Things to do in Suzhou

Suzhou, with a history of nearly 2,500 years and known as paradise on earth, is one of China's first national historical and cultural cities and the world's first World Heritage Model City. Representatives of Chinese private gardens, the Suzhou Classical Gardens and the Suzhou section of the Grand Canal, are on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list. During the trip in Suzhou, tourists can tour beautiful gardens, visit museums, have close contact with delicate silk, travel by boat, etc. Here we have selected a few things to do in Suzhou to help you find must-see attractions and explore Suzhou from all perspectives.

Appreciate the most beautiful gardens

Suzhou is known as the city of gardens. Suzhou Private Gardens can date back to the 6th century BC, they are a combination of residence and garden, where you can enjoy the natural beauty while residing here. The Suzhou Classical Gardens are generally recognized as the great masterpieces of world gardening history and nine of them are inscribed in the World Cultural Heritage. Among them, the Humble Administrator's Garden and Lingering Garden are the leaders and pride of Chinese garden culture. Apart from the gardens, you must visit the Suzhou Museum as well. Suzhou Museum is a museum of ancient Chinese art, painting, calligraphy and crafts in Suzhou. It is one of the most visited museums in the world. The folk branch of the museum is located in the Bei Family Ancestral Temple, near the Lion Forest. The New Western Pavilion was designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei and was completed and opened in 2006. The combined exhibition areas of the museum cover approximately 3,600 square meters. The museum houses some 30,000 pieces, including unearthed cultural relics, ancient paintings and calligraphy, and ancient crafts.

Relax in the water towns

Usually, water towns give people a soft and calm impression. It is a good choice to travel to famous water towns to get away from the bustling city and busy work when you want to travel to Suzhou. Zhouzhuang, one of the six ancient towns in Jiangnan area, enjoys the fame of the first water town in China. It is located in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, and is a precious treasure to show the brilliant cultures of the people and the Wu place. It was declared a historical and cultural town in 2003. This town on the banks of the Grand Canal, which connects Suzhou and Shanghai, was a flourishing port dedicated to the silk, ceramics and grain trade. Walking through the ancient streets of Zhouzhuang, you can feel the prosperity of the town's past. Tongli, near Lake Tai, has a history of more than a thousand years. There are a hundred gardens, temples and residences built during the Ming and Qing dynasties in the town. Among many tourist places, the Tuisi Garden was included in the list of World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. This pretty river town, typical of the region, gives you an idea of what Suzhou might have been like in its glory days.

Take a step into the old streets

Pingjiang Street is a historic street and neighborhood in Gusu District northeast of Suzhou, Jiangsu. It is a well-preserved area and is part of the so-called Old Town of Suzhou. Stretching for almost two kilometers through the heart of Suzhou's old town, this narrow street and those that extend from it are lined with well-preserved traditional architecture, shops, tea houses, guesthouses and local houses that give them an ambiance. authentic and old.

See the Kunqu Opera

Kunqu, also known as Kunqu opera, is one of the oldest existing forms of Chinese opera. The Kunqu opera was considered a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2001 by UNESCO, and was definitively inscribed in 2008 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Kunqu Opera is famous for soft and clear voices, beautiful and refined melodies, and perfect combination of dance and acrobatic performances. Kunqu opera is considered the mother of many other traditional operas, influencing Beijing Opera. If you are interested in traditional Chinese culture, you should not miss the performance of Kunqu opera while traveling through Suzhou.

Taking a cruise along the Grand Old Canal

Currently, the permitted cruising section is the ancient city moat. The cruise from Xinshiqiao Pier to Shantang Street is the essence of the entire canal, because you can not only admire the historical towers, but also the prosperous old Shantang Street and the old buildings on the shore. Apart from the above attractions, the night cruise is particularly unforgettable, as the colorful lights, as well as the beautiful singing on the painted boat, all of this is too romantic.