Why visit Suzhou
Townapedia lists 68 museums and landmarks, 60 parks and trails, 169 places to eat, 38 places to stay and 29 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Soochow University, Classical Gardens of Suzhou, North Temple Pagoda and Suzhou Museum.
Weather in Suzhou
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About 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.
From the Wikipedia article Suzhou (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Suzhou on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do29
Soochow University
School · 3.9 km
Public university in Suzhou, China
1 十梓街, 苏州市
Classical Gardens of Suzhou
Monument and historic site · 3.8 km
Garden
Jiangnan Social University
School · 11.5 km
School run by the Chinese Ministry of State Security
Jinji Lake
Monument and historic site · 9.2 km
Fresh water lake in Suzhou
Precious Belt Bridge
Bridge · 7.2 km
Stone arch bridge near Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
Soochow University
School · 4.0 km
University in Suzhou, China from 1900 to 1952
Suzhou University of Science and Technology
School · 2.9 km
Public university in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
School · 13.9 km
University in China
Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theatre
Cinema and theater · 3.0 km
9 jiaochangqiao road
17 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks68
North Temple Pagoda
Monument and historic site · 3.0 km
1918 人民路
Mo-Su 07:45-17:30
Suzhou Silk Museum
Museum · 2.9 km
Museum located in Suzhou
2001 人民路, 苏州市
Mo-Su 09:00-17:00
Suzhou Arts and Crafts Museum
Museum · 13.6 km
Museum in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum · 10.9 km
Contemporary art museum in Jiangsu Province, China
Suzhou Museum of Opera and Theatre
Museum · 3.6 km
Museum in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
56 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds60
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48 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes169
素新风·食养自助餐厅(苏州观前店)
Restaurant · Chinese · 2.6 km
31 太监弄
Mo-Su 11:00-13:30
Eight Treasures Handmade Dumplings (Mom's Love)
Restaurant · Chinese · 3.8 km
Mo-Su 10:30-20:30
Vegetarian Buddhist food: One Righteous Hall
Restaurant · Chinese · 3.6 km
平江路 Pingtanluo
Mo-Su 11:30-13:00, 17:30-19:00
157 more on the map.
History
Suzhou, the cradle of Wu culture, is one of the oldest towns in the Yangtze Basin. By the Spring and Autumn period of the Zhou, local Baiyue tribes named the Gou Wu are recorded living in the area which would become the modern city of Suzhou. These tribes formed villages on the edges of the hills above the wetlands surrounding Lake Tai.
Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian records traditional accounts that the Zhou lord Taibo established the state of Wu at nearby Wuxi during the 11th century BC, civilizing the local people and improving their agriculture and mastery of irrigation. The Wu court later moved to Gusu within the area of modern Suzhou. In 514 BC, King Helü of Wu relocated his court nearby and called the settlement Helü City after himself. His minister Wu Zixu was closely involved with its planning and it was this site that grew into present-day Suzhou. The height of his tower on Gusu Hill (Gusutai) passed into Chinese legend. In 496 BC, King Helü was buried at Tiger Hill. In 473 BC, Wu was defeated and annexed by Yue, a kingdom to its southeast; Yue was annexed in turn by Chu in 306 BC. Remnants of the ancient kingdom include pieces of its 2,500-year-old city wall and the gate through it at Pan Gate.
The city was originally laid out according to a symbolic three-by-three grid of nine squares, with the royal palace occupying the central position.
From the History section of Suzhou on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay38
Churches and places of worship27
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows of Suzhou
Church · 1.8 km
Shopping28
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries126
Soochow University (Tiancizhuang Campus North Area)
School · 4.6 km
178 干将东路, 苏州市
Healthcare27
Map of Suzhou
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Suzhou Guangfu Airport (SZV) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 18 km away.
- Mudu 9 km southwest, about 9 min by car
- Songling 17 km southeast, about 17 min by car
- Kunshan 35 km east, about 35 min by car
- Wuxi 41 km northwest, about 41 min by car
- Zhangjiagang 63 km north, about 1 h by car
- Jiaxing 63 km south, about 1 h by car
- Jiangyin 74 km northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Changzhou 80 km northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Shanghai 83 km east, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Nantong 85 km north, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- 东方之门1, 铁头娃蛤蛤, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Exit No. 6 of Guangjinanlu Sta. of Suzhou Metro 20260329, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Exit No. 5 of Guangjinanlu Sta. of Suzhou Metro 20260329, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Exit No. 7 of Guangjinanlu Sta. of Suzhou Metro 20260329, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Suzhou Metro Headquarters near Guangjinanlu Station in China 20260329, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Exit No. 4 of Guangjinanlu Sta. of Suzhou Metro 20260329, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Suzhou Overseas Chinese Hotel 215004 - panoramio (1), Randy Rambo, CC BY 3.0
- Exit No. 1 of Guangjinanlu Sta. of Suzhou Metro 20260329, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Transfer Passage of Guangjinanlu Sta. of Suzhou Rail Transit 20250308 02, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Concourse of Guangjinanlu Sta. of Suzhou Metro Line 20260329, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Transfer Passage of Guangjinanlu Sta. of Suzhou Rail Transit 20250308 01, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Platform (to Mudu) of Guangjinanlu Sta. of Suzhou Metro Line 1 20260329, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Suzhou Overseas Chinese Hotel 215004 - panoramio (6), Randy Rambo, CC BY 3.0
- Suzhou Overseas Chinese Hotel 215004 - panoramio (5), Randy Rambo, CC BY 3.0
- Exit No. 2 of Guangjinanlu Sta. of Suzhou Metro 20260329, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Suzhou Overseas Chinese Hotel 215004 - panoramio (3), Randy Rambo, CC BY 3.0
- Suzhou Overseas Chinese Hotel 215004 - panoramio (4), Randy Rambo, CC BY 3.0
- Platform (to Sangtiandao) of Guangjinanlu Sta. of Suzhou Metro Line 2 20260329, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Transfer Passage of Guangjinanlu Sta. of Suzhou Rail Transit 20250308 03, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Full Platform of Guangjinanlu Sta. of Suzhou Rail Transit 20250308, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Suzhou Overseas Chinese Hotel 215004 - panoramio (7), Randy Rambo, CC BY 3.0
- Suzhou Overseas Chinese Hotel 215004 - panoramio (8), Randy Rambo, CC BY 3.0
- Suzhou Overseas Chinese Hotel 215004 - panoramio (9), Randy Rambo, CC BY 3.0
- Exit No. 9 of Guangjinanlu Sta. of Suzhou Metro 20260329, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Exit No 1 outer of Sanxiangguangc Sta. of Suzhou Rail Transit Line 2 20250308, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Exit No 1 inner of Sanxiangguangc Sta. of Suzhou Rail Transit Line 2 20250308, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Unopened Exit No 3 of Sanxiangguangc Sta. of Suzhou Rail Transit Line 2 20250308, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Exit No 2 outer of Sanxiangguangc Sta. of Suzhou Rail Transit Line 2 20250308, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Exit No 2 inner of Sanxiangguangc Sta. of Suzhou Rail Transit Line 2 20250308, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Platform of Guangji Nanlu Station (Suzhou Metro Line 2) 2, そらみみ (Soramimi), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Platform of Guangji Nanlu Station 2 (Suzhou Metro Line 1), そらみみ (Soramimi), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Exit No. 2 of Tongjingbeilu Sta. of Suzhou Metro Line 1 20260426, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Exit No. 3 of Tongjingbeilu Sta. of Suzhou Metro Line 1 20260426, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Suzhou canal - panoramio, runt35, CC BY 3.0
- Platform (to Mudu) of Tongjingbeilu Sta. of Suzhou Metro Line 1 20260426, 4084470 0.smil, CC BY 4.0
- Gusu, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China - panoramio (223), song songroov, CC BY 3.0
- 20090905 Suzhou Lion Grove Garden 4520, Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) - West Bank of Jin Ji Lake, Donaldytong, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Preciousbeltbridge, Rolf Müller ( User:Rolfmueller ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Campus of XJTLU, SCJiang, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Suzhou Museum - new buildings, This illustration was made by Peter Potrowl . Please credit this with : © Peter Potrowl in the immediate vicinity of the image. A link to my website sitemai.eu would be much appreciated but isn't..., CC BY 3.0
- Suzhou Museum, China (2015) - 16, Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The China Kunqu Museum 180420 01, Ohtashinichiro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Suzhou - Cathedral of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows - 1, This illustration was made by Peter Potrowl . Please credit this with : © Peter Potrowl in the immediate vicinity of the image. A link to my website sitemai.eu would be much appreciated but isn't..., CC BY 3.0
- 20090905 Suzhou North Temple Pagoda 4611, Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20090926 Suzhou Pan Men 5888, Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Suzhou Zhuozheng Yuan 2015.04.23 08-13-49, Zhangzhugang, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Suzhou-Buddha1, Jonas Ericsson, CC BY 3.0
- Suzhou High School gate, Makecat, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Suzhou Chenghuang Miao 2015.04.23 17-27-23, Zhangzhugang, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Couple retreat garden, Original uploader was MYSHEROS at zh.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Garden of cultivation for unesco, Gurdjieff at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Canglang ting UNESCO, Lamassu Design Gurdjieff ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lingering Garden2, 钉钉, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20090905 Suzhou Lion Grove Garden 4502, Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Suzhou Sheng Yuehan Tang 2015.04.23 12-15-08, Zhangzhugang, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Yiyuan, 张骐, Public domain
- Wufengyuan-Taihu stone, Makecat, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 定慧寺, haier7917, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Pingjiang New Town campus)-20260221, Shwangtianyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Suzhou Jiechuanglu Si 2015.04.25 09-30-26, Zhangzhugang, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 苏州开元寺无梁殿（明代）, Haier7917, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Pagoda Suzhou, David Block ( pitti ), CC BY-SA 2.5
- Suzhou Wanshougong 20180418 03, Ohtashinichiro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ChaiYuan Suzhou Museum of Education Gate 20180408, Ohtashinichiro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Zhang Shicheng Memorial Monument 04, Ohtashinichiro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 下津桥 04, Ohtashinichiro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Master of the Nets Garden Suzhou, xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0
- Suzhou Shangzhitang Wuzhai 2015.04.25 12-19-37, Zhangzhugang, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 苏州市立医院本部 Suzhou Municipal Hospital 2019-06, Ohtashinichiro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 66337-Suzhou (49176422263), xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0
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