Suzhou 2-Day Tour: A Relaxing Family Trip Guide

Early December is the best time to enjoy the fall scenery. A weekend trip to Suzhou is a great way to relax and unwind. Itinerary: Day 1: Sleep in, leave Shanghai at 1 pm → Arrive at Hanshan Temple in Suzhou at 3 pm → Dinner at Songhelou on Pingjiang Road at 6 pm → Check in at Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel (Suzhou Liuyuan Hanshan Temple Branch) at 8:30 pm Day 2: Breakfast at Xiyuan Temple at 8 am → Visit Tiger Hill at 10 am → Lunch at Wan Fuxing at 1:30 pm → Return to Shanghai between 2 pm and 4 pm Travel time: It takes about 2 hours to drive from Shanghai to Suzhou. Traffic is heavy on weekends. Accommodation: Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel (Suzhou Liuyuan Hanshan Temple Branch). Breakfast not included. 5-minute walk to Xiyuan Temple. Stay close to the temple to avoid the long lines for the famous vegetarian noodles on weekends. We went to the temple for noodles and vegetable buns, but the line was too long for the buns. Pros: Very close to Xiyuan Temple and Liuyuan Garden. Two single beds can be combined into a 2-meter bed, which is convenient for families with children. Cons: The shower water temperature fluctuates, and the shower head is uncomfortable. It's okay for one night. Attractions: Hanshan Temple: A famous attraction in textbooks. A must-see for elementary school students. The highlight is feeding the fish in the pond. The fish are very fat and easy to catch. My child's hands were freezing, but he was very happy. Pingjiang Road: See beautiful women, have dinner, visit the night market, and buy a late-night snack. Xiyuan Temple: A famous attraction with a CNY 5 entrance fee. Very crowded, so go early. The vegetarian noodles and buns are excellent. We went in at 8 am, played with a cat, and had noodles without waiting in line. But we couldn't buy vegetable buns. There were long lines everywhere, so we left. Tiger Hill: Very crowded. The scenic area is large. A popular spot for red leaves. The red maples and ginkgo trees are beautiful. The weather was nice, and the scenery and people were beautiful. A great place for photos. Worth a visit. Dining: Songhelou on Pingjiang Road: We went at 6 pm and didn't have to wait. The price is over CNY 100 per person. Not bad, but convenient. A good place to rest before continuing to explore the night view. Xiyuan Temple: Vegetarian food, vegetarian buns, and white fungus soup. Worth a visit for the food. Go early to avoid long lines. Wan Fuxing: A chain restaurant. We ordered various toppings and noodles. Good price and taste. Various cakes and pastries are available.