Suzhou: A Slow-Paced Travel Guide to Enjoying the City and Sleeping In

🌿I suggest that Suzhou is really not suitable for rushing through. You should take your time, stroll along the stone roads of Pingjiang Road, listen to the soft Wu dialect, and feel the gentle breeze of the south. 🍃[DAY 1] Dumb Shengjian Dumplings ➡️ Humble Administrator's Garden ➡️ Pingjiang Road ➡️ Qili Shantang ➡️ Guanqian Street 🕚Wake up in the morning and head to the Dumb Shengjian Dumpling shop on Lindun Road. There are always people lining up. Get a number and take your order to Sun Shengxing Noodle Restaurant next door to eat❗️❗️Then, get a cup of Su Xia Suzhou-style mung bean soup. It's so refreshing~ Suzhou's mung bean soup is so beautiful and pleasing to the eye~ (The order of the three shops: Sun Shengxing Noodle Restaurant → Dumb Shengjian Dumplings → Su Xia Suzhou-style Mung Bean Soup) 🕚Buy tickets for the Humble Administrator's Garden in advance (07:30–18:00, last entry at 17:30). Tickets are CNY 80. Be sure to book in advance! A must-visit for photography enthusiasts! 🕚At noon, experience the local atmosphere of Suzhou on Pingjiang Road. The white walls and black tiles under the midday sun have their own filter. Write a postcard at "Cat's Sky City." The view from the window on the second floor is perfect for taking photos of peaceful moments 📸 🕚In the evening, take a boat trip on Qili Shantang → stroll through the night market on Guanqian Street 🍃[DAY 2] Hanshan Temple ➡️ Xiyuan Temple ➡️ Lingering Garden (It is recommended to dress up and go shopping, wearing a cheongsam is very photogenic!) 🕚Morning 📍Hanshan Temple (7:30–17:00) Ticket: CNY 20 It is said to be very effective for seeking marriage. Go before 9am to avoid the crowds! 📍Xiyuan Temple (8:00–17:00) Ticket: CNY 10 Prepare some cat treats in advance to play with the cute cats in the temple + eat vegetarian food 🕚Afternoon 📍Lingering Garden (7:30–17:00) Peak season (April–May and July–October): CNY 55; Off-season (November–March and June): CNY 45 📍Lingering Garden is a niche scenic spot. Wearing a cheongsam to take pictures here is very photogenic. 🏠Accommodation Hua Zhu · Suzhou Qiantang Houyuan (Guanqian Street Pingjiang Road Branch) The hotel is located on Pingjiang Road, just a 50m walk from Pingjiang Road. It is very close to Qili Shantang, Ouyuan Garden, Lingering Garden, Humble Administrator's Garden and other scenic spots. 📍Located in a small alley. Follow the navigation instructions. The environment is very elegant. Behind the courtyard is a large patch of climbing roses, like the charming ladies of Jiangnan, bright and warm~ 🌸The front desk also provides wine, coffee ☕, and drinks 🥤. More conveniently, there is a microwave and an air fryer, which is really thoughtful. The housekeeper also organized a Suzhou travel guide for us! ❤️Friendly Tips: 1️⃣You can rent an electric bike for 1️⃣ day. Remember to wear a helmet and pay attention to safety~ It's really much more convenient. Shared bikes are not allowed in the Pingjiang Road area. And the subway is relatively far away. 2️⃣If you want to eat crab roe 🍜, choose crab roe noodles. They have a breeding base in Yangcheng Lake, and there are many glutinous rice desserts to relieve the richness. 3️⃣If you want to eat Suzhou cuisine, you can go to Yanyu Zhenhe. The shop is full of local uncles and aunts. For shengjian dumplings, you can choose Dumb Shengjian Dumplings or Xin Zhenyuan. I wish you all a pleasant and leisurely trip to Suzhou~