24 Hours Hotline: +86 137-3541-1378
Email:[email protected]
24 Hours Hotline: +86 137-3541-1378
Email:[email protected]
Suzhou is a paradisiacal city in the world. Suzhou is not just famouse for its scenic, artistic landscaping and architecture of gardens, also a paradise for gourmets with its long history and thousands of years of culinary experience and culture. What's more, Suzhou has unique and cultural products and handicrafts, variety of seasonal activities.
Our Special Offer Suzhou Tours cater to everyone's interests, including themes such as Suzhou festivals, four-season's activities, history, culture, food and shopping. Each Suzhou themed tour is customized to fit your interests and includes an expert English-speaking tour guide, air-conditioning vehicle, and good behavior driver. Our tour guides often learn about the interests of guests during the tour, and can custom tailor each itinerary to inspire curiosity regardless of age, or education level.
Suzhou Private Tours have been planning some wonderful Suzhou themed tours that lisetd as below, If you can't find your interested itinerary. All our tours are flexible and enjoyable, you will travel on your own pace. Book the below Suzhou tours and let them exceed your expectations!
Duration：7-8 hours
Attractions(Cities)：Boat Ride on Grand Canal, Rent Rickshaw, Suzhou No. 1 Silk Mill, Shantang Street, Jinji Lake
Tour Style：This Suzhou Tour from Shanghai is perfect for visitors who want to explore the highlights from Shanghai to Suzhou in one day with resonable price. Accompanied by your private local guide, explore the highlights of old and new parts in Suzhou by air-conditioned vehicle, you'll make the most of your time to uncover all the mystious culture and local lifestyle of Suzhou.
Duration：6-8 hours
Attractions(Cities)：Lingering Garden, Panmen Gate, Hanshan Temple, Pingjiang Historic Street, Suzhou No. 1 Silk Mill
Tour Style：Book a small group tour of Suzhou to make the most of your time. An organized group tour is a great way for first-time travelers want to visit as many highlights in one day as possible in a small budget. When you tour in Suzhou, you'll share one experienced guide and a mini-bus with others from all over the world. All entrance fees, guide, mini-bus and lunch are included.
Duration：2-3 hours
Attractions(Cities)：Suzhou Silk Embroidery Research Institute, Handmade Su Embroidery
Tour Style：Su Embroidery is one of China's excellent traditional national crafts. Book a Szuhou tour with us, you'll be amazed by the famous handcraft, Su Embroidery. In addition, you'll have chance to learn how to creat your own Su Embroidery with your private teacher. Hotel or train station pickup & drop-off, entrance fees, Su Embroidery class fee, private transfer and knowledgeable guide are included.
Duration：4-5 hours
Attractions(Cities)： Ceramics Class
Tour Style：Searching for day trip from Shanghai? Take in Suzhou ceramics day tour can have lots of fun! You'll fully explore the history and culture about ceramics with your personal tour guide. Visit various kinds of porcelain potteries, learn how the pottery is made, talk about with the ceramic artist, you're surely in a world of CHINA. You come, you learn and you experience. Train station pickup & drop-off, ceramic making fee, guide and private transfer are included.
Duration：6-8 hours
Attractions(Cities)：Humble Administrator's Garden, Hanshan Temple, Panmen Gate, Pingjiang Historic Street, Suzhou Museum
Tour Style：Join a private high-quality day tour without any shopping stop to get a chance to see a whole buch of city highlights by an insider with private city transfer included. This tour is flexible and customized, ensure you have enough time to visit each attraction, with your local guide, explore virant culture and beautiful scenery at your own pace. All entrance fees, private transfer, hotel or train station pickup & drop-off are included.
Duration：6-7 hours
Attractions(Cities)：Jinji Lake, Ligong Causeway, Zhongshuge Book Store, Suzhou Culture & Arts Center, Ferris Wheel
Tour Style：Book the Best of Suzhou New City Day Tour, do as a local to Suzhou Amusement Land, Lake Tai or Jinji Lake for a fun or relaxing time. When visiting Suzhou, a simply visit to the gardens would miss out everything else the city has to offer. You could visit the industrial park or the new developed area to experience the other side of the city. Suzhou New City Day Tour is designed for travellers who are interested in the modern highlights of Suzhou.
Duration：6 hours
Attractions(Cities)：The Garden of Cultivation, Shiquan Street, Boat Ride on Grand Canal, Suzhou No.1 Silk Factory, Suzhou Kunqu Opera Museum
Tour Style：If you are short of time but would like a quick overview of ancient town of Suzhou, then book our leisure day tour of Suzhou with authentic lunch included. It is a flexible tour that offers a chance to discover the ancient culture & history of Suzhou at your leisure pace. Admire the Garden of Cultivation; Walk down Shiquan Street; Enjoy Boat Ride on Grand Canal; Learn silk culture at Suzhou No.1 Silk Factory and appreciate the traditional Chinese opera like a local.
Duration：2 Days, 1 Night
Attractions(Cities)：Lingering Garden, Tiger Hill, Boat on Grand Canal, Suzhou Silk Mill, Pan Gate, Suzhou Ocean Aquarium...
Tour Style：Searching for a private family tour with kids that offer an easy and flexible pace tailored for every family online? Our 2-Day Suzhou Family Fun Tour is your ideal trip. Suzhou is filled with classic gardens, historical sites, beautiful parks and museums, in addition there are a lot of activities for kids. This private tour covers both city highlights and kid's activities, offers you unique experience that you only have with our tour!
Duration：6-8 hours
Attractions(Cities)：Ouyuan Garden, Panmen Gate, Pingjiang Historic Street, Take Rickshaw, Suzhou No.1 Silk Facoty, Suzhou local flower & bird market
Tour Style：See the very best of the essence of Suzhou and its local lifestyle on a private full-day tour. This private tour covers Ouyuan Garden, Panmen Gate, Suzhou local flower & bird market and much more. What's more, you'll experience the traditional rickshaw ride at the old town of Suzhou to get close to the locas and enjoy its leisure life pace. A visit to the local flower and bird market to see flowers, pets, but also friendly locals.
Duration：5 hours
Attractions(Cities)：Kunqu Opera & Pingtan Show, Kunqu Opera Class ( wear opera costume & opera), Pingjiang Historical Street
Tour Style：Enhance your travel experience by enjoy the show of Pingtan and Kunqu Opera which are regarded as the treasure of Chinese traditional culture and art on a full-day private tour. During this tour, under the guidance of your private teacher, you'll wear traditional opera costumes, learn how to do the actions and perform Kunqu Opera. In addition, enjoy a leisure time to enjoy Pingtan Show while siping a cup of tea.
Duration：2 Days, 1 Night
Attractions(Cities)：Lingering Garden, Ouyuan Garden (Couple's Retreat Garden), Panmen Gate, Suzhou No.1 Silk Factory, Tiger Hill, Tongli Water Town
Tour Style：Take 2 days Suzhou honeymoon trip from shanghai by bullet train to enjoy a good start of your happy marriage,explore the highlight of Suzhou, noted as the 'The City of Garden' & 'The Venice of East' with your knowledgeable Suzhou tour guide.
Duration：5 hours
Attractions(Cities)：Suzhou Industrial Park, Yangcheng Lake Peninsula, Chongyuan Temple, Eco-Sports Park, Sun Island Golf Club, Suzhou Ruohang Heliport, Yi Ou Lai Village
Tour Style：Take one day off and travel to Suzhou from Shanghai by bullet train. Book Suzhou Bike tour is the best choice to explore Suzhou city. Biking around Yangcheng Lake Peninsula in Spring,you'll truly experience the tranquil beauty and get close to Suzhou local people's life with your private tour guide.
Duration：6-8 hours
Attractions(Cities)：Dushu Lake Higher Education Town, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Campus, Soochow University, Moon Bay, Hanlin Neighborhood Center
Tour Style：You will get a clear overview about China's past and present and rapid growth in the golden triangle cities.
Duration：4-5 hours
Attractions(Cities)：Boat Ride on Grand Canal, Panmen Gate, Precious Belt Bridge (Baodai Bridge)
Tour Style：Book a half day Suzhou Tour from Shanghai of Grand Canal Sightseeing Tour to help you explore the longest as well as one of the oldest grand canal in the world and a famous tourist destination.
Duration：6 hours
Attractions(Cities)：Shantang Street, Tiger Hill Wedding Street, Suzhou No.1 Silk Factory, Pingjiang Street, Harmony Times Square, Guanqian Street
Tour Style：Book private suzhou shopping tour from shanghai, accompanied by an expert local tour guide, you'll find the best spots to find the items what your want to purchase on this one day tour. Feel free to let your tour guide know your interests, the tour is 100% flexible for you.
Duration：6 hours
Attractions(Cities)：Guangfu Ancient Town, Boat Ride on Lake Tai, Authentic Meal on the Boat
Tour Style：Eating is one of the best way to get close to a city and its culture and custome,one day suzhou tour of local food tasting will show you the beauty of lake tai and try the anthenic food from the lake.
Duration：8 hours
Attractions(Cities)：Taihu National Wetland Park, Baimajian Ecological Scenic Area
Tour Style：One Day Private Suzhou Lake Tai Sightseeing Tour includes lake tai or taihu lake, lake tai national wetland park and baimajian scenic area with your private tour guide.
Duration：2 Days, 1 Night
Attractions(Cities)：Dongshan Hill Scenic Area, Tea Culture Museum, Diaohualou, Sanshan Island, Luxiang Old Village
Tour Style：Suzhou Two-Day Private Tour of Ecological Picking can help you tour in Lake tai,have a chance to pick tea,learn tea history and experience tranquil beauty of Lake tai.
Duration：6-8 Hours
Attractions(Cities)：Ouyuan Garden, Pingjiang Historic Street, Fengmen Cross Street, Kunqu Opera, Suzhou Antique Market
Tour Style：Book a Private Suzhou local flavor tour,your suzhou tour guide will take you to explore the lifestyle of locals,get close to local's life and culture.
Duration：6 Hours
Attractions(Cities)：Lingering Garden, Celebrate Dragon Boat Festival (Boat Ride Race, Zongzi-Making competition)
Tour Style：Book a Suzhou Private Tour to celebrate Chinese traditional Dragon Boat Festival, watch Boat Ride Races, Join Zongzi-Making Competition and visit Chinese classic garden-Lingering Garden
Duration：6 Hours
Attractions(Cities)：Hot Spring
Tour Style：Private Tour: Suzhou Hot Spring Tour can give you an affordable healthy luxury you can enjoy during the chilling winter months.
Duration：6 -8 Hours
Attractions(Cities)：Shushan Mountain, Could Spring Temple
Tour Style：Book day trip to Suzhou, with your personal tour guide, you'll view the sea of pear blossom in Shushan Mountai, talk with Suzhou locals.
Duration：6-8 Hours
Attractions(Cities)：Tianpingshan, Lingering Garden, Panmen Gate, Pingjiang Historic Street and Suzhou No.1 Silk Mill
Tour Style：Book one day Suzhou red maple tour in Autumn is a great choice for travelers interested in exploring the natural scenery of Hangzhou in one day. Save hours of reserch place and hire a knowledgeable local guide for a hand-packed tour that covers both Suzhou's highlights and hidden gems. This private tour show you the serenity and tranquil beauty of suzhou, visit highlight of suzhou with private tour guide.
1. Where is Suzhou, and how do I get there from nearby cities like Shanghai or Hangzhou?
Suzhou is located in eastern China’s Jiangsu Province, approximately 100 km west of Shanghai and 150 km north of Hangzhou. It is part of the Yangtze River Delta, one of China’s most developed and scenic regions. The most convenient way to get to Suzhou is by high-speed train. From Shanghai, the journey takes only about 30 minutes, while from Hangzhou it takes around 1.5 hours. Trains are frequent and comfortable, and major stations include Suzhou Railway Station (central), Suzhou North, and Suzhou Yuanqu (Industrial Park).
2. When is the best time to visit Suzhou, and what is the typical weather like?
The ideal times to visit Suzhou are during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when temperatures are mild and the gardens are at their most beautiful. Summers (June to August) are hot and humid, while winters (December to February) can be cold and damp. Average temperatures range from 0–8°C (32–46°F) in winter to 28–35°C (82–95°F) in summer. Pack accordingly: light clothing and sunscreen in summer, warm layers in winter, and always bring an umbrella during the rainy season (especially June and July).
3. What are the must-see attractions in Suzhou?
Suzhou is world-famous for its classical Chinese gardens, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Key highlights include the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the Lingering Garden, and the Master of the Nets Garden. Other top sites include:
Tiger Hill – known for its leaning pagoda and ancient tombs
Suzhou Museum – designed by architect I.M. Pei, blending modern and classical aesthetics
Pingjiang Road & Shantang Street – ancient canalside walking streets lined with shops, teahouses, and traditional architecture
Tongli & Zhouzhuang Water Towns – perfect for half-day trips, these ancient towns are famous for stone bridges, canals, and heritage houses
4. Which water town should I visit—Zhouzhuang, Tongli, or Luzhi?
Each of these historic water towns near Suzhou offers a unique experience, and the best one to visit depends on your personal interests and travel style:
Zhouzhuang is the most famous and well-preserved water town in China, often called the “Venice of the East.” It features ancient stone bridges, Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, charming canals, and traditional boat rides. Due to its popularity, it can get crowded, especially on weekends and holidays, and is more commercialized with shops and performances. It’s ideal for first-time visitors who want a lively, iconic experience.
Tongli is quieter and less touristy compared to Zhouzhuang. It has beautiful waterways and old houses, but with a more peaceful atmosphere. A major highlight here is the Retreat and Reflection Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tongli is perfect if you're looking for a more authentic and relaxed experience without too many crowds.
Luzhi is the least commercialized of the three, offering a more local and intimate feel. It's smaller in scale but rich in history and charm. With fewer tourists and simpler infrastructure, Luzhi gives you a closer look at daily life in a traditional water town. It’s a great choice if you value authenticity and want to avoid large tour groups.
Summary:
Choose Zhouzhuang for famous sights and a classic experience.
Choose Tongli for balance—cultural depth with a calm vibe.
Choose Luzhi for authenticity and a quiet, off-the-beaten-path visit.
All three towns are within 30–60 minutes of Suzhou by car, and each can be visited in half a day. Private or guided tours are available for convenient transportation and in-depth exploration.
5. Are Suzhou’s classical gardens worth visiting? Which one is the best?
Yes, Suzhou’s classical gardens are absolutely worth visiting. As UNESCO World Heritage Sites, they showcase the finest of traditional Chinese garden art, blending nature, architecture, and culture in a harmonious way.
The Humble Administrator’s Garden is the largest and most famous—ideal for first-time visitors who want the classic Suzhou garden experience with water features, pavilions, and winding paths.
Other recommended gardens:
Lingering Garden – elegant and well-balanced with beautiful halls and courtyards.
Master of the Nets Garden – small but exquisite, known for evening performances.
Lion Grove Garden – famous for its intricate rockeries and maze-like layout.
Canglang Pavilion – the oldest classical garden in Suzhou, offering a quieter and more natural feel, with a scholarly atmosphere and a deep cultural history.
Each garden has its own character, so if time allows, visiting two or three can give you a fuller experience of Suzhou’s garden culture.
6. Where should I stay in Suzhou? What areas are best for tourists?
For first-time visitors, staying in the Gusu District (the old city area) is ideal, as it’s close to major attractions like the classical gardens, Pingjiang Road, and Shantang Street. This area offers a mix of boutique hotels, traditional guesthouses, and international hotel brands.
For a more modern experience, Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) near Jinji Lake offers luxury hotels, shopping malls, and lakefront walking paths. It’s also well connected by metro and a good base for business travelers or families looking for international-standard amenities.
7. Can I take a day trip to Suzhou from Shanghai or Hangzhou?
Absolutely! Suzhou is a perfect day trip destination from both Shanghai and Hangzhou thanks to its proximity and excellent high-speed rail connections. From Shanghai, you can leave in the morning and return in the evening, with time to visit gardens, museums, and historic streets. A guided tour can help maximize your time and ensure you don’t miss key highlights. If you want a more relaxed experience, consider staying overnight to enjoy Suzhou’s serene nighttime charm.
8. How do I get around Suzhou? Is public transportation convenient?
Yes, Suzhou has a well-developed public transportation system including metro lines, buses, and taxis. The Suzhou Metro currently operates multiple lines that connect major attractions, train stations, and districts, and continues to expand. For tourists, the metro is clean, efficient, and user-friendly, with English signage. Taxis and ride-hailing apps like DiDi are also available and convenient. For short distances and scenic exploration, walking or renting a bike in areas like Pingjiang Road or Jinji Lake is a great option.
Suzhou is famous for its light, sweet, and beautifully presented cuisine. Must-try local dishes include:
Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish – A deep-fried whole fish shaped like a squirrel, served with a sweet and sour sauce.
Suzhou-style Mooncakes – Flaky pastry with savory or sweet fillings, especially popular during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Noodle Soup with Red-Braised Pork – A comforting dish with soft noodles and tender, sweet-salty pork belly.
Steamed White Fish, Sweet Lotus Root, Osmanthus-flavored Rice Balls – Light, fragrant, and seasonal delicacies that reflect Suzhou’s refined culinary culture.
Even if you don’t speak Chinese, ordering food in Suzhou is quite manageable. Many restaurants—especially in tourist areas—offer menus with photos, English translations, or QR-code ordering systems linked to digital menus. You can also use translation apps like Google Translate or Pleco to help you read menus or communicate with staff. Most people are friendly and used to helping foreign visitors, so don’t worry too much.
Tip: Try a local food street like Guanqian Street or join a guided food tour for a deeper culinary experience.
10. Are there vegetarian, halal, or gluten-free food options in Suzhou?
Yes, Suzhou does offer vegetarian, halal, and gluten-free food options, although they may be more limited compared to larger international cities. However, with a bit of planning, travelers with dietary restrictions can still enjoy a great culinary experience.
Vegetarian: Many Buddhist temples and local restaurants serve delicious vegetarian dishes, often made with seasonal vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, and mock meats. Dishes like braised tofu, stir-fried greens, or vegetable dumplings are widely available.
Halal: There are a few halal restaurants in Suzhou, especially around the Suzhou Railway Station or near mosques, serving Xinjiang or Northwestern Chinese cuisine such as lamb skewers, hand-pulled noodles, and flatbreads. Look for the halal sign and inquire to make sure the restaurant follows halal standards.
Gluten-free: While gluten-free options are not always labeled, many rice-based dishes, steamed vegetables, and plain meats can be safe choices. Avoid soy sauce unless labeled gluten-free. It’s best to carry a translated dietary card or use a translation app to explain your needs to the staff.
Tips:
Choose restaurants with English menus or picture menus to make ordering easier.
Use platforms like TripAdvisor, Google Maps, or Dianping to find places with dietary labels and customer reviews.
For peace of mind, consider joining a private food tour where a local guide can help you communicate your dietary needs clearly.
With a little preparation, you can still enjoy a wide variety of Suzhou’s flavors—even with dietary restrictions!
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