Suzhou Travel: Seriously, Is It *Supposed* to Be THIS Hard?!

[Daisy Hermiston]

Wow! Suzhou is simply amazing, and choosing which attractions to visit has put us in quite a dilemma! Without exaggeration, I liked every place there so much! There are thousands of pictures in my camera, and selecting them is just too painful, as I can't bear to delete any of them!

I am still savoring the experience of this trip! Usually, I don't post updates frequently, but Suzhou is an exception! Later on, I will gradually share detailed travel tips and experiences, such as how to appreciate the many famous classical gardens, how to experience leisurely hand-rowed gondolas, listening to a tune of Jinan-flavored Suzhou storytelling and singing (known as 'Suzhou Pingtan'), trying authentic Suzhou dishes, leisure walks in the city ('City Walk'), and experiencing retro hairstyles known as 'hand push wave' and wearing beautiful cheongsam dresses!

Now, here's a summary of my four-day-three-night itinerary. Friends interested are welcome to pay attention! I will reply to any questions you have.

️️️ DAY ONE

• Transport: From Wuxi Airport to Suzhou, we called a ride-sharing car (like Uber Pool or shared cars), didn't take the expressway, took about one hour, and cost 66 RMB.
• Accommodation: Stayed at a hotel in Suzhou and recommend choosing those near "Guanqian Street." It is very lively, convenient to go anywhere.
  • Culture Tip: Guanqian Street is a famous commercial street in Suzhou with a rich history, having shops and restaurants.
• 🥣 Lunch: Songhe Restaurant (a well-known Su cuisine food hall).
• Attractions: Tiger Hill (ticket price 70 RMB/person)
  • Culture Tip: Tiger Hill is one of Suzhou's famous scenic spots and has the美誉 of "The First Mountain of Wuxian" with its ancient leaning tower.
• Attractions: Seven-mile Mountain Tanga (can board a boat from Tiger Hill South Gate for 50 RMB/person, directly reaching Shantang Street).
  • Culture Tip: The "Seven-mile Mountain Tanga" has thousands of years of history, built along the canal with distinct characteristics of Jiangnan water towns.
• 🥣 Dinner: Rongyang Building or Yuxingji (both are local famous noodle shops and snack shops).

️️️ DAY TWO

• Experience: Retro "Hand Wave Style" in Qilu Hanfu Store (make your hair "hand wave style," and it perfectly complements cheongsam dresses),
  • Culture Note: Hand Wave is a type of retro wavy hairstyle that fits well with hanfu dresses, which are the traditional ethnic clothing of China.
• Shopping: Buy cheongsams at Ruilan handmade cheongsam store.
  • Culture Tip: Cheongsam is the traditional attire for Chinese women, renowned for its elegant tailoring.
• 🥣 Lunch: Yangyang Chinese Restaurant.
• City Walk: From Shiquan Street to Wu Que Bridge Street.
• Attractions: Canglang Pavilion + Keyuan Garden (combined ticket price 40 RMB/person),
  • Culture Tip: Canglang Pavilion and Keyuan Garden are representative classical gardens in Suzhou, exquisitely small and refined.
• **Leisure time:**诚品书店（一家很有设计感的现代书店）。
  • Culture Tip: [Chengpin Bookstore, a modern bookstore known for its impressive design aspects]
• 🥣 Dinner: Douku (a fashionable restaurant).
• Attractions: Jinji Lake (the modern new region of Suzhou, very beautiful by looking at the lake night scene),
• Experience: Niushan Garden night tour (ticket price 120 RMB/person),
  • Culture Tip: The Wushi Garden is the only Suzhou garden open at night, featuring traditional performances like Kunqu Opera, having its unique flavors.

(...)

Keep in mind, this summary doesn't cover everything but is meant to share my experience of visiting Suzhou. I hope it'll be helpful for travelers planning to visit Suzhou! Suzhou is indeed a treasure city!

Also, some important tips and points to remember:

• Booking tickets for gardens through the WeChat Official Account "Suzhou Gardens Tour," online ticketing platforms like Meituan or Ctrip can offer better discounts.
• Suzhou Museum requires a reservation at least one week in advance.
• Boarding a gondola usually means purchasing the ticket on-site.
• Reserving a spot for listening to "Suzhou Pingtan" early via the App like Dazhongping in advance will secure a good seat.
• It is better to arrange the appointment for retro hairstyle 'hand push wave' beforehand.

Happy exploring Suzhou!