SUZHOU · DAY TRIPS
Day trips from Suzhou
Suzhou sits at the heart of the Yangtze Delta canal network and is surrounded by water towns, classical garden cities, and Lake Tai, one of China's largest freshwater lakes. High-speed rail makes Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou reachable within an hour.
Destinations within reach
Tongli Water Town
同里
- How to get there
- Bus from Suzhou South Bus Station; or taxi/car
- What to see
- Three classical gardens; intact Ming and Qing canal-side architecture; boat rides through the town's three small lakes.
- Why go
- Smaller and more lived-in than Wuzhen; the Tuisi Garden is a UNESCO-listed gem best seen on a weekday.
Zhouzhuang Water Town
周庄
- How to get there
- Coach from Suzhou bus station; or car hire
- What to see
- Double Bridge (China's most painted canal scene); Zhang Mansion Ming-era courtyard house; canal boat rides.
- Why go
- The most photographed water town in China; the Double Bridge at dawn is one of the region's iconic images.
Mudu Ancient Town
木渎古镇
- How to get there
- Metro Line 4 to Mudu terminus; walk from station
- What to see
- Compact canal town with a Qing-era mansion (Yan's Garden); less visited than Tongli; good for a half-day.
- Why go
- Accessible without a car and authentically low-key; the Yan Garden has good peonies in April.
Lake Tai (Taihu) Boat Trip
太湖
- How to get there
- Coach or car to Dongshan peninsula; ferry from Dongshan to Xishan Island
- What to see
- China's third-largest freshwater lake; tangerine orchards; crab-farming rafts; Xishan Island's Linwu Cave.
- Why go
- A landscape entirely different from the canal towns; good for cycling on Xishan Island in October hairy-crab season.
Hangzhou
杭州
- How to get there
- G/D trains from Suzhou; multiple per hour
- What to see
- West Lake and its causeways; Longjing tea plantations; Lingyin Temple; Hefang Street food lane.
- Why go
- A natural full-day extension from Suzhou combining two of China's premier classical landscape cities.
Shanghai
上海
- How to get there
- G trains from Suzhou every 10–20 minutes to Shanghai Hongqiao
- What to see
- The Bund; French Concession; Yu Garden; modern Pudong skyline; world-class museums.
- Why go
- Suzhou's most natural day-trip companion; the contrast between canal-town pace and Shanghai's energy is striking.
Nanjing
南京
- How to get there
- G trains via Shanghai Hongqiao or direct services
- What to see
- Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum; Nanjing Massacre Memorial; ancient city wall; Confucius Temple district.
- Why go
- A historically weighty city with landmarks that contrast well with Suzhou's garden culture.
Verified May 2026