Suzhou: So Good, I'm Never Going Back. #chinatravel

[Andrea Hand]

Hello, friends planning to visit Suzhou! Here's a summary of my two-night and three-day adventure in Suzhou. I hope this can help you avoid any pitfalls along the way!

• Day 1: First Encounter with Suzhou, Kinda "Hot"

  • We arrived at Suzhou around 6 PM, checked into the hotel near Guanqian Street (a famous commercial street dating back to ancient times), and dropped off our bags.
  • About 7:30 PM, we rushed to Shantang Street (an old waterfront street that gives a taste of Venice).
    • It was crowded beyond belief! The heat stuck to us like glue, and it was all too commercial, packed with shops all around.
    • Previously, I purchased tickets for boat rides through TikTok (an app like China's version of TIKTOK often used by many to buy discounted tickets). However, once at the destination, the staff informed me no ordinary boat rides would be available after 8:40 PM—I simply couldn’t take the boat! As for the expensive tickets that were 100 RMB each, it felt like extortion—beyond annoying!
    • Shuangta Night Market, as small as it was, offered very similar snack options, with virtually nothing unique.

• Day 2: Hanfu Experience & Sunset by the Lake

  • In the morning, we booked a photography package of Hanfu (an ancient Chinese traditional costume) for a total of 499 RMB.
    • Our location was the famous Ouyuan Garden, renowned for its classical Chinese architecture. We spent the entire morning shooting photos.
    • Thankfully, the weather wasn’t too hot; otherwise, wearing layers upon layers of traditional clothing could have driven us into a heatwave.
  • Later in the day, we visited Pingjiang Road, another waterfront street with heaps of historical essence.
    • Although it was highly commercialized, I sensed it was marginally better than Shantang Street, with slightly lower merchandise prices.
    • To greet the sunset, we headed to Jinji Lake . This spot is recommended for both sightseeing and taking selfies; the scenery there was fantastic.
    • The widely known "Big Underwear Building" (actually named "The Gate of the East," but colloquially called as such because of its appearance) wasn’t a point of special interest for us, although viewing from across the Jinji Lake still yielded good photo opportunities.
  • We had crab shell noodle soup at night—a local delicacy made with crab meat; it tasted simply delightful!

• Day 3: Temple Tranquility Tour

  • After pondering my visit to the famous Hanshan Temple (famous for an ancient poem), I decided on Xiyuan Temple instead.
    • Xiyuan Temple boasted notably fewer visitors and exuded a tranquil atmosphere typical of Buddhist temples (many worshippers prostrating themselves at Buddha’s statue out of gratitude).
    • The temple’s vegetarian noodles—lacking any meat ingredients—were particularly delicious! Both the Guanyin Fried Noodles and the Dehuo Fried Noodles tasted identical, save for their toppings (known locally as "zaotou").
    • We tried counting Luohans (a kind of fortune-telling game found in many Chinese temples). It was quite interesting.

My Travel Summary and Lessons Learnt:

• ️ Beware of the Heat!
  • Suzhou gets unbearably scorching hot in summer—like a sauna! Due to the oppressive heat, several places on our original itinerary had to be skipped, so I advise all summer visitors to prepare for the heat effectively.
• Garden Selection:
  • While Suzhou is rich in classic Chinese gardens, I suggest visiting just one or two representative ones instead of visiting them all.
• ️ Be Careful with Hanfu Experiences!
  • There are many street Hanfu costume companies that are just covert advertisements (actual services might not match promotional promises). It's vital for shoppers to compare prices and services and avoid being misled.
• Commercial Streets:
  • Shantang Street and Pingjiang Road are densely crowded, often swamped with commercialism. Kindly note that the popular “I met you on Pingjiang Lane” wall (a much-photographed attraction along the road) has been removed—no need to embark on a wild goose chase.
• 交通方式 & 司机提醒！
  • 强烈建议： 首次前往苏州的朋友，如果人数不多，尽量选择打车的方式！苏州打车真的很便宜，两个人分摊下来的钱，跟坐地铁花的钱也差不了多少。
  • 我们因为怕麻烦，觉得大热天找地铁口、研究地铁线路换乘折腾，而走来走去更热。
  • 重要提醒： 苏州有些出租车司机师傅脾气不太好，开车猛，说话冲。乘车时遇到此种情况不用太往心里去，做好心理准备。
• Temple Selection:
  • For those genuinely praying or looking for peace and tranquility, opt for Xiyuan Temple.
  • If your aim lies purely in打卡著名寺庙并拍照，那么冷山寺是个理想目的地。
  • By the way, souvenirs sold at temples such as prayer beads tend to be excessively priced without matching the utility value; hence, I’d say they aren't worth the purchase.

[Ethel Morissette]

The best times to visit Suzhou are from March to May or October to November. June to early July is the plum rain season, which is muggy, hot, and makes you feel sticky. July to September can also be very hot.

[Pamela Miller]

Suzhou is great, I'll definitely go back. I visited the Suzhou Museum and ten gardens, had Suzhou-style noodles every day, and didn't bother with the main streets. So happy!

[Lucille Borer]

When did you go? Could you share your itinerary?

[Mr. Otis Schaefer]

I really wouldn't recommend visiting Suzhou in this weather. It's just way too hot!

[Ellis Sauer DVM]

What's the temperature like in degrees?

[Florence Stark]

The big gardens are packed, and in the smaller ones, commercial photoshoots often block the paths. Plus, the heat really spoils the experience. I'll have to come back when it's less crowded and cooler to explore again.

[Iris Marquardt]

The gardens are much better than Shantang Street and Pingjiang Road. Those places are what truly ruin the experience – so crowded you can smell everyone's sweat. They're just commercial streets full of food stalls.

[Theodore Wiza]

This itinerary isn't great.

[Sally Breitenberg]

So true.

[Abel Schulist MD]

Hey girl, how was your hotel?

[Kay Oberbrunner]

It was just okay. It's at a traffic light intersection, so I often had to walk a fair bit to get around.

[Ms. Thelma DuBuque-Rolfson]

I went to Suzhou on the 26th. Even though it rained and was crowded, I absolutely loved the city. As someone from Shandong, I'm obsessed with their Suzhou-style mung bean soup! I definitely want to go back.

[Dr. Guadalupe Homenick]

Where is this?

[Kathryn Heller]

It rained for 20 days straight, and now it feels like all that moisture is being 'boiled off' by intense heat. I'm practically melting!

[Ms. Wanda Kilback]

So, are we the pork belly being braised now?

[Antoinette Ferry]

Personally, Suzhou was my worst travel experience. The main issue was encountering some rather ill-tempered people. The gardens felt quite similar to each other, and without renting an audio guide, you're left clueless as there are no explanations. The Suzhou Museum is also quite small. Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street are just filled with generic snacks you can find anywhere, and the streets are packed with vendors. The infrastructure feels dated. Today, for instance, the Suzhou Railway Station was incredibly hot, with only vents and large fans. But the biggest factor was the extreme heat. Perhaps visiting in spring would offer a better experience. (This is just my personal opinion, no offense intended.)

[Andrea Hand]

Suzhou is incredibly hot; even the ground feels scorching. My friend and I both got sunburned.

[Franklin Weimann IV]

On the first day, you should check out Pingjiang Road. I wouldn't really recommend the Twin Pagodas, though. On the second day, visit Xiyuan Temple, then head to Shantang Street, and perhaps Jinji Lake in the evening. Finding the subway should be pretty straightforward.

[Beulah Koelpin]

I'm terrible with directions.