Joanna James
Suzhou is renowned for its extraordinary heritage. Nicknamed the Venice of the East – owing to its many canals – Suzhou puts up a right competition for the trinity Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.
The city is known for its art and cultural scene. No less than 6 million people reside in the modern parts of the city, and the old parts of the city still feature canals flanked by traditional whitewashed buildings, stone bridges and amazing gardens. The main highlight of the city is its elegant, historic gardens which draw thousands of sightseers: nine of the gardens have been declared world heritage sites by UNESCO. Suzhou is also a renowned site for silk production, and on your tour, you'll find a museum dedicated entirely to the craft.
Accommodation Suzhou abounds on account of the influx of tourists. Most of the hotels are located within walking distance of the city's main attractions; one example would be Ascott Midtown Suzhou. The hotels are surrounded by restaurants, shopping malls, shops and other highlights of the city; you don't have to wander far away if you feel like sampling a new dish or doing a bit of shopping.
Despite being a major travel destination, Suzhou is not facilitated with its own airport. You can emulate other travellers and use the airports in Shanghai: tourists often use Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. Hongqiao Airport is located within 86 kilometres of Suzhou. After arriving at the airport, you can walk up to the nearby railway station and take the bullet train; you'll reach Suzhou in no more than 30 minutes. Pudong International Airport, on the other hand, is located 120 kilometres away; there are airport buses that'll take you to Suzhou within three hours.
There are two main modes of transportation in China: bus and train – this applies to every part of China including Suzhou; though you should be cautious about your personal safety and your belongings when using these two transport modes. There are two train stations in Suzhou, one is the Suzhou West Railway Station, and the other is the Suzhou Railway Station. There are two types of buses: speedy and regular. Needless to say that the speedy ones are faster than the regular ones, and they are better in condition too. Also, you have four bus stations in Suzhou.
This is another way of getting around in Suzhou. Taxis abound in the city, and the drivers are quite amiable. They won't shy away from helping you figure out where you want to go or the location of your hotel. Nonetheless, you don't have to worry about getting back to your hotel; once you've checked into your hotel, you'll be given a card stating the name of the hotel and location, if you have trouble finding your way back, you can show that card to the driver.
The city has many bus lines connected to every corner of the area. Travelling by bus is the best and the least costly way of travelling within the city. It costs you one Yuan per trip, and you need to keep the exact amount with you; if you give them a larger denote, you won't get the balance.
Despite recent developments in the local transport industry, locals still like to travel by bicycle. If you are up to it, you can rent a bicycle and do the same, not to mention what a great way it is to explore the city.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
