In association with Ctrip
Only a short train ride from Shanghai, Suzhou is a timeless option for a weekend getaway. A popular destination for tourists visiting Shanghai or residents of the city here for the long haul, Suzhou boasts classical Chinese gardens, picturesque canals, beautiful historical architecture and a celebrated regional cuisine known for its river fish. If you’ve never been, here are five must-see and -do things in China’s ‘Venice of the East’.
1. Pose in front of the lily ponds at the Humble Administrator’s Garden
There’s no argument that this is Suzhou’s most popular garden, meaning it can get particularly busy over weekends and holidays, but it’s still definitely one for your hit list. Boasting the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Humble Administrator’s Garden is the largest of Suzhou’s gardens, originally built to serve as a private garden by an Imperial Envoy in 1509. With a large lily pond at its centre, as well as a bonsai garden and lots beautiful pavilions and bridges dotted throughout, there are plenty of Insta-perfect photo ops here.
2. Count the stone lions at Lion Grove Garden
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, this classical garden is famous for the limestone rockwork located at its centre, after which the park was named – many of the rocks in the impressive collection are said to look like lions.
3. Take a stroll down Shantang Jie
Following the path of the Shantang River, Shantang Jie is the ideal spot to take in the sights of ancients Suzhou, boasting fine examples of the city’s nationally acclaimed historic architecture. Top off your stroll with a boat ride down the river with Shantang Boat Tours, or check out a traditional kunqu performance and the Shantang Kunqu Theatre.
4. Chow down on a ‘squirrel fish’
A dish named for its (allegedly) squirrel-like appearance, squirrel fish (songshu yu) is arguably one of Suzhou’s most famous exports. The dish features a whole mandarin fish that’s been butterflied, thinly sliced and coated in a corn flour batter then fried, before being doused in sweet and sour sauce.
5. Swing by Mudu Ancient Town
An ancient water town located 15km west of Suzhou, Mudu is celebrated for its ancient gardens, temples and more. According to legend Mudu (木渎) – which translates literally to ‘timber blockage’ – got its name during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC). The king of the Wu Country (current-day Jiangsu Province) was so eager to entrap Xishi – one of four famed beauties of ancient China – that he decided to build a palace for her. Yet the scale of construction was so large that the timber eventually blocked the current in the waterways.
Where to stay… Garden Hotel Suzhou
For a true taste of old Suzhou, treat yourself to a night at the Garden Hotel Suzhou. Located in an historic garden compound, the five-star hotel has a rich history – it was originally the Suzhou residence of Chiang Kai-shek, and the home of his second wife and son in the early 1900s. The hotel also offers daily tours of its grounds.