Print
Email
Suzhou is a city on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Lake Taihu in the province of Jiangsu, China. The city is renowned for its beautiful stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens which have contributed to its status as a great tourist attraction. Since the Song Dynasty (960-1279), 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. The GDP per capita was ￥79,406 (ca. US$10,087) in 2006, ranked no. 5 among 659 Chinese cities.
History
Suzhou, the cradle of Wu culture, 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. In 496 BC, Helu was buried in Huqiu (Tiger Hill).
In 473 BC Wu was defeated by Yue, a kingdom to the east which was soon annexed by the Chu in 306 BC. The golden era of Suzhou ended with this conquest. Remnants of this culture include remainders of a 2,500 year old city wall and the gate through it at Pan Gate.
By the time of the Qin Dynasty, the city was known as Wu County. Xiang Yu staged his historical uprising here in 209 BC, which contributed to the overthrow of Qin.
During the Sui Dynasty - in 589 AD - the city was renamed Suzhou.
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.
During the Tang Dynasty (825 AD), the great poet Bai Juyi constructed the Shantang Canal (called "Shantang Street") to connect the city with Huqiu for tourists. In 1035 AD, the temple of Confucius was founded by famed poet and writer Fan Zhongyan. It became the venue for imperial civil examinations.
In February 1130, the advancing Jin army from the north ransacked and massacred the city. This was followed by the Mongol invasion (1275) and destruction of the royal city (in the centre of the walled city) in the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (1367).
Thereafter, the city had a more prosperous time. Many of the famous private gardens were constructed by the gentry of the Ming and Qing dynasties. However, the city was to see another disaster in 1860 when Taiping soldiers advanced on and captured the city. In November 1863 the Ever Victorious Army of Charles Gordon recaptured the city from the Taiping forces.
The next crisis that met the city was the Japanese invasion in 1937. Many gardens were devastated by the end of the war. In the early 1950s, restoration was done on gardens such as Zhuo-Zheng Yuan (Humble Administrator's Garden) and Dong Yuan (East Garden) to bring them back to life.
In 1981, this ancient city was listed by the State Council as one of the four cities (the other three being Beijing, Hangzhou and Guilin) where the protection of historical and cultural heritage as well as natural scenery should be treated as a priority project. Since then, with suburban economic projects, Suzhou has developed into one of the most prosperous cities in China.
Classical gardens in Suzhou were added to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997 and 2000. It is possible to make a virtual tour at the UNESCO site in panorama through the wonderful Classical Gardens of Suzhou.
Districts and satellite cities
Suzhou has jurisdiction over (at county level):
Districts: Canglang, Jinchang, Pingjiang, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou High & New Technology Development Zone, Xiangcheng, Wuzhong
County-level cities: Changshu, Taicang, Kunshan, Wujiang, and Zhangjiagang
Landmarks
Xuanmiao Guan (Temple of Mystery) in Suzhou
Pan Gate
Tiger Hill (Huqiu)
Xuanmiao Guan (originally built in 276 AD, rebuilt in 1584)
Huqiu Temple (originally built in 327, rebuilt in 1871)
Cold Mountain Temple (Hanshan Si)
Baodai Bridge (built in 816, rebuilt in 1442)
Shantang Canal (built in 825)
Yunyan Pagoda (built in 961)
Ruiguang Pagoda (built in 1009)
Lingering Garden (Liu Yuan) [4] (built in 1525, rebuilt in 1953)
Master of the Nets Garden (Wang Shi Yuan) (built in the Song Dynasty)
Blue Wave Pavilion (Canglang Ting) [5] (built in 1696)
Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty
Lion Grove Garden (built in 1342)
Garden of Cultivation
The Retreat & Reflection Garden
Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan)
Gate of the Orient, the city's tallest building due for completion in 2007
Suzhou Museum, the newly built museum by I. M. Pei
No.1 Suzhou Silk factory the first silk factory in Suzhou
Transportation
Suzhou is conveniently located on the Jinghu Railway linking Shanghai and Nanjing, the provincial capital, to both of which there is hourly railway service. Suzhou Railway Station is among the busiest passenger stations in China, having 139 trains stopping daily. T-Trains only take 45 minutes to Shanghai and an hour and half to Nanjing. Driving options include the Jiangsu-Shanghai Expressway, the Yangtze Riverine Expressway, the Suzhou-Jiaxin-Hangzhou Expressway.
In 2005, the new Suzhou Outer Ring was completed, linking the peripheral county-level cities of Taicang, Kunshan, and Changshu. By water, Suzhou is connected with Zhangjiagang, Luzhi, Liujia and Changshou.
Although Wuxi Shuofang Airport and Guangfu United Airlines Airport serve as two municipal airports, and the State Council approved of the construction of an airport exclusively serving Suzhou in 2003, air transportation from Suzhou continues to be at Shanghai
Culture
The Yunyan Pagoda, or Huqiu Tower, a tower that is now leaning due to lack of foundational support (half soil, half rock), built during the latter part of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era (907-960 AD).
The Beisi Pagoda of Suzhou, built between 1131 and 1162 during the Song Dynasty (with later renovations), 76 m (243 ft) tall.
Chinese opera: Kunqu originates in the Suzhou region, as does the much later Suzhou Opera. Ballad-singing, or Suzhou pingtan, is a local form of storytelling that mixes singing (accompanied on the pipa) with portions in spoken dialect.
Silk
Handicrafts: Suzhou embroidery, fans, national musical instruments, scroll mounting, lanterns, mahogany furniture, jade carving, silk tapestry, traditional painting pigments of Jiangenxutang Studio, the New Year's wood-block prints of Taohuawu Studio.
Paintings
Calligraphic art
Cuisine: Yangcheng Lake huge crab
Suzhou Silk Hand Embroidery Art
Notable people
Statesmen:
Fan Zhongyan
Yen Chia-kan
Poets:
Fan Chengda (1126-1193 AD)
The Suzhou Ten
Playwrights:
Feng Menglong (1574-1645 AD)
Painters:
Tang Yin
Wen Zhengming
Wen Zhenheng (1585-1645 AD)
Physicists:
Tsung-Dao Lee
Chien-Shiung Wu
Philosophers:
Gu Yanwu
Zhang Taiyan
Others:
Huston Smith
I. M. Pei, architect
Carina Lau, actress
Education
Public institutions having full-time Bachelor's degree programs include:
Suzhou University, also named Soochow University
University of Science and Technology of Suzhou
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Postgraduate Institution
Suzhou Graduate Town (National University of Singapore and Fudan Joint Graduate School, Nanjing University Graduate School, etc.)
Sister cities
Suzhou (including 7 districts and 5 county-level cities under Suzhou's jurisdiction) has more than 50 sister cities, twin towns and provinces:
Venice, Italy
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Ikeda, Osaka, Japan
Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
Portland, Oregon, USA
Tulcea County, Romania
Jeonju, Republic of Korea
Kameoka, Kyoto, Japan
Riga, Latvia
Isma?lia, Egypt
Grenoble, France
Nijmegen, Netherlands
Higashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan
Esbjerg, Denmark
Konstanz, Germany
Taupo, New Zealand
Nabari, Mie, Japan
Porto Alegre, Brazil
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Riihim?ki, Finland
Taebaek, Republic of Korea
Nowy S?cz, Poland
Kiev, Ukraine
Zaporizhia, Ukraine
Logan, Queensland, Australia
Antananarivo, Madagascar
Santiago del Estero Province, Argentina
Vi?a del Mar, Chile
Yeongju, Republic of Korea
Daisen, Tottori, Japan
Riesa, Germany
Rotorua, New Zealand
Santa Lu?ija, Malta
Hirokawa, Fukuoka, Japan
Portland, Victoria, Australia
Eiheiji, Fukui, Japan
Marugame, Kagawa, Japan
Ayabe, Kyoto, Japan
Sendai, Kagoshima, Japan
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Whittier, California, USA
Brest, France
South El Monte, California, USA
Grootfontein, Namibia
Tahara, Aichi, Japan
Tottori, Tottori, Japan
Rosolina, Italy
Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
Bourgoin-Jallieu, France
Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Chiba, Chiba, Japan
Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
Nago, Okinawa, Japan
Get in
By air
Suzhou does not have an airport, but there are direct buses to and from Shanghai's airports. If going to a Shanghai airport from Suzhou, make sure you get the right one; there are two. Both airports have bus transportation directly to Suzhou. See the Shanghai article for details.
By train
Myriad trains leave from Shanghai for Suzhou daily. The cost for a train is： local without air-con ￥13 for an approximately two-hour ride，or ￥26 with air-con for an approximately 20 or 40-minute ride. Make sure to ask for the next earliest arrival time since booking the next new high-speed train often means a 2-hour wait in order to save 20 minutes on the travel time, hence arriving an hour or so later than the slightly slower train.
Trains are sometimes sold out and it would be a good idea to buy tickets ahead of time. There are plenty of travel agencies that sell tickets, especially in Shanghai, although you can also buy tickets at the train station, which has several ticket windows that cater to English speakers.
Here are some helpful timetables. Note that trains with with the D prefix are the high speed trains.
The first column is the train number, the third is the departure time and the fourth is the arrival time in Suzhou. Buying round-trip tickets would not probably save you any money but would save you a lot of trouble.
You can also reach Suzhou by high speed (CRH) or normal train from Nanjing. Suzhou trains leave from the main (North) train station, which is on the subway line.
By bus
Buses leave regularly from the Shanghai Bus Station adjacent to the railway station. The journey is usually about 1hr 30min. Hangzhou is about 2.5 hours by car from Suzhou.
By boat
Between Hangzhou and Suzhou there is an overnight ferry on the Grand Canal, which departs at 5:30pm and arrives around 7:00am.
Riverboats on the Yangtze stop at Suzhou. See Along the Yangtze river.
Get around
* Walking is possible to walk around the city although many will find the distances between some attractions too large to make walking an option. Ask the concierge at your hotel to write out the name of your destination(s), as well as how to get back. Make sure to add your own notes so you know what the translation is.
* Taxis, like in most other Chinese cities, are a safe and easy method to travel around a city. If possible try to have your destination written in Chinese on a piece of paper as this will greatly simplify your journey. Always walk past the touts near stations and tourist attractions and get a taxi from the queue. You may get some great mini-lessons in Chinese language from Suzhou's taxi drivers.
* Bicycles are another option as Suzhou is arranged in a grid-like pattern; navigation is quite easy and bikes can be hired from several locations. Go east from the train station to the traffic circle, south on Renmin Rd. To get to Renmin Lu, cross the canal on the pedestrian bridge due south of the train station, then make your way east to Renmin Lu, you can't miss it. There are two or more bicycle rental places on the right side. WARNING: traffic requires much more respect and attention than in most Western cities.
* Pedicabs are available on most main streets and always near tourist attractions. Negotiate the price before you get in and don't allow the driver to change it once you arrive at your destination, for example, saying 15 and demanding 50. This is a slow means of travel but it allows you to actually see the city while you go somewhere. Despite what you might expect, pedicabs are often more expensive than taxis- and be warned that 99% of Suzhou pedicab drivers are notorious price-gougers, so bargain hard with these guys. Expect to pay a little more in the summer months since the driver is working hard in the heat to take you there.
* Motorcycle Taxis are found the same places as pedicabs, and come with all of the pedicabs' caveats listed above. Suzhou motorcycle taxis are usually filthy, dangerously driven, and relentlessly uncomfortable (the seats are about 12 cm above the floor), and are not recommended.
* Tourist Bus. Suzhou has a network of five tourist buses that are all in Chinese and take you to the tourist attractions throughout the city.
* Limo as in most other cities it is possible to arrange for a car and driver to pick you up. This will cost about 50% more than a taxi but it is more predictable.
See
Landmarks
Freebies
* Soochow (Suzhou) University's Main/Original Campus Take Bus 8 from the Train Station or along North Ren Min Road (south bound) to the end of the line, get off and walk about 300-400 meters to the east. There are also many cheap and good small restaurants westward on Shizi Street (the direction the bus came) that are monitored for their cleanliness by university and health people.
* Ping Jiang Road A beautiful walk along an ancient road paved with hand-cut stones over a thousand years old and lined with shops maintaining traditional architectural styles. The Kunqu Opera Museum and School & the Pintang Museum are along Ping Jiang Road -- admission is free and you can get a cup of tea for 3RMB. Kunqu Opera performances are at 1:30pm on Sundays -- only 10RMB for tea to sit and watch. If you get further north on this road, but south of the museum area, the shops eventually run out and it just becomes a quiet neighborhood again. This may be the best part of all.
* Baita Road (Bai2 Ta3 Lu4) This isn't a tourist attraction just a street that hasn't been developed and so maintains old-style store fronts as they have always been. Start at Renmin Road and head east on Baita West Road. When you cross Lindun Road it becomes Baita East Road; you might want to take a look at the Zoo on the east end. It's only 10 RMB and relatively tolerable by Chinese zoo standards.
Temples
* The North Temple Pagoda
* The Twin Pagodas
* The Hanshan Temple
* The Mysterious Taoist Temple
* Tiger Hill Pagoda and Hill (Yunyan Ta and Huqiu Shan) was built during the Song dynasty from 959 to 961. It is a 48-meter tall brick pagoda with seven stories and eight sides. It is sometimes called the Leaning Tower Pagoda because it leans to the north by 3.5 degrees. Tiger Hill, underneath the Pagoda, is the burial place of He Lu, founder of Suzhou and King of Wu who fell in battle in 496 BCE. The hill dominates the surrounding area, which contains various garden areas and buildings. Two outstanding gardens are the Verdant Mountain Villa (Yongcui Shanzhuang) and the Wan Jing Villa. Tiger Hill is also the former home of architect I. M. Pei, who was born in Suzhou.
Waterside townships
* Tong Li
* Lu Zhi
* Mudu
* Zhouzhuang
Classical Gardens
* The Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuo Zheng Yuan) said to cost a boatload of silver and taken sixteen years to build : Tours through the garden start every 5-10 minutes. Included in the tour is a "Chinese marriage", a look at carved tree roots, followed by a boat ride through the garden canals. Do not do the incense burning/fortune telling thing at the end of your guided tour unless you are really curious, or you think your wishes will be granted if you do so, or you simply enjoy being a fleeced tourist.
* The Garden of the Master of the Nets (Wang Shi Yuan) originally created in 1140, and recreated in 1770 by the bureaucrat Song Zongyuan. The enclosed complex of house and garden is one of the smallest, most beautiful, and most perfectly proportioned in Suzhou.
* The Lingering Garden (Liu Yuan) one of the largest and most important classical gardens in Suzhou and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.
* Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty (Huanxiu Shanzhuang) considered to be among the finest rock and water garden constructions in Suzhou.
* The Lion Grove Garden (Shi Zi Lin) one of the four great gardens of Suzhou and is admired for the incredible collection of pitted, eroded rocks that were greatly appreciated by classical Chinese scholors.
* The Surging Wave Pavilion (Canglangting) one of the oldest of Suzhou's wonderful collection of private or "scholar's" gardens.
* The Retreat and Reflection Garden
Small Classical Gardens Large classical gardens are great to see their majesty while small gardens are quite good for a quick look OR relaxing with a cup of tea in relative quiet. Often local folks are seen enjoying their tea and chatting. The small garden is a living part of the local, yet ancient, culture.
* The Former Residence of Poet and Scholar Yu Yue in the ancient Liuhuafang Block In the central part of the old city near GuanQian Street. Cross RenMin Road to the southwest corner, go south maybe 100 meters along the west side of RM Rd, turn west at the KFC and you will see it on the north side of the alley. Make sure to go all the way towards the back inside the garden to see the best part. 3 to 7rmb for tea and entrance/entrance alone 1.5RMB
* YiPu Garden - The Garden of Cultivation In the northwest corner of the old city -- inside the encircling canal. Ask local shop keepers for help since it is in an ancient block with small alleys/streets. Make sure to go all the way towards the back inside the garden to see the best part. 10RMB
* Tarrying Garden (Wufeng Xianguan) is located outside Changmen Gate in Suzhou City was established in the Ming Dynasty and many parts of it were rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. "Wufeng Xianguan" of the garden is also called "Nanmu Hall" in which there are different kinds of rarely seen furnishings made of nanmu. Mandarin Duck Hall is divided into two parts by a meticulously carved partition.There are varieties of doors and windows in other structures. 10RMB
* The Garden of Pleasure (Pleasence) (Yi Yuan)
* The Couple's Garden Retreat
Hills
* The East Hill
* The West Hill
* The Flat-top Hill
* The Heavenly Pond Hill
* The Commander-in-chief Deng's Hill
* The Delicate Rock Hill
Walking tours
* The Garden of Pleasure/ Pleasence/ Joy (Yi Yuan), Yu Yue's Residence (Yu Yue ), Yi Pu Garden, the North Pagoda (Bei
* Walk form the center of old town, go to east follow Ganjiang east road, then turn left when you go to Lindun road. You will spend one hour and get to Suzhou New Museum. After visit the museum and visit Zhuozheng Garden, you walk follow Baita West Road, then turn right Pingjiang Road, you can visit the Kunqu Opera Museum, Pintan Museum, the two museum tickets are free. After visiting the museum, you can watch a show of Kunqu Opera or Pintan,you can go back to Ganjiang east road. At night, you can go back to the Water Town Youth Hostel in old town.
Riding tours
* Riding Shantang street and Tiger Hill.
Hire a bike from the water town youth hostel, which is located at the center of Suzhou Old Town, it will cost 25 Yuan for whole day including a bottle of water. Follow Yangyu Lane, riding north. Through the Ganjiang west road, you turn left when you get to the Xizongshi road. You will go through the old stone Chang gate, then you will turn right through the bridge of Dusunqiao. When you get to Shantang street, follow it. After half an hour, you will get to Tiger Hill, after visiting the sight, you will turn back to the Suzhou water town hostel.
* Riding Pingjiang Road and Suzhou New Museum.
At morning, you start form water town youth hostel, turn left and go north following Renmin Road, then at once go to the east following the Ganjiang east road, you will turn left and go to north following the Lindun road. It will take you half an hour you will get to Suzhou new museum. Check and put the bike to bike keep store, visit the Suzhou new museum and Zhuozheng garden.Take the bike and ride to Yuanlin road, go to the Baita west road, you go to east and follow Baita west road, and turn right and go to Pingjiang road, you can follow the old street and go to Middle Zhangjiajie lane to visit Pintan museum and Kunqu museum, the two museums are very special and are free to visit. You will maybe spend 5 yuan or 10 yuan to watch a show of Pintan or Kunqu. Return to Guanqian street to have a supper, at night you go back the water town youth hostel and finish the riding.
Do
* Climb up the North Pagoda for a nice view of the city.
* Visit the new Suzhou Museum designed by Ming Pei.
* Visit the Silk Museum and discover the history of Silk making and the 'Silk Road'.
* Visit the Silk Embroidery Research Institute and see the finest embroidery in the world.
* Walk down Ping Jian Road and stop into the Kunqu (Suzhou) Opera school, theater and museum and the Pin Tan Museum. Pin Tan is a local musical tradition with a man and a woman playing traditional instruments and singing. There are nightly performances of Pin Tan at 8pm at the tea house at 793 Shi Quan Rd as well as at other locations.
* Take a boat ride through the city's canals.
Parks
* Suzhou Park on Gong Yuan Road (day time pick up spot for gay men)
Buy
* As a city famed through the ages for its silk embroidery, Suzhou is one of the best places to pick up silk handicrafts. Shopping is good along Shi Quan Street, especially for many souvenirs. The Silk Embroidery Institute is a lively enterprise producing high quality work which you can see on a tour of the facility. The gift shop has prices a little higher than at the street stalls but they will bargain and the quality is much better.
* Suzhou embroidery, fans, musical instruments, scroll mounting, lanterns, mahogany furniture, and jade carving are available at discount prices since they are made or created within the city.
Eat
Suzhou has its own unique, slightly sweet cuisine.
Budget
* Sicily, In the Guanqian (walking street) area very near Renmin Road and Ganjing Road. Very good Italian food at near Chinese prices.
* SuCa Coffee Shop, 357 Shi Quan Street. Nice, light and affordable meals. Their sandwiches are good and the bread is exceptional.
* Vegetarian Food, near corner of Gong Xiang and Furenfang Xiang, across from Christian church. Awesome vegetarian menu (especially the noodle dishes), served at insanely low prices (i.e. hearty dinner for two for 70 RMB.)
* A Bing Cangshu Mutton Soup, 332 Pi Shi Street. Has a long history. People in Suzhou like the soup very much. It is delicious but very cheap--only 20RMB/Person. Eat it once you will twice.
* Let's Rock Hong Kong Restaurant (Hao3 Yue4) , 403 Shi Quan Street. A fun, modern little restaurant with great Hong Kong/Cantonese food. Good dim sum- these folks make a serious Barbecued Pork Bun (Cha Shao Bao). The menu offers lots of quick, inexpensive dishes.
* Good Eats, 694 Shi Quan Street. North American fast foods like wraps, hamburgers, etc.
Mid-range
* Song Helou, 141 Guanqian Jie, The "Pine and Crane" is not just the most famous restaurant in town, but reputedly the oldest in all of China (about 250 years old).
* Jack's Place just off of Shi Quan Street on Wiang Wang Lane. Good Italian food.
* Provence Cafe, about 200 Shi Quan Street in the Dong Wu Hotel complex, Wuyachang.
* Mario's, Ren Min Road near the North Pagoda. Quite good Italian food. There really is a Mario, and he really is Italian. The pasta dish "Rosetta Della Mamma" is a Mario's original and absolutely not to be missed.
* Yun-Gei (Ren Ji) Cantonese Restaurant, intersection of Fenghuang Jie and Shi Quan Jie. A sometimes-raucous local favorite for great Cantonese food.
Splurge
You can go to Li Gong waterside，and you will find the famous Suzhou local food and western food.
Drink
Bars
* Shi Quan Street area is the bar area. It is also the entertainment district for guys looking for a little conversation with gals.
* Guan Qian Walking Street area - Bars, Discos, Movies, Shopping and Temples. Harry's and Southern Cross western style restaurants are on the east end of Guan Qian street about 100 meters south of KFC.
* Zapata's, Rainbowalk, Jinji Lake. Great tex-mex food, Margaritas and view over the lake. Western DJ plays happy tunes from last 4 decades and free tequila pouring on the bar every night.
* The Shamrock Bar, 775 Shi Quan Street. Pretty much the only bar in town, really. Good company, good music, and often some of the better pool players in China. If Jerry the bartender is on duty, ask him to make you a Flaming Lamborghini.
Coffee Shops and Book Bars
* The Minghantang Cafe,in santang Street.,Belongs to Suzhou Minghantang Youth Hostel,a old house more than 400 years old.Good coffee and food. Free wireless Internet. You can meet a lot of friends all over the world.
* The Bookworm [9], Right off Shi Quan Street. Good coffee and food. Free wireless Internet. Good selection of English books to read in the shop or to borrow if you buy a membership. A very nice alternative to relaxing at a bar.
* SuCa Shi Quan Street. Good coffee and food. Free WiFi.
* Provence Cafe about 200 Shi Quan Street in the Dong Wu Hotel complex. Good coffee and food. Free internet for 30 minutes with a meal.
Contact
Suzhou has many free WiFi access points as well as pay (2.5 RMB-per-hour) Internet cafes.
WiFi cafes
The Minghantang Cafe,+86-512-65833331/655565221 in santang Street. Belongs to Suzhou Minghantang Youth Hostel,a old house more than 400 years old.Good coffee and food. Free wireless Internet. You can meet a lot of friends all over the world.
Note: In China you may sit, relax and enjoy cafes and tea houses as long you wish, usually for the cost of one drink/meal.
* Provence Cafe in the Dong Wu Hotel complex, Wuyachang, about 200 Shi Quan St. Internet access for a limited time via a laptop - free with your meal
* SuCa Coffee Shop at 357 Shi Quan St has nice, light and affordable meals. Their sandwiches are good and the bread is exceptional. Free WiFi.
* New Island Cafe many locations throughout Suzhou and China. Free WiFi.
