Check out our guide to life in Suzhou
Those who prefer their cities to be picturesque and packed with culture are sure to enjoy Suzhou. Located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Suzhou is rich in canals and waterside architecture, leading to its nickname “the Venice of China”. Suzhou has the most UNESCO-recognized gardens in the world with over 60 classical gardens included in the world-heritage site. It’s also home to one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera, ‘Kun opera’. Suzhou silk is famous for its high-quality and exquisite patterns, with the city being the centre of the silk trade in the 13th century.
Suzhou Fast Facts
Prefecture-level city
Settled 514 BCE
Population 10,680,000
Suzhou Weather
Hottest Month July (29 °C avg)
Coldest Month January (5 °C avg)
Wettest Month June (93.9 mm avg)
Windiest Month March (14 km/h avg)
Annual Rainfall 536.0 mm (per year)
10 Things to See and Do in Suzhou
Tiger Hill Pagoda
Dubbed the ‘leaning tower of China’ this 907-960 CE building’s real name is Yunyan Pagoda.
Classical Gardens of Suzhou
You’ll never run out of gardens to explore with 60+ local ones on the World Heritage List.
Grand Buddha at Ling Shan
This park features a huge 88m-high Buddha statue, palace, temple and live performances.
Suzhou Museum
Explore ancient crafts, calligraphy and artefacts in this museum designed by I. M. Pei.
Shantang Street
Cruise along the canal, explore historic buildings and bridges and do a spot of shopping too.
Pan Gate
This 2,500-year-old landmark was the only entrance to the wall around ancient Suzhou.
Suzhou Silk Museum
Discover the history of silk production, see demonstrations, samples, patterns and looms.
Old Town of Suzhou
The historic and scenic canal town features old stone bridges and wooden houses.
Suzhou Ferris Wheel
If you’re not scared of heights, ride the giant 120-metre tall Ferris wheel for amazing views.
Xishan Island
The largest island in Lake Tai with beautiful landscapes, fresh fruit and 41 mountains.
Cost Of Living
| ITEM | RMB | GBP | AUS | RAND |
| Cinema | 35 | 3.99 | 7.30 | 72.79 |
| Water | 2 | 0.23 | 0.42 | 4.18 |
| Beer in a bar | 20 | 2.28 | 4.17 | 41.59 |
| Beer in a shop | 7 | 0.80 | 1.46 | 14.56 |
| Coke | 4 | 0.46 | 0.84 | 8.35 |
| Meal at a cheap restaurant | 20 | 2.28 | 4.17 | 41.59 |
| Meal at an average restaurant | 42 | 4.79 | 8.76 | 87.34 |
| Meal at a high end restaurant | 85 | 9.70 | 17.73 | 176.77 |
| Gym per month | 300 | 34.24 | 62.58 | 623.88 |
| City bus | 3 | 0.34 | 0.63 | 6.27 |
| Monthly utility bills (electricity, heating, water, rubbish) | 422 | 48.16 | 88.02 | 877.59 |
| Loaf of bread | 11 | 1.26 | 2.29 | 22.88 |
