Top 8 Things to do in Suzhou on a Weekend Break
Suzhou of Jiangsu province is a compelling city to unfold. There are many things to do in Suzhou when you have at least a weekend off from work/college/school. We can say this city is for restoring the lost peace.
Then it revitalizes your energy so you can go back home with passion and better commitment. Although there are many wonderful things to experience in the city, here is a list of the 8 best ones.
See also: Hire an interpreter in Suzhou
#1: Try the Garden Tours!
Begin your journey with what attracts visitors to this city, that is, its unparalleled Suzhou classical gardens. Upon entering these gardens, you feel stuck in a time capsule. That’s evident because they have an origin dated back to 1500-1900.
Currently, there are 60 amazing gardens in Suzhou. Nine of them are already recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. This makes it one of the best things to do in Suzhou.
So, try exploring the natural beauty of Net Master’s Garden, Canglong Pavillion, and Lingering Garden for a weekend tour. Do not forget to bring your smartphones or video recorders to make memories here on your favorite one-off holidays.
#2: Examine The Chinese Cuisines
Walk aside the Jingi lake parks and coastline to search for authentic Chinese restaurants. Examples of these restaurants are:
- Jinhaihua Exotic Specialty
- Pulana
- Mash Burger
- Tairyo Teppanyaki
- Chaori Wu
- Deyue Building
Some restaurants have big white lanterns, while others have colorful tapestry. These all are authentic signs for Chinese culture, including the tangy aroma of spicy food.
So, when you visit these places, you get a reprieve from the outside world of responsibilities. You get a chance to forget what’s happening back at work or at home. And, your focus is on the tastiest and spiciest Chinese cuisines with the epic Jinji Lake’s skyline at night.
This Chinese food tasting spree pumps up the mood if you have been feeling low because of personal/professional issues.
#3: Plan a Day Trip Around the Coastline of Jinji Lake
InterContinental Suzhou can be your favorite resort, which is in line with Jinjihu Park. It also backs the famous food street at Wangdun Road. So, if you are a big-time foodie and want to try different items at once, visit here.
There is the Linli Center Food market, and restaurants offering Korean, Singaporean, and Mexican food one after another. Little far away from this resort is the Wine Franchise store and the Baigong International Commerce Chamber Casino.
These places can be a great way to spend a night with your partner or friends here. On the other hand, you can find Yuarong Time Square shopping center. It’s very spacious and homes Chinese brands to go on a shopping spree during the day. Another one of the fun things to do in Suzhou.
#4: Visit the Suzhou Museum
You are a curious soul, wanting to collect historical titbits about Chinese culture. Then you are reading the best section, promising a quality trip during one of the days on your weekend off. So, this museum is divided into two parts for your perusal.
One part is the modern building which was constructed back in 2006. The other one belongs to the Li Zhong, a well-known hero from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
There are handicrafts, calligraphies, eye-catching paintings, and relics belonging to Qing and Ming dynasties. Witnessing this historical evidence of Chinese freedom wars for thrones or different titles, you don’t realize how time passes by.
This museum doesn’t even charge anything for the main entrance and Prince Zhong’s mansion. It’s open from Tuesdays to Sundays. Spend here hours without feeling out of space and wonder how different kings ruled one after another.
#5: Go to See Kun Opera or Pingtan Shows
You are impatient to find an authentic spot to dig deeper into Chinese culture. Then these shows are your place to go to. Kun opera in Suzhou is one of the oldest in the entire Republic of China. It holds up to 600 years of history, already proving to be worthy of your time.
In fact, it is quite common in Suzhou city, while Pingtan relates to traditional storytelling and ballad performances. One of the famous opera shows is at Shantang Kunqu Teahouse, Shantang Street, Gusu District. Here, the host conducts opera shows daily. Surely one of the most fun things to do in Suzhou for any tourist.
#6: Explore the Beauty of Water Towns
One of the many things to do in Suzhou is to visit Zhouzhuang. It’s surrounding the Suzhou’s boundary as an excellent symbol of No. 1 Water town of China. Hire a boat down the canal and take a look at the Qing dynasty’s architecture coming alive.
Even many renowned Chinese celebrities visit the houses on either side of the canal. Also, a day tour within $110-120 helps you introduce townhouses, bridges, and pagodas like a local.
#7: Climb Over the Famous Tiger Hill
At the Gusu district, Tiger Hill is a gem that tourists like you love to discover. The origin of this tourist attraction brings back the folklore that started in 496 AD.
Then, you can also find time to pay regards at Yunyuan Temple, which was built 1,000 years ago. Its build matches the Leaning Tower of Pisa and was built around 150 years before that.
This hill also harbors Suzhou’s largest bonsai garden that’s about 200 years old. Dwarf trees, rocky formations, and gardeners trimming plants feels like a traditional Chinese day out.
#8: Try one of the Silk Factory Tours
Suzhou is a renowned “hometown of Silk” for Chinese residents, deserving a tour to the Silk factory opened in 1926. Today it serves as a museum to bring the interest back in the traditional background of Suzhou.
Visitors, like you, get to know how silk is woven and produced by feeding larvae or silkworms. There are majorly two silk categories: for bed and for fabric.
The silk weavers also sell great designs and apparel at the museum if in case you want to purchase any.
Conclusion
Visitors feel their heart is won by the things to do in Suzhou city because of its historically driven culture. The opportunities to discover folklores and how locals have preserved artifacts for hundreds of years is something unbelievable.
It’s sufficed to say your weekend-offs will never be the same once you visit Suzhou: the magnificent silk city.
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