some souvenir shopping done on this busy, traditional-style shopping street with boat rides available – 40 RMB for taxis, 120 RMB for Tiger Hill tickets.

Guan Qian Street, Suzhou

Afternoon - evening: Once lunch is out of the way (try Guan Qian Street), Ping Jiang Road is the next stop on our tour. The abundant coffee shops here are great for the weary sojourner. It’s best to enter where the road meets Gan Jiang Road, Suzhou’s main thoroughfare. Keep walking north along Ping Jiang until you see signs that point to the Suzhou Museum and the Humble Administrator’s Garden.  The garden is the most popular scenic spot for visitors to Suzhou and one of the largest of Suzhou’s dozens of traditional gardens. However, if the weather is too hot, perhaps the I.M. Pei-designed Suzhou Museum is a better choice. Once you’ve had your fill on traditional culture, it’s time to spruce up and hit the Suzhou Industrial Park for some modern entertainment - 160 RMB including taxis and garden tickets. 

Li Gong Di, Suzhou

Evening - late: For dinner, consider Rainbow Walk, Li Gong Di, or even Times Square as you head to Jin Ji Lake for dinner and fun. Visitors to Rainbow Walk will be rewarded with a beautiful fountain and light show around 8pm on weekend nights. No matter where you’ve had your meal, be sure to head to the western end of Li Gong Di for drinks and dancing later. Scarlet’s never sees a dull night, but there are pubs and clubs of all shapes and sizes here for one to enjoy, with only 300 RMB needed for dinner, taxis, and a few drinks.

Sunday morning - evening: On our final day in Suzhou, it’s time to relax a bit and let someone else do the work. A scenic drive around Jin Ji Lake by double-decker tour bus is a great option; get on near Rainbow Walk and ride the circuit back to your starting point for free. If you need to check out before your train leaves, consider a trip to the Kaiyo salon and Spa on Feng Huang Street. For reasonable prices, you can get a one-hour massage with sauna access included. If you’re brave enough to venture down to bustling Guan Qian Street before you leave, try to find a quiet restaurant such as the vegetarian tea house opposite the church on Gong Xiang. The whole day should set you back about 900 RMB including hotel checkout, taxis, massage, and meals.

When it’s getting near time to bid a tearful farewell to Suzhou (you already have your tickets, right?), consider a quick trip to the North Pagoda, just a minutes’ walk from the train station. We hope you’ve enjoyed your stay and remember, you’re welcome back anytime.

Tips:
Gu Su Hotel姑苏饭店
Add: 133 Xiang Wang Nong, Suzhou
Tel: 400-6666-2028
Price: RMB 258-338

Scenic Spots in Chinese:
Tiger Hill – 虎丘
Shan Tang Street – 山塘街
Ping Jiang Road and Gan Jiang Road – 平江路和干将路口
Humble Administrator’s Garden – 拙政园
Rainbow Walk – 湖滨新天地
Li Gong Di – 李公堤
Times Square – 时代广场
Gong Xiang – 宮巷
North Pagoda –北塔寺

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