Culture of Suzhou. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Picturesque gardens, national-style pagodas and temples, interesting museums and cultural establishments are the main sights of present Suzhou. The ancient Guanqian Street is one of the most picturesque in the city. It was laid out more than half a century ago. The 760-meter-long street accommodates the city's oldest shops and restaurants. Given the fact that they are all housed in beautiful historic buildings, walking down the street becomes an even more interesting event. When it comes to outstanding historic buildings, Hanshan Temple deserves special attention. Built directly on the Grand Canal in the early 6th century, it got its name in honor of a monk who lived in the temple. Unfortunately, the temple did not survive in its original form to our days - it has been repeatedly rebuilt and radically changed its appearance. The last major reconstruction of the Hanshan took place in the middle of the 17th century. Its look has not been changed much since then.
Suzhou has a lot of high-class hotels, which are rightfully considered to be among the best in the world. Crowne Plaza Suzhou Hotel is a real city attraction. It is housed in a unique … Open
The Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan ) is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the city. The landscape garden is striking with a variety of decorations: there are two beautiful ponds and countless trees and flowers in the park. Besides the luxurious landscaping, several beautiful old mansions have been preserved in the garden. Their appearance uniquely harmonizes with surrounding landscapes.
A garden with the unusual name of The Lion Grove Garden is also sure to please both nature enthusiasts and connoisseurs of ancient architecture. The founder of this beautiful garden is the monk Tian Zhu, who built it in honor of his spiritual teacher. Much of the garden's design elements are made of stone. Its area also includes several beautiful rock formations and deep caves. Some rock formations resemble lions in their shape, which gave the garden such an original name. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Suzhou is often called the "Venice of the East" because of the abundance of river channels piercing the city. The first mention of the city dates back to the early 6th century BC. Suzhou … Open
Be sure to visit the beautiful Liu Yuan Garden , whose history dates back to the early Middle Ages. It is distinguished by a variety of well-groomed courtyards and terraces offering unforgettable panoramic views of the countryside and mountains. The garden is conventionally divided into several thematic zones: its eastern part is occupied by beautiful halls, while the northern part is more like an idyllic rural area.
Suzhou The Master of the Nets Garden (Wangshi Yuan ) stands out on the background of other unusual sights. The most miniature landscaped garden in Suzhou is known to many travelers under a different name - Fisherman's Garden. Similar to other city gardens, a significant part of its area is occupied by historic buildings. In the center of the garden, you will find a small pond surrounded by fabulously beautiful plants and flowers. Despite its modest size, the garden is extremely popular among tourists. It is believed that it is the only green zone that has managed to fully preserve its original look.
Walking through picturesque gardens is hardly the only entertainment available to Suzhou guests. You can have fun as a whole family in Suzhou Amusement park. It occupies a vast area and is … Open
Among the permanent symbols of the city worth mentioning are Gates Panmen - the only of the 16 gates that have been survived throughout the centuries. Take some time to visit the city's unique museums. The Suzhou Museum has one of the richest collections. Its unique exhibits include ceramics and fine paintings, national costumes and jewelry made of precious metals, priceless archaeological finds and contemporary artworks.
In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Suzhou and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.

City tours, excursions and tickets in Suzhou and surroundings

Suzhou - guide chapters 1 2 3 4
Reference information
Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Suzhou and around
♥   Art museum 'Suzhou Museum' Suzhou, 4.7 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Unique spots in Suzhou and near

Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal

From the series “Greatest Man-Made Waterways and Channels”
Its first section between the Yangtze and the Yellow River was built in the 5th century BC. And the length extended approximately to 150 km. Improvement work for the extension of the canal has been taken place up to the 13th century. The canal was constructed over a 2000-year period. Its minimum width is 40 metres and the maximum one is 350 metres. This section of the canal lies in the territory of Shanghai. … Read further

Tiger Hill Pagoda

From the series “Falling towers and buildings”
The hill is covered with mystical stories. It is available for everyone to visit today. A luxury park is located at the top of it. There are also many buildings from different eras here. The most interesting historical monument is brick pagoda. It was built during the reign of the Song dynasty. This pagoda is seven stories high. It is directed up to 48 meters. According to approximate estimates, the weight of the building is about 600 tons. It has a spectacular design in a traditional style. … Read further

Excursions over cultural sights of neighbours of Suzhou

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