Suzhou City

Suzhou is a city located in the lower area of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Lake Taihu in the province of Jiangsu, China. The city has gorgeous stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens which have contributed to its status as a great tourist attraction. Since the Song Dynasty, Suzhou has also been an important centre for China's silk industry and continues to hold that prominent position today. The city is part of the Yangtze River Delta region.

Suzhou is one of the oldest towns in the Yangtze Basin. 2500 years ago in the late Shang Dynasty, local tribes who named themselves "Gou Wu," lived in the area which would become the modern city of Suzhou.  In 514 BC, during the Spring and Autumn Period, King Helu of Wu established "Great City of Helu", the ancient name for Suzhou, as his capital.  When the Grand Canal was completed, Suzhou found itself strategically located on a major trade route. In the course of the history of China, it has been a metropolis of industry and commerce on the south-eastern coast of China.

Suzhou has developed into one of the most prosperous cities in China. In the wake of the rapid economic development, a major demolition and reconstruction program has been carried through in the central parts of the ancient city. Where narrow streets, alleys and canals once existed, multi-lane highways and shopping malls have been constructed. Similar developments have also taken place in Beijing and Hangzhou, where very little classical architecture now remains.

International travelers will find it easiest to get to Suzhou directly by flying first into Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport, which handles most of the international traffic into China.  Direct flights to the United States are frequent, with the most common American destinations being San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. Flights from Canadian cities such as Toronto or Vancouver are commercially available.

If you are already in China, it is best to fly into Shanghai’s Hongqiao airport, which handles the majority of the domestic traffic for Shanghai (though some domestic flights land at Pudong as well). Shuofang Airport and Guanfu Airport are also close to Suzhou, but they have very limited services unsuitable for most tourists.

From Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport, the easiest way to get into Suzhou is to take the Jinghu Rail, which runs between Shanghai and Nanjing. Express trains from Shanghai take less than an hour and run many times every day. Trains to Nanjing (the capital of Jiangsu province, in which Suzhou is located) run quite frequently as well, though they take about an hour longer than trains to Shanghai.

Suzhou, as one of the fastest-growing cities in China and has a fairly advanced transportation system. The best way to get to nearby cities is probably by train. Trains are reasonably priced and run quite frequently, especially to the two major nearby cities of Shanghai and Nanjing. It takes about an hour to get to the Shanghai and two hours to get to the Nanjing.

Suzhou is also located on the Yangtze and the Grand Canal, so river travel is sometimes used, especially by tourists. Rooms on overnight boats to Hangzhou, another prime tourist destination, are available for a few hundred RMB, depending on quality of the vessel and room.

Most locals get around the city either by walking or bicycling. Though automobile regulations are somewhat stiffer now, most cars still assume the right-of-way and do not stop for pedestrians or cyclists. Jaywalking is extremely commonplace and often necessary, but make sure you are alert when crossing the streets and try to follow other groups of people to avoid getting hit. Taxis are also fairly cheap and an extremely convenient way of getting around.  Many tourists also rent a bicycle or motorbike.

Today, Suzhou continues to live up to the old proverb. The city is filled with gardens, parks and all sorts of traditional decorations such as pagodas or arched stone bridges that attract vast numbers of tourists each year. The city’s silk and other manufacturing industries are not slouching either; Suzhou, along with the nearby cities of Shanghai and Nanjing, make up one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.

Besides silk crafts, Suzhou is also known for many other arts, among them Chinese opera, wood and jade carving, embroidery, painting and calligraphy. If you want to bring back a souvenir, samples of such works are widely available from local markets and small shops. It is relatively cheap to buy artwork from someone who crafts it while you watch, but be prepared to haggle for goods from small store vendors. This is both beneficial for you and expected by the sellers. If something does not have a tag, the price is negotiable.