Suzhou’s emergence as a gathering point for white-collar professionals has propelled the health and beauty industry ahead by leaps and bounds. Where there was once merely up-scale hair salons that offered massage services on the side, there are now dozens ... Read More>>

Suzhou's bar scene has long been large and foreign-friendly, but today it's in transition and it can be a little hard to find the right place for a good night out. It used to be that nightlife was centred around Shiquan Street – the two-block long row of ... Read More>>

OK you have done Suzhou’s famous classical gardens, explored the canals and had some great food. Now it’s time to have some fun and go Shopping! Suzhou is a great place to find bargains but you’ve got to know where to go. Read More>>

Inviting weather has finally arrived and it’s time to take stock of the nightlife in Suzhou as we plan our nocturnal excursions. The usual landmarks are still present on Shi Quan Street, Li Gong Di, Zhu Hui Road and at other locations. But what new spots ... Read More>>

At long last, the Suzhou metro Line 1 has finally opened. After enduring over four years of construction, residents and visitors can enjoy the low cost and convenience of underground travel. Suzhou is the first non-capital city in China to get a metro, and ... Read More>>

If you’re new to China you’ve probably thought about the food – and in particular food safety. From restaurants using gutter oil to mislabeled 40 year old meat, food scandals in China seem depressingly frequent. Read More>>

It’s been years in the making, but Suzhou is finally home to more than a handful of locally owned and operated Western restaurants. While the dining situation is far from on par with first tier cities like nearby Shanghai, the options are already ... Read More>>

If you ever have an injury or illness, and are looking for doctors or hospitals in Suzhou, you’re in luck. There are some excellent hospitals and plenty of doctors who speak English and understand western standards in medicine and personal privacy. Read More>>

For newcomers from abroad, Suzhou can be a challenging place to shop in. Until very recently, there were no shopping malls to speak of, just numerous department stores with luxury brands on display. Indeed, much of Suzhou’s commercial space seems polarized ... Read More>>

Suzhou has become one of the best cities in China if you’re looking for a good foreign food store. Proximity to Shanghai and a large foreign population means that you’ll be satisfied with both the selection and price of your foreign products. However, the ... Read More>>

Indian cuisine can be a transcendental experience, and not just because spicy food is an aphrodisiac – though that helps. Also, it’s transcendental not only because Indian cuisine ranks amongst the best and most revered cuisines in the world, often ... Read More>>

Unless you’ve been hibernating recently, you’ve probably experienced Suzhou’s unseasonably rainy and cold start to spring. While it’ easy to give in and let the wet weather ruin your plans, Suzhou’s only international-style shopping mall allows you to ... Read More>>

Have you noticed how prices in expat restaurants in the S.I.P. and SND have shot up recently? Now you pay about the same in an Indian restaurant on Jinjihu Lake as you pay in Chicago…except here the portions are smaller! With wages and basic food costs ... Read More>>

Suzhou maintains its reputation as a foreign-friendly city with its excellent choices for dental care and highly trained dentists. Most of the English-speaking dental clinics have been in operation for years, and have a great deal of experience dealing with ... Read More>>

On the outskirts of Suzhou, just a short bus ride from the city center, the misty and tranquil Tai Hu Lake, the third biggest freshwater lakes in all of China, modestly sequesters a selection of tiny villages, pagodas, shrines, monasteries and scenic ... Read More>>

Located about 30 km southeast of Suzhou in the heart of the "Jiangnan" (江南) region—the "South of the Yangtze River" area between Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang—Zhouzhuang (周庄) is the most popular of the region's so-called ... Read More>>

Suzhou is the perfect location for a weekend getaway. Travelling by train from Shanghai is cheap, very fast and drops you fairly conveniently at the northern end of the Old Town. Suzhou is split into three distinct areas – the Old Town, Suzhou Industrial ... Read More>>

While the charms of Suzhou’s old town are famous, most Western expats live and work to the east in the modern and functional Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP). The park might not sound like a nightlife hot spot, but it’s definitely worth visiting for a beer or ... Read More>>

The new Taihu Underwater World is located in the heart of Suzhou’s Taihu Scenic Zone. The new aquarium, with an investment of 25 million USD, began its first trial period on October 13th. However eager marine enthusiasts will have to be patient and wait ... Read More>>

Thanks to Suzhou’s large Japanese population, Japanese restaurants are a dime and a dozen. Both the Suzhou Industrial Park and New District host multitudes of ramen, sushi, and teppanyaki restaurants for a variety of tastes and prices. Good sushi is ... Read More>>

Even a few short years ago, searching for bread and baked goods in Suzhou was a hopeless task, but now good bakeries seem to be opening every month. While pastries may still be far behind their leavened counterparts, and the best cure for a real sweet tooth ... Read More>>

Ahhh coffee! That warm, rich, frothy brew that wakes us up and makes us feel alive. But it's not just about the brew, is it? It's savouring it in the right environment: a quiet place with the right lighting, ambient music, free Wifi, clean floors, good ... Read More>>

Up until this year, the club scene in Suzhou could be compared to a collection of Steven Seagal movies: they’re hackneyed, all the same, but can be enjoyable from time to time. Fortunately a number of new clubs have opened with an eye to change the ... Read More>>

Situated approximately 15 km from the city centre, Dushu Lake HET (Higher Education Town) may feel a little out of the way. But the good news is everything you need is right here with the benefit of not having to deal with the hustle and bustle of the city. Read More>>