SuzhouJin Ji Lake in Suzhou
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Suzhou_Industrial_Park_%28SIP%29_-_West_Bank_of_Jin_Ji_Lake.jpg
Author: Donaldytong
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Suzhou is a city in Jiangsu Province on the shores of Lake Taihu, near the mouth of the Yangtze River in China. It is a heritage-rich city famous for its canals, stone bridges, pagodas and Chinese gardens.

The modern urban center of Suzhou has a population of 2.4 million people as of 2008 within a prefecture-level city boundary with 6.3 million inhabitants.

Suzhou is one of the oldest cities in the Yangtze Basin. The area surrounding the city has been settled as early as 2,500 years ago, during the late Shang Dynasty. The city was founded by King Helu of the State of Wu in 514 BC, and was known as the Great City of Helu.

Humble Administrators GardenHumble Administrators Garden
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Author: Peripitus
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The State of Wu was vanquished by the State of Yue in 473 BC, and it in turn was vanquished by the State of Chu in 306 BC. With the fall of the State of Yue, so too the fortune of ancient Suzhou, with all that remains of that era being remnants of very old city walls and an ancient gate.

During the Qin Dynasty, Suzhou was known as Wu County. The overthrow of the Qin Dynasty took place in Suzhou in 209 BC.

Suzhou got its present name in AD 589, during the Sui Dynasty. It was during this period that the Grand Canal was completed, linking Beijing to Hangzhou, over a distance of 1,776 kilometers (1,103 miles). As Suzhou happened to be on the route of the canal, it benefitted greatly from the resulting commerce that passed through.

Suzhou, Jiangsu ProvinceSuzhou, Jiangsu Province
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Overcast_Suzhou_March_2009.JPG
Author: Peripitus
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The Shantung Canal was constructed in AD 825, during the Tang Dynasty, to link Suzhou to Huqiu. Then in AD 1035, the Temple of Confucius was built. The prosperity came to an abrupt end when in 1130, the Jinn Army (ancestors of the Manchus) ransacked Suzhou. This was followed by the Mongol invasion of 1275.

Within a century, Suzhou bounced back, becoming in 1356 the capital of rebel Zhang Shicheng in the fight against the Mongols. Zhang's rival Zhu Yuanzhang, who eventually ascended the throne as the Hongwu Emperor, first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, attacked and destroyed Zhang's stronghold, the walled city of ancient Suzhou. He then imposed heavy taxes on its inhabitants.

Panmen Scenic Area, SuzhouPanmen Scenic Area, Suzhou
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Author: Chinatravelsavvy
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Despite the heavy taxes imposed by the Nanjing-based Ming government, Suzhou began to prosper. This is reflected in the many Chinese gardens that were constructed during this period and the subsequent Qing Dynasty.

The Japanese Occupation of World War II laid waste many of Suzhou's fabulous gardens. They were only restored in the 1950's.

Suzhou's cultural and historical heritage were recognised when the government of China listed it as one of the four ancient cities of China, together with Beijing, Hangzhou and Guilin.

Suzhou is today celebrated for its classical Chinese gardens. The Classical Gardens of Suzhou was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1997.

Suzhou CanalSuzhou Canal
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Suzhoupic12.jpg
Author: d'n'c
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Travel to Suzhou

By Plane
The most convenient way to reach Suzhou is via Shanghai. Although it has its own airport, the number of flights going to Suzhou is quite limited.

If you are arriving by flight from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, you can take a shuttle bus to Suzhou. The fare is ¥82. There are also shuttle buses from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport for ¥50.

By Train
Suzhou is on the route of the Shanghai-Beijing railroad. There are frequent high-speed D-trains from Nanjing (¥67, 1 hour 40 minutes) and Shanghai (¥26, 40 minutes), as well as from Hangzhou, Hefei, Beijing and Wuhan. The Suzhou Railway Station is on the north side of the city.

Panmen Water Gate, SuzhouPanmen Water Gate, Suzhou
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panmen_2.jpg
Author: Chinatravelsavvy
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Budget Travel within Suzhou

Probably the best way to explore Suzhou is to go on foot. When the distances are too far, you can hail a taxi. The fare starts at ¥10 for the first 3 kilometers, and thereafter ¥2.50 for every subsequent kilometer. The taxi drivers in Suzhou are rather poor in their local knowledge, so it helps to get your destination written down in Chinese.

Classical Gardens of Suzhou

  1. Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuo Zheng Yuan)
    The biggest and finest classical Chinese garden in Suzhou.

  2. Garden of the Master of Nets (Wang Shi Yuan)
    The smallest but said to be the most beautiful and well-proportioned classical Chinese garden in Suzhou.

  3. Lingering Garden (Liu Yuan)
    One of the biggest and important classical Chinese garden in Suzhou.

  4. West Garden (Xi Yuan)
    A Buddhist temple in a garden setting.

  5. Lion Forest Garden (Shi Zi Lin)
    One of the four great classical Chinese gardens of Suzhou.

  6. Garden of Cultivation (Yi Pu Garden)
    Another beautiful garden in Suzhou.

  7. Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty (Huanxiu Shanzhuang)
    One of the beautiful rock-and-water gardens in Suzhou.

  8. Surging Wave Pavilion Garden (Canglang Ting)
    One of the oldest of Suzhou's private gardens.

  9. Couple's Garden Retreat (Ou Yuan)
    Garden with rockeries, pool and open pavilion.

  10. Retreat and Reflection Garden (Tui Si Yuan)
    A garden located in the town of Tongli, 30 km from Suzhou.

  11. Tarrying Garden (Wufeng Xianguan)
    Garden outside Changmen Gate.

  12. Garden of Pleasure (Yi Yuan)
    Very small garden in the heart of downtown Suzhou.

  13. Former Residence of Yu Yue
    The unpretentious abode of poet scholar Yu Yue.

  14. Pan Men Scenic Area
    An area in Suzhou with many historical sights.

Nature Sights

  1. Huqiu Shan (Tiger Hill)
    Hill on the northwest of Suzhou, burial place of Helu, the King of Wu, founder of Suzhou.

  2. Temples in Suzhou
  3. Beisi Ta (North Pagoda)
    A towering 76-meter pagoda which is one of the big tourist attractions of Suzhou.

  4. Confucius Temple
    Temple established in the Song Dynasty.

  5. Hanshan Si (Cold Mountain Temple)
    Temple close to the Grand Canal.

  6. Huqiu Tower
    One of the few remaining pagodas of its type, first built in the Song Dynasty.

  7. Shuang Ta (Twin Pagoda)
    A pair of 30-meter-tall pagodas from the early Song era.

  8. Temple of Mystery (Xuanmiao Guan)
    Temple founded in the Jin Dynasty with the largest ancient Taoist hall in China.

Museums in Suzhou

  1. Suzhou Silk Museum
    Museum that chronicles the history of silk production.

  2. Suzhou Museum
    Museum housed in a villa adjoining the Humble Administrator's Garden.

  3. Museum of Opera & Theater
    Museum dedicated to displaying the musical instruments, manuscripts and costumes related to the performing arts.

  4. Silk Embroidery Research Institute
    Institute dedicated to the development of silk embroidery work.

Nearby Interesting Towns

  1. Tongli
    25 km (16 miles) to the southeast of Suzhou, with houses open out to a network of canals.

  2. Zhouzhuang
    20 km (12 miles) to the west of Shanghai, reachable from Suzhou, with charming Old Town.

  3. Wuxi
    40 km (25 miles) northwest of Suzhou, with scenic Tai Hu (Lake Tai).

  4. Tai Hu
    5 km (3 miles) southwest of Wuxi, one of the largest lakes in China.

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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

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