🔥 Suzhou: Tourist City? As If! The Real Lowdown from a Veteran.

[Linda Dietrich]

Hello, everyone preparing to visit Suzhou! Suzhou is indeed a delightful place, but beware, there are some issues and hidden pitfalls as well! Instead of just praising it, let's discuss the downsides, providing warnings for my international friends.

Transportation: A pain in the head!

• To protect those traditional old buildings, Suzhou's Old City has restrictions on new constructions' heights and urban development. This results in limited metro lines, with only Line 4 currently passing through the ancient city's river. So to reach famous gardens like the Humble Administrator's Garden and Lion Grove, you might have to walk an additional kilometer after getting off the metro!
• Forget about the "Garden Shuttle" buses like Y1 or Y2. When they get crowded, these buses often get stuck in Lin Dun Road’s major commercial street, akin to a parking lot — moving very slowly! It can really frustrate visitors.
• Driving within the Old City is another nightmare due to numerous "electronic barriers" which basically means not allowing vehicles to park just anywhere. Trying to find a parking lot near PING QIAN Street’s super busy commercial center? You might find it harder than finding a partner!
• When it comes to the Three-Wheeled Rickshaws along the Shantang old town street (a well-known traditional riverside old lane), be cautious with the peddlers. They’ll ask "let's do it for 100 yuan", promising a tour of the "seven-mile Shantang" (about 7 miles). However, they might barely take you for about 500 meters! ️ Warning: Don't get scammed by the rickshaw drivers in Shantang Street — always check their route and price before getting into one!

️ Hot spots, with some complaining too!

• In peak season, the Humble Administrator's Garden (one of Suzhou's most famous gardens and must-visit attraction) packs 40,000 visitors daily! Imagine shooting tranquil photos without tourists! You need to rush to the garden as soon as it opens at 7:30 AM!
• ️ Note: It's advisable to visit popular gardens like the Humble Administrator's Garden early in the morning or during low season.
• At many scenic spots, explanatory placards are in ancient Chinese script, making it hard for anyone unfamiliar with these texts. It can be quite baffling!
• In Pingjiang Road's main street (an equally famous riverside old lane), most of the shops sell what's trendy — bamboo tongs for bubble tea, silk (many sourced from non-local markets like Yiwu Small Commodities Market), and stinky tofu. Those truly with Suzhou flavor, like tea houses where you can enjoy an ancient song art performance specific to Suzhou (评弹), small specialty stores selling gorgeous traditional handcraft embroidery specific to Suzhou (苏绣), are shyly hidden away behind small alleys! ️ Tip: To discover truly Suzhou flavors in Pingjiang Road, meander through the peripheral alleys rather than only traversing the main street!

Be careful about the 'food filter' being too thick!
-松鹤楼 (Song He Lou) along PING QIAN Street, a famous old brand food restaurant, sells its specialty "squirrel-shaped carp" (carp shaped like squirrel tails and sweet-sour flavored) for 288 yuan per piece! Locals secretly say it doesn't compete with another local favorite "Wumen Renjia".

• In queues, it takes at least one hour for “muted” fried buns (a type of Suzhou specialty dish where the bottom of the pastry is burnt crisp), yet when finally tasted — Where’s the broth?! (a play on words that it may not have much gravy or even less than expected.)
• Some 'famous restaurants' along Pingjiang Road sell “dehydrated crab” noodles for a stunning 98 yuan per bowl! But are you sure that's still of premium quality or just a frozen substitute trying to pass as freshly picked? Their fishy taste is truly remarkable!
  ️ Warning: Beware of the so-called trendy restaurants. It's wise to trust recommendations from local people or find small, unassuming places with huge crowds. Be cautious about uniquely expensive dishes!

Check this 'hole-less' tour itinerary!
Day 1: Traditional Gardens & Alleys to Stroll Through

• Humble Administrator's Garden → Suzhou Museum (designed by Prof. Ieoh Ming Pei, very modern!) → Lion Grove Garden (with its maze-like artificial mountains) → Pingjiang Lane (for walking and tasting local delicacies) → Ouyuan Garden (to explore boat wedding experiences) → Shantang Street Night Scenes (the lanterns really shine!)
  Day 2: Appreciate the Cultural and Natural Beauty of Tai Lake
• Cigu Chan Temple (with exquisite ancient figurines) → Lu Xiang Ancient Villages (genuine ancient villages) → Dayin Bay Bridge (wonderful scenic views along Taihu Lake) → Qi Yuan Garden (a garden overlooking Taihu Lake's banks) → Dong Shan Carved House (magnificent wood and stone carvings) → Jinji Lake Sunset (Sunset point symbolizing Suzhou's new district, so picturesque)
  Day 3: Transcendental Tour through UNESCO Heritage Sites
• Liuyuan Garden (also a world cultural heritage site, with refined and detailed architecture) → Western Temple (feed pigeons and kitties there) → Tiger Hill (aka “The first mountain in Wu County,” the Chinese Eiffel Tower equivalent) → Wuzhong Museum (great place to learn more about Suzhou History) → Niushan Garden Night Scene (appreciate the gardens at night)

Where to stay? Here are my suggestions!

• First option: Location is excellent — right inside PING QIAN Street, easy access to anywhere. With a big projector screen and premium membership on video streaming platforms, your evenings will be comfortable lounging on bed, watching films with takeaway food better than any cinema experience!
• Guests can try Hanfu (ancient Chinese traditional clothes) for photo shoots, and creating traditional fans. Those embroidered dresses look so pretty — every shot exudes charm!
• Amazingly, there are friendly cats roaming the store, petting them immediately uplifts your mood!
• Second option: Location is just as convenient — near the core area of PING QIAN Street, only a few-minute walk from Humble Administrator's Garden, Pingjiang Lane, and Shantang Street. This accommodation with a king-size bed offers utmost comfortable stay, spacious rooms designed with modern decor infused with Suzhou's traditional elements, featuring the same large projector screen like the first place.
• Management service goes beyond expectations! Complimentary fruits are provided daily, and guests will receive a small token of appreciation when leaving. They're reasonably priced options too.

I hope these ‘straight talk’ insights have helped you! Enjoy the trip most importantly and keep making beautiful moments!