Suzhou

Tranquil gardens and regal canals trace China’s history in Suzhou

All arching bridges and tranquil reflections, Suzhou’s canals, waterways and stately gardens have earned it a well-deserved moniker as the ‘Venice of China’. Ancient water towns with glowing lanterns, bobbing boats and labyrinthine streets are a living glimpse into the city’s 2000-year history, while its artfully landscaped gardens offer serenity and calm.

Things to do

LANDMARKS
Legendary for its three-degree lean, the seven-tiered Tiger Hill Pagoda is the oldest and largest pagoda in the southern Yangtze area. Over 600 bonsai trees surround the hill it stands on, and its gardens host flower shows in spring and autumn. Equally pristine are the city’s 80 classical gardens. Each offers manicured perfection, from the bridges and koi-ponds of the ‘Humble Administrator’s Garden’, to the tumbling rockeries of the ‘Lion Grove Garden’.

FOOD AND DRINK
Start your culinary journey at a traditional wood-framed tea-house in Tongli district, then hail a passing boat to tour café-lined canals until something delicious catches your eye. Cobbled streets and winding alleys reveal enticing street-food vendors and tiny local eateries, pots bubbling, grills smoking, teacups tinkling. Try hearty broths, dumplings, wontons, sticky noodles, Chinese donuts and pancakes: the city offers an endless maze of mouth-watering dishes.

HISTORY

Suzhou’s ancient wealth stemmed from its impressive silk industry, and visitors can still see real silkworms in action at the Suzhou No 1 Silk Factory. Or try an evening at the Kunqu Opera for a sweeping immersion into Suzhou’s wider history, brought vividly to life by intricately costumed performers and graceful choreography. A visit to the Suzhou Museum meanwhile promises a rich display of cultural relics, ancient art and calligraphy from the Song, Ming and Qing dynasties.