Suzhou Travel Guide: Classical Gardens, Tiger Hill, Tongli, Pingjiang St, Shantang St and more

[@jeffreysoo8779]

I am planning to travel to Shanghai,Suzhou and Hangzhou alone. Your videos are helpful and informative. Thanks.

[@LoneTravellerX]

It means a lot to me to hear the videos are helpful. Shanghai Suzhou and Hangzhou exceeded my expectations. Very safe, beautiful and vibrant places. Enjoy your time there!

[@samanthasiew9150]

very infomative on how to travel to each location, thank you!

[@LoneTravellerX]

Thanks for watching. I was looking for that information when planning my own trips but it is usually not mentioned in travel videos. So I thought I'll add it in to benefit fellow travellers.

[@willocqlilyho]

Thank you for the very informative naration of sites and how to get there. I am most grateful as I will be travelling solo to Nanjing, Suzhou, Shanghai and Hangzhou and I had watched all your videos. :D

[@LoneTravellerX]

Glad you found the videos useful and hope they help you for your trip planning. Have a amazing time in China!

[@mc8888]

Great Video. Good efforts for including public transport info. Greatly appreciated.

[@LoneTravellerX]

Thanks for watching!

[@dheli1]

I am going to Shanghái 2 feb, thank you for your tips

[@LoneTravellerX]

Thank you! Enjoy your time in Shanghai ☺️

[@wd3650]

This is a very beautuful video

[@LoneTravellerX]

Thanks you for the kind words.

[@caramanchelta9091]

Hi! Thanks for your great videos. I am loving them. I will be travelling to Shanghai and Suzhou. Would you have any recommendation regarding accommodation? I'm looking for a hotel in a traditional chinese house if possible. I was as well interested in Nankin. Thanks

[@LoneTravellerX]

Thanks! I can't recommend a traditional chinese home type hotel as I stayed at Pace Hotel which is a modern affordable chain hotel brand. You can look at the options in Agoda booking site which I do see some accomodations in your preferred category. Hope you can find what you like there. Overall Suzhou hotels are affordable.

[@ameliatan3299]

Hi, thanks so much for your videos! I have found your Shanghai and Suzhou videos so helpful in planning my own trip. I am visiting Shanghai next year and can only do a day trip to either Zhujiajiao water town or suzhou - is there one you'd recommend more? Thank you!

[@LoneTravellerX]

Both are suitable as day trips since they are closeby. I think you need to decide whether you prefer to see formal chinese gardens (Suzhou) or a watertown (Zhujiajiao). Both are pretty unique sites to see if you are from outside of china.

[@akikot.3514]

It was very helpful thank you. I am planning a trip to Shanghai and Suzhou. I have a question. Can I use credit cards or electronic money? Do I need cash?

[@LoneTravellerX]

It is essential to setup Alipay or WeChatPay prior to your trip. I only used Alipay and have not come across any vendors or services that didn't accept it. You only need to link these apps to a credit card. It is not necessary to pre-load any cash into them. As for credit cards, only larger shops, restaurants or hotels accept them. Its always good idea to keep a bit of cash in case you lose your mobile signal to use e-payment. Alipay has in built Didi taxi function which you may need for Suzhou.

[@akikot.3514]

thank you for the advice. Prepare like that. I'm also looking forward to your travel information.thank you.

[@falah9516]

Will it be less crowd if I come in the afternoon or near the closing time ? To Humble Administrator's Garden

[@LoneTravellerX]

Unfortunately I am not sure as I have never tried going in late evening. Might be worth a try if you cannot go very early. There are few people between 7.30am to 9am. But after that tour groups and student groups arrive. Take note last entry is 5pm (March to November) or 4.30pm (November to February) and you should allocate 2 hours here.

[@TaLuLuDAY]

I plan to visit Shanghai (10 days) this late November and I couldn’t decide on the Watertown. I’m also planning to stay at Suzhou for 1-2 nights. Would you recommend Nanxun, Tongli, or Xitang? I plan to wear Hanfu and take a lot of photos too! (I’m skipping hangzhou because I’ve been to Japan already, so I might add Nanjing into my plan instead.)

[@LoneTravellerX]

Nanxun or Tongli are considered the best watertowns. Nanxun is a bit further away than Tongli if you are staying in Suzhou or Shanghai. You can look at the list in video at time 7.44 for comparison.

[@TaLuLuDAY]

@@LoneTravellerX Thanks for such a fast response! Do you think it’s worth it to also visit Tong Li if I’m already visiting Suzhou? I tried to see from the video, but they have similar canals vibe

[@LoneTravellerX]

It depends on what you are looking for. If you like to dress up in hanfu and take some photos, Suzhou Pingjiang street is good enough. It is a busy and touristy place but can find decent angles to take photos with canal and traditional house feel. Along the canals are all shops. This is where i seen most people taking photos in hanfu. Suzhou is a tier 1 city with 5 million residents. So its surrounded by modernity. Suzhou Shantang old street is not as photogenic eventhough it has canal too. Tongli is quieter and peaceful. Still lots of shops along the canal. But side lanes are real resident houses. If you want to see a real watertown, go Tongli. Zhujiajiao is way more commercialised and crowded with tourists. Practically all just shops. Watertowns usually has old area which are besides canals. But they have newer areas that expanded which is basically normal towns. Visiting watertowns mean going to the old traditional areas. If you only have less than 2 days in Suzhou, I think might be too rush to go Tongli.

[@TaLuLuDAY]

@@LoneTravellerX thank you! I’ll skip Zhujiajiao for sure seeing how crowded it is, let me try to make time for Tongli then 😊

[@edgoh4554]

Hi. I’m only making a day trip out to Suzhou from Shanghai. Is it worth going to Tongi? It seems quite far. Was thinking maybe just do Pingxiang Street and Gate to the East/Jinji lake. Would like to hear your views. Thanks

[@sarah-gg4ey]

Tourist bus 1 or 2. Where do u take them? From suzhou train station? Is it operated by some card system or cash? I cant find any information on it. Your videos have bern helpful. Thanks

[@LoneTravellerX]

You can catch all the Y1,2,3,4,5 tourist bus from Suzhou railway station in Gusu district. Not the north (xiangcheng) or new area (hushuguan) railway station. Payment is cash only at 1 or 2 yuan. No change is given, so you should prepare the exact amount ready. Bus announcement or signs are only in chinese, so it might be confusing if you can't understand at least some chinese. You can look at where they stops in this link www.chinadragontours.com/destination/suzhou/transportation

[@tifflim4306]

你好，请问shanghai metro card能用在suzhou metro吗？how much is the bullet train from shanghai to suzhou?

[@LoneTravellerX]

Yes, Shanghai metro card can be used in both Suzhou and Hangzhou metro lines. High speed rail from Shanghai to Suzhou costs about RMB 38 for 2nd class and RMB 62 for first class. Frist class is 4 seats a row, 2nd class is 5 seats a row. Some trains have Business class too.

[@tifflim4306]

@@LoneTravellerX 非常谢谢你的回答！

[@maywong1881]

Can I ask which station from Shanghai to Suzhou.

[@LoneTravellerX]

There are multiple train station in Shanghai. (Shanghai, Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai West). All can get to Suzhou and similarly could be reaching Suzhou or Suzhou North. Choose the one that has suitable timing and close to where you are staying. If you are booking through Trip.com, it will be stated which stations you are getting on and off. Do make sure you go to the one you booked.

[@maywong1881]

@@LoneTravellerX Thank you

[@pebbles5717]

Thank you for your informative videos. Which would you recommend to visit between Suzhou-Tongli or Hangzhou? We only have enough time to visit one city unfortunately 😔

[@LoneTravellerX]

A difficult choice. Most people would pick Hangzhou instead of Suzhou. It is definitely the more famous destination. Westlake is an open outdoor space and it will feel more relaxing. Take the lake cruise and visit the key scenic spots around it. Suzhou is famous for Chinese gardens and may get crowded if you can't go early. Tongli is a quieter and beautiful Watertown. Personally I would pick Suzhou due to my past travels. As I have visited scenic spots in Japan (Lake Kawaguchiko) that gave me the same feeling as Hangzhou. But I have never been to beautiful Chinese gardens and a Watertown.

[@pebbles5717]

Thank you for the reply. Appreciate your shared personal experience and thoughts. I was leaning towards Suzhou/Tongli for the reasons you've mentioned. It'll be something a little different to what we've visited in the past.

[@LoneTravellerX]

Whichever you decide, rest assured both are amazing cities to visit. Especially after seeing the modern mega city of Shanghai. Wish you an enjoyable holiday!

[@kucinggkecil]

How much did the Tongli tickets cost? With the boat, was that included?

[@LoneTravellerX]

The ticket for Tongli is rmb 100 and it allows one time entry to all attractions. Boat rides are paid seperately. It costs rmb 120 a boat for 30 minutes ride. However it can be shared by up to 6 persons including child.

[@kucinggkecil]

@@LoneTravellerX thank you so much for your informations👌🏻

[@raycwm6688]

Is it better to stay at shantang street or pingjiang road?

[@LoneTravellerX]

I would prefer Pingjiang road due to it has a more authentic canal feel. And you can see people dressed up in traditional chinese costumes for photos. It is also walking distance to Humble Administrator Garden and Lion Grove Garden. Shantang would be fine too. Both have a Metro station not too far away (Pingjiang - Lindun road station, Shantang - Shantang street station). Due to price, I stayed near Guanqian street which is another famous food street (but it does not have canal). It is served by Metro - Le Qiao station.

[@raycwm6688]

@@LoneTravellerX Is there more shop in the Pingjiang road area or the Shantang street? Which one is better with more shop at night?🤩

[@LoneTravellerX]

I feel Pingjiang street would have better mix of shops (Food, snacks, souvenirs, clothes). I was at Pingjiang street and Shantang street till 9pm and the crowds are getting less by then. I am guessing the shops closes by 10pm. But it is more lively between 6pm to 9pm.

[@戎毅-d6r]

Hi,I am a journalist from China. Could I have the opportunity to interview you?

[@LoneTravellerX]

I am happy to answer any written travel related or general questions as I already do in my channel. However I do not read or write in chinese. You can send me the questions to my email [e-mail] in english only. Do specify where my answers will be published in. Thanks.

[@debbietan8657]

How early did you reach Tongli?

[@LoneTravellerX]

I reached Tongli around 10.30am after visiting Lingering Garden. Tongli is usually not too crowded even at later hours so you do not need to go early. For Suzhou, first destinations should either be Humble Administrator Garden or Lingering Garden as these are the most popular locations. Arrive there as soon as they open for the best experience. On the otherhand, Zhujiajiao watertown near Shanghai is very crowded. So need to reach there by 9am.

[@duangjaiboonyuen3038]

อยากขอความกรุณาบอกเส้นทางไปวัดฉงหยวนที่ซูโจวได้มั้ยคะขอบพระคุณค่ะ

[@LoneTravellerX]

You can take below Bus Routes. If you take Didi taxi, its about 45 rmb each way from center of Suzhou. 1. Take bus No. 109, 126, 128 and get off "Chongyuansi (chongyuan temple)" station 2. Take bus No. 128, 129 and get off "Chongyuansibei (North Chongyuan Temple)" station 3. Take bus No. 169 and get off "Chongyuansixi (West Chongyuan Temple)" station.

[@cherylchoong987]

Where did u stay in suzhou?

[@LoneTravellerX]

I stayed at a relatively cheap hotel. PACE HOTEL Suzhou Guanqian Branch. One night USD 53. It is clean and new. Only 100 meter from a Metro exit. You can see tge pictures in Agoda.

[@cherylchoong987]

@LoneTravellerX hi would you consider booking your flight from trip and take flights with transit to save cost? I saw some reasonable flight to Shangai during year end ie 25 Dec to 1st Jan about rm1.4k

[@LoneTravellerX]

I have not used Trip.com other than high speed rail in china but I think is a reliable big company. So I think if the deal is good, it is ok.

[@cherylchoong987]

@LoneTravellerX rm1.4k would u think is cheap for year end price? The cons is that I will be made to transit for 2 hrs with this price.

[@LoneTravellerX]

I think it is cheap. My China Southern Airlines return flights from penang to guangzhou then shanghai was Rm2800 or around usd 600. But it includes a transit as there are no direct flight from my city. And it depends which country you are from as well.

[@samsun01]

Not helpful, besides being oversaturated with gardens. This is garden-fatigue, numbs and desensitizes you to what Suzhou is all about. Need more local knowledge of places to go in Suzhou