Suzhou
苏州
Venice of the East
Classical Chinese gardens aren't just pretty - they're philosophical statements in stone and water. Add ancient canals, silk culture, and proximity to Shanghai, and you have China's most refined city.
Suzhou perfected the art of living 2,500 years ago and hasn't stopped since. UNESCO gardens hide behind white walls, water towns preserve Ming Dynasty life, and the modern city hums with tech money and ancient culture. Come for the gardens, stay for the morning tea culture, the opera in Pingjiang Road, and the sunset canal cruises that locals still take.
Master of Nets Garden at night
Special evening performances of Kunqu opera in garden pavilions
Pingjiang Road early morning
Ancient street comes alive with local breakfast vendors and tai chi
Silk Museum workshops
Watch silk being made from cocoon to fabric in working factories
Tongli Water Town
Less touristy than Zhouzhuang, with real residents and morning markets
Tiger Hill at dusk
Locals gather for dancing and music as the pagoda lights up
Skip Humble Administrator's Garden on weekends (packed). Lion Grove Garden is smaller but more intimate. Avoid tourist trap restaurants on Shantang Street - eat where locals do on side streets.
- →Buy a garden pass for multiple gardens - much cheaper than individual tickets
- →Mornings are magical in gardens - arrive at opening time
- →Try Suzhou-style noodles for breakfast - completely different from other regions
- →Take the metro - it's new, clean, and reaches all major sites
- →Stay in a traditional guesthouse in the old town for full experience