The Humble Administrator’s Garden 

The Humble Administrator’s Garden was built during the Ming dynasty and has a history of over 500 years. In 1997, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Humble Administrator’s Garden is a recognized classical garden of Suzhou, spanning 52,000 square metres of serene water features, lush hills, flowers and dense bamboo forests, with elaborate pavilions found throughout. It exudes a tranquil beauty and is acclaimed as the crown jewel of China’s culturally important public gardens.

Lingering Garden 

Established during the Ming dynasty, the Lingering Garden is an accredited UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is divided into 4 distinctly themed sections: east, west north and central. The central area is an old part of the garden. An ensemble of structures in the central garden encircles a pond and grotto, using yellow stone granite. The traditional homes and water features blend harmoniously with the surroundings.

Canglang Pavilion 

The Canglang Pavilion is an old UNESCO garden in Suzhou, dating back as far as 1044 CE. It still retains its original classical Song dynasty layout. The garden has 108 windows, each with distinctive designs and is also home to striking man-made rock formations.

Lion Grove Garden 

At 650 years old, the Lion Grove Garden is a renowned garden of Suzhou, displaying the classical style of the Yuan dynasty.

As well many richly ornate pavilions, the garden houses stunning Taihu rocks with deep caves and twisting gullies. Explored along winding pathways, the entire garden resembles a large, labyrinthine maze.

Tiger Hill 

Despite its small size, Tiger Hill, has a rich history dating back more than 1,000 years.

Nestled within lush scenery, major highlights include the Sword-Testing Rock, the Spring of Simplicity and Honesty, and the leaning 7-storey-high Yunyan Pagoda, which commands sweeping views at the hill’s summit.

Jinji Lake 

Scenic Jinji Lake is a fresh water lake located in the central part of Suzhou Industrial Park. It occupies an area of more than 7 square kilometres and features 2 man-made islands.

Shantang Street 

Extending from Tiger Hill to the ancient city, Shantang Street has a colourful history of more than 1,000 years. It winds along the bank of the Shantang River housing traditional specialty stores, for leisurely souvenir browsing and sampling an array of local snacks. Shantang Street was declared a Historical and Cultural Block of China in 2015.

Pingjiang Road 

The historic Pingjiang Road is located along the Pingjiang River and comprises 18 stone bridges. It was featured on the Pingjiang Tu map, which was first produced in 1229.

It still exudes a timeless ambience with well-preserved old residences now functioning as teahouses, boutiques and cafes. It is an ideal spot away from the bustle to experience a flavour of Suzhou’s storied past.

Luzhi Water Town 

The water town was named after a Tang dynasty poet, Lu Guimeng, who lived and was laid to rest here. It is especially renowned for its beautiful waterways and ancient bridges.

Appealing sights to see here include the Baoshen Temple, with its Arhat statues, and the memorial hall of educator and writer, Ye Shengtao. Foodies flock to Luzhi Water Town to savour its renowned local specialties such as Puli trotters, Puli duck and Luzhi radish.

Tongli Water Town 

Located on the outskirts of Suzhou, Tongli is famous for its system of canals. This photogenic place retains many of the features of an ancient Wu dynasty regional town.

It is home to the Retreat and Reflection Garden UNESCO World Heritage site as well as several other classical Suzhou gardens.

SuperPark 

Designed with Finnish heart and Finnish know-how, SuperPark is a unique, purpose built, indoor activity park. People of all ages and sizes come here for movement, friendship and fun. You can reach SuperPark at Suzhou Olympic Centre from the hotel by driving for only about 15 minutes.

Huayi Brothers World 

With only about 20 minutes by car from the hotel, the Huayi Brothers World is a comprehensive movie themed amusement park.

Yangcheng Lake 

Located between the Taihu Lake and Yangtze River, this attractive freshwater lake is home to the famous delicacy, hairy crab. Local fishermen harvest the hairy crabs in September and October.

Taihu Lake 

Measuring 2,250 square kilometres, Taihu Lake is a large freshwater lake in China. It features about 90 islands and is linked to the renowned Grand Canal.

A centre of the fishing industry, the lake is dotted with unique limestone rock formations at the foot of the adjacent Dongting Mountain. These Taihu stones are highly prized as decorating materials used in traditional Chinese gardens. Three of the lakes' islands are protected as a national geological park.

Qionglong Mountain 

Qionglong Mountain or Dome Mountain is located on the southwest of Suzhou, and rises to an elevation of 341.7 metres. The ancient Chinese military strategist, Sun Tzu, lived here; it is where he wrote his masterpiece, The Art of War.

Suzhou Museum 

Designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize-winner, Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, Suzhou Museum was inaugurated in 2006. It is a significant construction, blending traditional Chinese architecture with modern design. 

Suzhou Museum houses more than 15,000 artefacts in its collections, ranging from ancient paintings and calligraphy, ceramics, crafts and relics.

Suzhou Silk Museum 

Suzhou Silk Museum documents the history of the city’s renowned silk and embroidery industry from its origins dating back to around 2000 BC. Key exhibits include old working looms with demonstrations, samples of ancient silk patterns and an explanation of sericulture.

Kunqu Opera 

Recognized as an ancient surviving forms of Chinese opera, Kunqu Opera is listed as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Its vocal techniques are thought to have been developed during the Ming dynasty. Many plays, including “The Peony Pavilion” and “The Peach Blossom Fan,” remain highly popular today.

Suzhou Pingtan 

A distinctive regional variation on the oral performance, Suzhou pingtan originated around 1 century ago. It was influenced by the Wu culture, incorporating art, music and literature. Performances blend storytelling, comedy, music and aria singing.

Suzhou Silk Embroidery 

Suzhou embroidery has a history dating back 2,000 years. It is famous for its flawless craftsmanship, featuring elaborate patterns, colours, and a variety of stitches.

The stitching is meticulous, with Suzhou artists employing more than 40 needlework techniques and around 1,000 types of thread to embroider. It is typically designed with nature themes, such as flowers, animals and even gardens on a piece of cloth.

Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre 

Located east of Jinji Lake, Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre is a vibrant cultural hub occupying an area of 138,000 square metres. It is the permanent host of the China Film Golden Rooster Awards.

Woodblock New Year Picture 

Taohuawu Woodblock New Year Picture was listed as one of the first works of national intangible cultural heritage. This unique traditional artwork was created at the end of the Ming dynasty. Its symmetrical composition has an elegant style.

Nut Carving 

Suzhou is the birthplace of nut carving. The main themes designed in this intricate folk art form are scenes of nature, birds, human figures and the Buddha.