Jiang Nan (jiāng nán 江南) literally means the south of the lower reaches of the Yangze River. In the ancient time, Jiang Nan is the symbol of well-developed and prosperous culture and rich and popular river-side living style. Nowadays, Jiang Nan mainly refers to Shanghai (shàng hǎi 上海), southern part of Jiangsu (jiāng sū 江苏) Province and Northern part of Zhejiang (zhè jiāng 浙江) Province, which mainly include Shanghai, Hangzhou (háng zhōu 杭州), Shaoxing (shào xīng 绍兴), Suzhou(sū zhōu 苏州) and Wuxi (wú xī 无锡), etc. Jiang Nan is famous for its beautiful river-side scenery and splendid culture, and attracts a huge number of tourists home and abroad every year. Late spring and early summer is the best time to visit Jiang Nan, as everything is booming in this period, you can experience a hot Jiang Nan. So do not hesitate to follow us and let’s start the journey to Jiang Nan.
 
Suzhou (苏州)
 

There is an old Chinese saying that “Above is Heaven, and under is Su Hang”. And the “Su” refers to Suzhou. Suzhou is in the lower reaches of the Yangtze and on the shores of Lake Tai (tài hú 太湖), with a history of 2500 years. The natural scenery of hills and waters in Suzhou is as charming as a delicate beauty. Of the whole area, 10 percent is cultivated fields, 30 percent hills, and the rest covered with water. As a poem describes, “On arriving in Suzhou you beholds: Houses are all pillowed on water’s edge.” The gentle waters make the prominent urban scenery.

Transportation (How to get to Suzhou)
By air
There is no airport in Suzhou, so you can first arrive at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (shàng hǎi hóng qiáo jī chǎng 上海虹桥机场), Pudong Airport (shàng hǎi pǔ dōng jī chǎng 上海浦东机场), by air and then go to Suzhou by shuttle bus.
The following are the information about shuttle bus.
From Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Suzhou.
The departure time: 10:00,11:00,12:00,13:00,14:00,15:00,15:50,16:30,17:20, 18:00,19:00 and 20:00 Fee: RMB 50 per person.
Time: one hour

From Shanghai Pudong Airport to Suzhou
The departure time: 10:50,11:50,12:50,13:50,14:40,15:20,16:10,16:50,17:50,18:50,
Fee: RMB 80 per person.
Time: two hours and hour.

By train
Almost all the trains on the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway stop at Suzhou. Some of them depart from Suzhou, and many of them are trains to Shanghai, via Suzhou. An interval between two trains between Suzhou and Shanghai is about 20 minutes on average. The train ticket changes 7 to 22 yuan, and it takes 40 minutes to one hour from Shanghai to Suzhou by train.
The Shanghai-Suzhou trains depart at the new Shanghai Railway Station, and run about 40 minutes to Suzhou.

Train Ticket Offices in Urban Suzhou
8 Taijian Lane, Guanqian Street Tel:65233027
United Ticket Office at 1608 people’s Road Tel:67281223 67296643
Information Center at the Suzhou Railway Station Tel:1601234 67532831 1600

By boat
There are steamboat between Hangzhou and Suzhou. The Suzhou-Hangzhou steamboat leaves Suzhou at about 17:30 and arrives in arrives in Hangzhou at about 6:00 on the next day. All of the steamboats are equipped with air-conditioners, with rooms for two or four passengers, and food and beverages are supplied at the steamboats. Please board the steamboat 30 minutes in advance.
Time: 13 hours.
Address of Ticket Offices: No8, People’s Road, Suzhou (Tel: 65205720)

Attractions in Suzhou
Suzhou is famous for it beautiful natural scenery and historical culture. And the famous spots in Suzhou are as follows:

Lake Tai

The charming Lake Tai, in great expanse of water of moderate depth, dotted with many reefs and isles and surrounded with elegant undulating green hills along crooked shorelines, is of special scenic appeal.

The Classical Gardens
Suzhou has been acknowledged worldwide as “a city of garden”, as when the art of classical gardens reached its zenith, there were 280 gardens in the city. Up to now, 9 of the classical gardens have been registered by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage.
Most of Suzhou gardens used to be privately owned, and unlike the stately and ornate imperial gardens, they are intended to achieve an artistic atmosphere of elegance and ease. In creating the gardens, priority is given to recapture the essence of nature by poetic implications techniques of painting, to fulfill the artistic concept that “man made as they are, the gardens appear like the work of nature.”

The Humble Administrator’s Garden (zhuō zhèng yuán 拙政园)

The Humble Administrator's Garden, covering 5.2 hectares, is built in the Ming (míng 明) Dynasty (1509 AD), and is regarded as one of the four most famous gardens in China and the finest specimen of the classical garden in the area south of the Lower Yangtze.
 

• Admission Fee: RMB70 (16, Apr—30, Oct), RMB 50 (31, Oct—15, Apr)
• Add: No.178, Northeast Street (dōng běi jiē 东北街)
• Bus Route: Tourist Bus No.1, 2, 5 and Bus NO, 202, 313, 923, 40, 78

Lion Grove Garden(狮子林)

The Lion Grove Garden was originally built in the Yuan (yuán 元) Dynasty (1342 AD), and its name was associated with the idea of Buddhism. Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong visited the garden several times and made replicas of the garden in the Yuan Ming Yuan (yuán míng yuán 圆明园) and the Summer Mountain Resort respectively. And Bei Runsheng, the great-uncle of Ieoh Ming Pei once bought the garden in 1917.
The garden is noted for its labyrinthine man-made limestone mountains with winding pathways and caverns as well as pavilions, terraces and towers. A long roofed walkway going round the garden strings all the major buildings together.
 

• Admission Fee: RMB 30 (16, Apr—30, Oct), RMB20 (31, Oct—15, Apr)
• Add: No.23, Yuanlin Road (yuán lín lù 园林路)
• Bus Route: Tourist BusNo.1, 2, 5 and Bus NO, 202, 301, 923, 40, 305

The Lingering Garden (liú yuán 留园)

Covering 2.3 hectares, the Lingering Garden, one of the four most famous gardens in China, was constructed in the Ming Dynasty. The lingering Garden is celebrated for its artistic way of handling the spaces between various architectural forms and garden courts, which have successfully created the feeling of depth. It boasts a good number of very attractive limestone peaks from Lake Tai with imposing shapes.
 

• Admission Fee: RMB40 (16, Apr—30, Oct), RMB 30 (31, Oct—15, Apr)
• Add: No.338, Liuyuan Road (liú yuán lù 留园路)
• Bus Route: Tourist Bus No.1, 2, 3 and Bus NO. 54,85,7,904.

The Garden of Cultivation (yì pǔ 艺圃)

The Garden of Cultivation was built in the Ming Dynasty. It is named the Garden of Cultivation because there are plenty of herbs in the garden. In 2000, it is recorded as the World Cultural Heritage registered by UNESCO. The Garden of Cultivation, affording pleasant, extensive and natural perspectives, still keeps the style of the Ming gardens which was very popular at that time in Southeast China.
 

• Admission Fee: RMB10
• Add: No.5, Wenya Lane (wén yá nòng 文衙弄)
• Bus Route: Tourist Bus No.1 and Bus NO, 204, 313, 301(get off at the Jinmen Bus Station)

The Couple's Garden Retreat (yú yuán 耦园)

The Couple's Garden Retreat is located near the eastern city wall of Suzhou at Xiao Xin Qiao Lane and surrounded by the moat and canals from three sides. It has very special constructional arrangement—it has housing in the middle, flanked by the East and West Gardens, which are linked by unique corridor. It is one of the World Cultural Heritage registered by UNESCO.
 

• Admission Fee: RMB20 (16, Apr—30, Oct), RMB15 (31, Oct—15, Apr)
• Add: No5-9. Xiao Xin Qiao Lane (xiǎo xīn qiáo xiàng 小新桥巷)
• Bus Route: Bus NO 301, 305

The Surging Wave Pavilion (cāng làng tíng 沧浪亭)

Famous for the wilderness of mountain and forest scenery, the Surging Wave Pavilion is the oldest among the existing classical gardens of Suzhou. On the whole the present garden of the Surging Wave Pavilion still keeps the style of the Song Dynasty.
 

• Admission Fee: RMB15 (16, Apr—30, Oct), RMB20 (31, Oct—15, Apr)
• Add: No3. Canglangting Street (cāng làng tíng jiē 沧浪亭街)
• Bus Route: Tourist BusNo.2, 4, 5 and Bus NO. 1, 39, 101, 102, 103,308,309

The Mysterious Taoist Temple (xuán miào guàn 玄妙观)

The Mysterious Taoist Temple is located in the center of Suzhou City, which was built in 276. The most magnificent building of the Mysterious Taoist Temple is the Hall of Three Qings as the main hall which is spacious, towering and solemn. It is a wooden hall building of the Southern Song Dynasty with the largest scale in the south of the Yangtse River and holds a very important position in the history of building of China.
 

• Admission Fee: RMB 10
• Add: Gong Lane, Guanqian Street (guān qián jiē gōng xiàng kǒu 观前街宫巷口)
• Bus Route: Bus NO. 1, 202, 502, 101(get off at the Guanqian Street)
• The Guanqian Street is a busy traditional bazaar all through the ages with stores and stalls of snacks and vaudevilles standing in great numbers. So after visiting the Mysterious Taoist Temple, you can buy some souvenirs.

The Hanshan Temple (hán shān sì 寒山寺)

The Hanshan Temple was originally built during the reign of Tianjan in the Liang (liáng 梁) Dynasty (502—527).With many places of interest and four provincial preservation units of historical and cultural relics in the scenic spot, the humanistic scenes in The Hanshan Temple are plentiful and the natural sights are beautiful.
 

• Admission Fee: RMB 20
• Add: No 24, Hanshan Si Lane (hán shān sì nòng 寒山寺弄)
• Bus Route: Bus NO 313, 406, 9, 10, 931, 324, 45, 301.

The Tiger Hill  (hǔ qiū shān 虎丘山)

Lying to the west of the ancient city of Suzhou with a history of over 2,500 years; the Tiger Hill has the reputation of being No.1 Sight of the Wu region. "It would be a loss if you miss the Tiger Hill in your visit to Suzhou," said the Song poet Su Dongpo (sū dōng pō 苏东坡).
 

• Admission Fee: RMB60 (16, Apr—30, Oct), RMB40 (31, Oct—15, Apr)
• Add: No8. Huqiushan Gate (hǔ qiū shān mén nèi 虎丘山门内)
• Bus Route: Tourist BusNo.1, 2 and Bus NO 8, 32,146,949

Hotels in Suzhou
As tourist development grows in Suzhou, the hotel industry flourishes more and more. It is very easy to find a hotel in Suzhou, ranging from 5 star hotels to youth hostels. Of course, it will be any traveler's first choice to stay in the city center due to the superior geographical location and the convenient transportation.

You can book the star rated hotels on the website www.ctrip.com (it has English version), which has very detailed information
Here we provide some information about youth hostel for you

SuZhou Water Town Youth Hostel
Tel: 0512-65218885 0512-65226863
Add: 27 Dashitou Lane,Renmin Road,SuZhou,JiangSu,China (苏州人民路大石头巷27号)
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
You can get detailed information and book room on its website: http://www.watertownhostel.com

Mingtown-Suzhou Youth Hostel (苏州明堂青年旅舍)
Tel: 0512-65816869
Add: No.28 Pingjiang Rd, Suzhou (苏州市平江路28号 )
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
You can get detailed information and book room on its website:
http://www.yhachina.com

Food in Suzhou
Suzhou cuisine is one of the famous culinary arts in China. Suzhou food has four features: fresh; elaborate preparations and sophisticated way of cooking; It is not only delicious but extremely elegant in appearance also; and various ways of cooking one kind of food.

Yeshouhe Tea Refreshment and Candy (yè shòu hé 叶受和)

Originally named Yeshouhe Tea Refreshment and Candy Shop, it was founded in the 11th year under Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (the year 1885). Ye id the first to create shrimp-roe dried fish, specially prepared smoked fish, smoked wild ducks and other feature products. His tea refreshments were also made mainly in Suzhou style, with the flavor of his own native land Ningbo added only later. Meticulously made, Yeshouhe's products enjoy high reputation in south of Yangtze River.
 

• Add: No,69 Guanqian Street (guān qián jiē 观前街)
• Open time: 8:30am—9:00pm
• Bus Route: Bus No.202, 204, 923, 529

Huangtianyuan Round Dumpling (huáng tiān yuán 黄天源)

Assorted glutinous rice dumplings Located on the Guanqian Street and founded in the 1st year under Emperor Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty (the year 1821), it is a "Time-honored Store in China" and a "Renowned Chinese Catering Store". Mainly engaged in Suzhou style cakes and rice dumplings, it also operates noodles with associated garnishes on top, wonton and minor snacks as well as related foodstuffs, numbering to over 320 varieties. The greatest characteristic of Huang Tianyuan is to push forward a seasonal variety of pastry each month on the basis of Suzhou's traditional customs, e.g. rice dumplings in January, waist supporting rice cakes in February, green rice dumplings in March and so on..
 

• Add: No,86 Guanqian Street (观前街)
• Open time: 7:00am—8:00pm
• Bus Route: Bus No.202, 204, 923, 529

Caizhizhai Candies (táng guǒ cǎi zhī zhāi 糖果采芝斋)

Suzhou-style candy is regarded as one of the most popular and tasty traditional Chinese sweets. There are 150 different kinds of Suzhou "Caishizhai" candy including. So you can choose what you like in the shop
 

• Add: No,62—1, East Gate of Mysterious Taoist Temple, Guanqian Street (观前街玄妙观东脚门)
• Open time: 8:30am—9:00pm (from Mon to Thurs.), 8:00am—10:00pm (from Fri to Sun.)
• Bus Route: Bus No.202, 204, 923, 529

Rice Fragrance Shop Precious Cake (dào xiāng cūn 稻香村)

The main materials for Precious Cakes are crops, sugars and oil seasoned with some edibles of certain pharmaceutical functions.
The Precious Cake made by Suzhou Rice Fragrance Shop employs a folk recipe and compounds with food and such medicines as Chinese yam, hyacinth bean, etc., which could whet the appetite, prevent diseases and protect health. The Precious Cake could serve as dietetic-therapy food, and thus was granted the title of Jiangsu Famed Food.
 

• Add: No,72 Guanqian Street (观前街)
• Open time: 8:30am—10:00pm
• Bus Route: Bus No.202, 204, 923, 529

Zhuhongxing Noodles Restaurant (zhū hóng xīng miàn guǎn 朱鸿兴面馆)

Being a "Time-honored Store in China", it was founded in 1930s, with the reputation of "its noodle varieties being well-known in the region from Nanjing to Shanghai".

Luyang Wonton Restaurant (lǜ yáng hún dùn diàn 绿杨馄饨店)

Founded in early 1960s of the 20th century, it wins over its guests by relying on its feature dim sum of superior quality, low price and well-prepared foodstuffs. The three-delicacy chicken soup with wonton, one of its feature varieties, is of a pure clean soup and a heavy delicious chicken taste. And its long-reputed small-steamer meat dumplings are good for its being of thin crust, heavy meat filling, plenty and delicious gravy as well as being fat but not greasy.
 

• Add: No,84, Bifeng Lane (bì fèng fǎng 碧凤坊)
• Bus Route: Bus No. 202,923,529

Shopping in Suzhou

Guanqian Pedestrianized Shopping Street (观前街)

Guanqian Street is name after The Mysterious Taoist Temple. It has a history of more than 150 years and it is well known for many one-century characteristic shops such as Daoxiangcun Confectionery Shop, Qiantaixiang Silk Shop, Huangtianyuan Round Dumpling Shop. Its food street which is located between Taijian Lane and Bifeng Lane is well-known for Suzhou-style Dishes in south of Yangtze River, the National Key Preservation Unit the Mysterious Taoist Temple on the street attracts both home and foreign visitors with its profound Taoism culture.

Shiquan Street (shí quán jiē 十全街)

Shiquan Street in which scattered many Ming-and-Qing-Dynasty-style architectures is located in hotel area in Suzhou ancient city. As tourism of Suzhou is flourishing and old streets here are reconstructed, the rebuilt Shiquan Street looks very brand-new. Suzhou Shiquan Street now has become a far-famed characteristic street for its craftworks and restaurants.
 

• Bus Route: Tourist Bus No 2, and Bus No. 204, 47, 502,931,55,811.

Shilu Pedestrianized Shopping Street (shí lù jiē 石路街)

Shilu Pedestrianized Shopping Street is named after “Store Road” in English as it paved with stone in late Qing Dynasty. The renewed street sprinkled with large-sized musical fountains, towering trees, beautiful neon lights and clean rivers. People can enjoy the leisure life there after doing shopping. The closebtime of the stores on Shi Road is 10:00pm.
 

• Bus Route: Tourist Bus No1,2,3 and BusNo3,45,311,34,313,406,44,442,415,70etc

What you can buy in Suzhou

Padauk Redwood in China's Carving (hóng mù diāo kè 红木雕刻)

Suzhou padauk carving has a long history. It has had the style of simple modeling, upright and straight lines ever since Ming dynasty. It is finished excellently and well polished.






Huzhou Writing Brush (sū zhōu hú bǐ 苏州湖笔)

The Huzhou brush uses only the finest raw materials and expert technology in production. There are more than 300 varieties of brush, classified into six categories and each one made from a different type of hair.



Suzhou Fans (sū shàn 苏扇)



Suzhou fans have a long history and are famous at home and abroad. The exquisite sandalwood fan, folding fan, silk palace fan, paper fan are all characteristic of arts.



Suzhou Embroidery (sū xiù 苏绣）

The pieces of embroidery on characters, animals and flowers, mountains and water are for appreciation. They can also be made into pictures, book marks, a set of hanging scrolls, etc. There are also the varieties of embroidery: single-side embroidery, double-side embroidery of different colors. Double-side embroidery, the specific style of Suzhou embroidery can be appreciated from both sides. Pictures look exactly the same and wonderful on both sides.

Song Brocade (sòng jǐng 宋锦)


Suzhou Song Brocade with its magnificent color, delicate patterns and softness, and it is honored as one of the most famous brocades in China。






Silk Tapestry (kè sī 缂丝)

Silk tapestry is a beautiful and traditionally Chinese textile. The silk tapestry is commonly used in two ways, for daily use as cushions, table-covers, lampshades and book-covers or as art work for decoration.