Suzhou
Suzhou is a prefecture-level city in Jiangsu province, Eastern China.
Suzhou is a major tourist destination and industrial hub of Eastern China, specializing in high-end manufacturing. Renowned as the cradle of Wu culture, Suzhou flourished as a hub of trade, arts, and intellectual life along the Grand Canal, helping shape China's economic and cultural development for centuries. The city is internationally famous for its classical gardens, which harmonize architecture, water, rocks, and plants into poetic expressions of nature. Long admired for its silk production, refined cuisine, and lyrical Kunqu opera, Suzhou has been praised in Chinese poetry, along with Hangzhou, as "paradise on earth," a reputation that endures today as the city blends its timeless canals, whitewashed lanes, and scholarly heritage with modern industries. Suzhou is part of the Yangtze Delta megalopolis.
Getting to Suzhou
Suzhou does not have a civilian airport. The closest airports with flights of use to most travellers are the two in nearby Shanghai. The airport in Wuxi is closer, but it is relatively small and serves mostly domestic flights. Nanjing and Hangzhou are other alternatives; both are large airports with a range of flights and easily reached from Suzhou.
Worth seeing
Suzhou has a number of attractions, including at least two that are absolutely world-class: its famous classical Chinese gardens, and the Suzhou Museum designed by a world-renowned architect. Suzhou's gardens and architecture have had influence worldwide.
Things to do
Take a boat ride through the city's canals, Renmin Bridge. An interesting way to see the city low down in the network of canals. Explore Guanqian Street (观前街). The street is a rather uninspiring shopping street, however the back streets off it harbor many small shops selling local crafts and some interesting restaurants serving local cuisine.
- 01Yangshan Hot Springs
A hotel resort with hot spring facilities - you can buy a ticket to soak in hot tubs outdoors.
- 02Suzhou Amusement Land
Amusement park in the SND west of downtown.
Where to eat
Suzhou has its own unique, slightly sweet cuisine that tends to have very light and delicate flavors. Locals are very fond of freshwater fish and shellfish. Sweets made from glutinous rice paste are an old tradition here; these will generally baffle most Western palates, but try them anyway.
- 01Dusanzhen
One of the most famous purveyors of Suzhou-style cold braised duck.
Getting around Suzhou the local way
- Get aroundPedicabs (rickshaws) are available on most main streets and always near tourist attractions.
- Go nextDay trips to the lake are possible going straight west from Suzhou or going via towns which are right on the lake, Wuxi to the north or the Suzhou suburb Wujiang to the south.
From Wikivoyage: Suzhou, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.