Top 50 Best Things to Do in Suzhou

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方圳海

To truly appreciate a garden, one must experience it firsthand. The Humble Administrator's Garden is grand, and its waterside landscaping has been seen countless times in textbooks, but nothing compares to visiting it in person, exploring among the artificial hills and rocks, and lingering before the waterside pavilions and flower windows. This is a masterpiece of Suzhou gardens.

果果旅行日记（穷游版）

📍Suzhou • Hanshan Temple The moon sets, crows caw, frost fills the sky; River maples and fishing lights reflect my sorrowful sleep. Outside Gusu city lies Hanshan Temple; At midnight, the bell tolls to the traveler's boat. My impression of Hanshan Temple probably all comes from this poem, "A Night Mooring at Maple Bridge." You should definitely visit Hanshan Temple at least once in a while—a pure land, three sticks of incense—may all your wishes come true, and all your hopes be fulfilled. 📍Address: No. 24, Hanshan Temple Lane, Gusu District, Suzhou City📍 🎫Ticket Price: 💰20 RMB (No reservation required‼️) 🚗Transportation: 🚌Take a bus to Heshanqiao Station or Laifengqiao Station; multiple bus lines are available! Heshanqiao Line: 301, 307, 313, 324, 33 Laifengqiao Line: 10, 324, 406, 45, 9, 931 🚇Take the subway to Line 1, Exit 3 of Xihuanlukou Station. Walk or transfer to a bus/cycling! 🅿️If driving, you can navigate to the parking lot at the west gate of Hanshan Temple, but parking is limited, so arrive early! ⏰ Don't miss the opening hours: 7:30-16:30 (Last entry at 16:00, park closes at 16:30) 🔁Tour Route: Bell Garden → Huaxia Poetry Stele → Enter through the West Gate → Vegetarian Restaurant → Copying Sutras → Counting Arhats → Mahavira Hall → Ringing the Bell for Blessings → Backyard Pagoda → Feeding Koi Fish 🐟 → Guanyin Peak Notes for Visiting: 1️⃣Bring some cash as a backup! 💵 2️⃣ The popular photo spot, "Hanshan Temple," is located at the West Gate. Don't forget to take a picture! 📸 3️⃣ Koi Fish Area: 10 yuan/bag of fish food. Touch the koi for good luck! 🍀 4️⃣ Bell Ringing for Blessings: 5 yuan for 3 rings inside the temple, 20 yuan for 3 rings outside the temple. The melodious bell sound will dispel your worries! 🔔 5️⃣ Incense Burning for Blessings: Family portrait incense is 80 yuan/set. You can also bring your own incense. Pray clockwise in all four directions for peace, studies, and marriage! 🙏 6️⃣ Touching the Pixiu: Left for wealth, right for protection. Remember to touch it! 💰 7️⃣ Fortune Telling: Fortune telling costs 20 yuan (cash only). See how your fortune turns out! 🔮 8️⃣ Vegetarian Restaurant: Try the vegetarian noodles, around 18-25 yuan, and you can get free refills! 🍜 📌Tips: ⚠️When entering the temple, don't step on the threshold; just follow the flow of people. ⚠️Dress appropriately; avoid outlandish clothing. ⚠️Remember to come back and give thanks if your wish comes true!

M30***11

• Cultural Value: The Lion Grove Garden is a temple garden that integrates the principles of Zen Buddhism and the pleasures of gardens, embodying the fusion of traditional garden design techniques and Buddhist thought. It was included in the supplementary list of nominees for World Heritage status in 1997 and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.

138***16

I took my parents on a winter trip to Tiger Hill. This season is like a palette of colors—yellow, red, and green—it's absolutely beautiful, dazzling under the sunlight. Tiger Hill seems to have been expanded a lot; a complete walk around takes at least half a day, but it was a wonderful experience. After that, we walked to Shantang Street. The Seven-Mile Shantang Street still looks just like it did when I was a child.

M27***06

Lingering Garden is known for its "small but beautiful landscapes, with many scenic spots within a small space." Pavilions and terraces are reflected in the clear water, strange peaks and rocks hide tranquility, and plaques and couplets contain profound meaning. Strolling through it, one can fully appreciate the elegance and charm of Jiangnan gardens.

Anonymous user

Zhouzhuang is one of the six ancient towns in Jiangnan and is also known as the No. 1 water town in China. I came early Monday morning, and the ticket price was half the price of a weekend ticket. There weren't too many people, and the scenery was still beautiful, with its small bridges and flowing water. However, it felt a bit too commercialized.

_We***28

The teacher's explanation was excellent. I took my child there, and the explanation was very detailed. It had a different focus than the explanations I've had at other museums, and I learned a lot more.

Anonymous user

I visited Tuisi Garden and the Three Bridges in Tongli Ancient Town 20 years ago. This time, it seemed there were fewer tourists, but the scenic area was more spacious and orderly. This was my first time visiting Pearl Tower Scenic Area. It has a story behind it, and the sound of Suzhou storytelling performances could be heard from time to time. It was a good experience, and there were also quite a few newlyweds dressed up for photos.

海月心

In the Zhenqu Garden at night, the melodious sound of flutes and the gentle singing fill the air. Leaning on the railing, one can savor the elegant tunes and let one's thoughts wander freely. To complete this, enjoy a soft and chewy Suzhou pastry and a cup of fragrant jasmine tea—how wonderful! Turning around suddenly, the sound of a piano, like a spring or a mountain path, rises softly in the garden. A girl, as melancholy as a lilac, holds an oil-paper umbrella and drifts past us like a dream. Let us follow the river of time and savor these cultural products that carry the deep warmth of Suzhou's nostalgia!

M53***63

The scenery at the Master of the Nets Garden is exceptionally beautiful, with stunning views at every turn. The reflections in the water are a distinctive feature of the garden, making it a perfect spot for taking photos in a traditional Chinese style. A highly recommended garden to visit when in Suzhou. A very satisfying trip indeed! Highly recommend everyone to check it out.