Sunset in Gusu, visiting Humble Administrator's Garden is amazing! Suzhou + Xishan. 3 Days 2 Nights. Cost: 550 RMB
Explore Suzhou for 550 RMB! Stay in a 2500-year-old ancient city, visit Humble Administrator's Garden during the day, and listen to Wu Zixu "patrol" at night? Xishan Island bayberries are so sweet that people from Shanghai fly in to get them!
Three days and two nights, travel through the Spring and Autumn Period of Wu and Yue, stay in a youth hostel, eat authentic food, visit famous gardens, and spend little to act like an "old Suzhou local."
📍City Impression:
Suzhou is not just a "paradise on earth," it's a "time-space fold city"!
Here, you'll find an ancient city planned by Wu Zixu, China's most impressive "worker."
There are alleys blessed by star charts,
a "circle of immortals" hidden on a small island in Taihu Lake,
and a piece of Jitoumi (Gorgon Fruit) sweeter than first love; a single bayberry that moves three cities!
Today, I'll take you on a 3-day, 2-night trip to Suzhou for 550 RMB.
Humble Administrator's Garden check-in + Xishan Island exploration + Pingjiang Road night tour, all arranged.
Stay in a youth hostel, take public transport, eat at small eateries, the main theme is:
"I'm not a tourist, I'm here to return to my roots!" 🏯🍒
📅 Total Trip Budget: 550 RMB (per person, excluding round-trip long-distance transportation)
🏠 Accommodation: 120 RMB (2 nights)
Recommendation: Youth hostel bed near Pingjiang Road or Changmen (e.g., "Pingjiang Yueyuan Youth Hostel" or "Gusu Xiaoyuan")
-Price: 60 RMB/night × 2 nights = 120 RMB
✅ Advantage: Open the window to see the river, 15-minute walk to Humble Administrator's Garden, super convenient for night tours of Pingjiang Road!
🚌 Transportation: 60 RMB
Suzhou buses start from 1 RMB, scan codes for subways to travel throughout the city, and there's even an express line directly to Xishan Island!
City buses + subway: approx. 15 rides → 30 RMB
Express Line 6 (Suzhou Station → Xishan Island): 8 RMB one-way × 2 = 16 RMB
Emergency taxi: Reserve 14 RMB (short distances only)
✅ Total Transportation: 60 RMB
🍜 Food: 200 RMB
Suzhou cuisine is not just sweet, it also has a "taste of history" + "freshness of Taihu Lake"!
✅ Must-eat list (200 RMB per person is enough):
Yaba Shengjian (Lindun Road branch): Juicy and golden, 6 RMB/piece × 2 = 12 RMB
Jitoumi Sweet Soup: Autumn limited edition, 15 RMB/bowl × 2 = 30 RMB
Cangshu Lamb Noodle Soup: Winter warming essential, 12 RMB/bowl × 2 = 24 RMB
Xishan Island Bayberries: Freshly picked dark purple bayberries, 10 RMB/jin × 3 jin = 30 RMB (So sweet it's alarming!)
Three-Shrimp Noodle/Braised Pork Noodle: Old-brand noodle shop, 18 RMB/bowl × 2 = 36 RMB
-Self-cooked 2 meals: Buy vegetables + eggs + rice from the market, cook in the hostel kitchen, 40 RMB
Snack spree: Plum blossom cake, fermented rice cake, tofu pudding, 28 RMB
✅ Total Food: 200 RMB
🌿 Attraction Tickets: 170 RMB (Essential Version)
✅ Free Attractions (Highly Recommended!):
Pingjiang Road Historic District: Small bridges and flowing water, listen to Pingtan (storytelling and ballad singing) for 5 RMB/song, do the flagstones "walk"?
Outer Shantang Street: Seven-Mile Shantang, fewer people during the day, take "empty Suzhou" blockbusters
Twin Pagoda Market: Popular wet market, enjoy early morning noodles + great for photos
Xishan Island Loop Greenway: Cycle to see Taihu Lake, free!
Outer Linwu Cave + Meihai: Gathering place for immortals, great for photos
✅ Paid Attractions (Only select essentials):
Humble Administrator's Garden: Buy tickets online in advance, 70 RMB in off-season (50 RMB for students!)
Xishan Island Piaomiao Peak: Climb to the top for panoramic views of Taihu Lake, 30 RMB ticket
Suzhou Museum: Free! But requires booking 3 days in advance! (Designed by I.M. Pei, a must-visit!)
✅ Total Ticket Expenditure: 100 RMB (Humble Administrator's Garden 70 + Piaomiao Peak 30)
✅ Reserve 70 RMB for contingencies (e.g., if you suddenly want to visit Tiger Hill or listen to Kunqu Opera)
🗺️ Daily Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Arrive in Suzhou → Check into youth hostel → Humble Administrator's Garden check-in (fewer people and good light in the afternoon) → Pingjiang Road night tour → End with Yaba Shengjian
Day 2: Take Express Bus No. 6 directly to [Xishan Island] → Island cycling tour → Piaomiao Peak summit → Buy bayberries from local farmers → Take photos outside Linwu Cave → Stay on the island for the night or return to the city
Day 3: Morning visit to Twin Pagoda Market for early morning noodles → Suzhou Museum (free) → Wander through the "maze" of Shantang Street → Buy Jitoumi as a souvenir → Return trip
💡 Expert Tips
1. Go to Humble Administrator's Garden early! Enter right when it opens at 7:30 AM to avoid tour groups and take empty scenic photos!
2. For buses, use the "Su e Xing" APP to scan codes; same for the subway.
3. Suzhou's ancient city alleys are like a maze? Follow the "reflection of the bluestone slabs" to find your way out!
4. Xishan Island bayberries are sweetest in June, miss them and wait a year!
5. Souvenir recommendations: Jitoumi (vacuum-packed), Biluochun tea samples, Suzhou embroidery bookmarks, Yaba Shengjian frozen packs (can be purchased online).
🎉 Summary: 550 RMB can't buy a concert ticket, but it can buy a "past and present in one frame" adventure!
The Humble Administrator's Garden you visit is the "Jiangnan ceiling" of an imperial censor's home from the Ming Dynasty;
The bayberries you eat are "purple golden fruits" grown by descendants of King Fuchai of Wu;
The flagstone path you walk on is the "city protection road" that Wu Zixu patrolled night after night to guard Gusu!
The real Suzhou is not in the ticket price,
it's in a bowl of steaming Jitoumi sweet soup,
in a breeze by Taihu Lake carrying the scent of bayberries,
in your words: "This city has lived longer than us."
Let's go, fellow travelers!
550 RMB, not for showing off,
but just to — walk through 2500 years of breathing. 🍃🏯
> 📣 Final Reminder:
> Don't panic if your navigation gets lost,
> that's not a malfunction,
> that's Suzhou,
> asking you to stay one more night.📍