Jiangsu is a coastal province in eastern China, on the northern side of the Yangtze River Delta and the Yellow Sea. It is one of China's wealthiest and most densely populated provinces, anchored by the capital Nanjing and by Suzhou, the province's largest city, whose classical gardens are UNESCO-listed. Jiangsu is celebrated for its canal-laced water towns, Grand Canal heritage, Taihu Lake, and refined Huaiyang and Jiangnan cuisine.
Accommodation overview
Jiangsu's accommodation is concentrated in four cities linked by high-speed rail. Nanjing, the provincial capital, offers the widest choice: the Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) and Xinjiekou areas suit sightseeing, while chains such as Sheraton, Hilton and the historic Jinling Hotel cover the mid-range and upper end. Suzhou is the main base for gardens and canals, with courtyard guesthouses and boutique hotels around Guanqian Street and Pingjiang Road, plus luxury options such as the Ritz-Carlton near Jinji Lake. Wuxi (Lake Taihu) and Yangzhou (Slender West Lake and Dongguan Street) have good four- and five-star hotels and lower prices. Budget rooms start around CNY 180 a night, mid-range runs CNY 450-1200, and luxury properties exceed CNY 1500. Prices rise sharply during Golden Week (1-7 October), May Day and the spring and autumn garden seasons, so book two to four weeks ahead.
- Budget
- ¥180-550/night (~$27-82) - chain express hotels and courtyard guesthouses near Nanjing's Confucius Temple and Suzhou's Guanqian Street
- Mid-range
- ¥450-1200/night (~$67-179) - Sheraton, Crowne Plaza and boutique hotels across Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi and Zhenjiang
- Luxury
- ¥1500-4200/night (~$224-627) - Ritz-Carlton and Park Hyatt in Suzhou, InterContinental Wuxi and Kempinski Yangzhou
- Where to stay
- Nanjing's Confucius Temple or Xinjiekou for sightseeing and metro access; inside Suzhou's old city around Guanqian Street and Pingjiang Road
Hotels by budget
Find accommodation that fits your travel budget.
Budget-friendly
Zunjing Boutique Hotel Nanjing Confucius Temple
Small boutique hotel in an alley inside the Confucius Temple district, favoured by independent travellers wanting walking access to the Qinhuai River sights.
Check rates on Booking.comRamada Nanjing
Airport-area hotel close to Nanjing Lukou International Airport for early departures and late arrivals.
Check rates on Booking.comXingle Hotel (Suzhou Guanqian Street Pingjiang Road)
Budget hotel in the Guanqian Street district, walkable to Pingjiang Road and Suzhou Museum.
Check rates on Booking.comSuzhou Pingjiang Road Yihe Songmaoju
Courtyard guesthouse in an alley off Pingjiang Historic Street, appealing to visitors wanting a traditional lane-house stay.
Check rates on Booking.comHoliday Inn Express Wuxi Taihu
Value IHG hotel in Binhu District near Lake Tai, with breakfast included.
Check rates on Booking.comFairfield by Marriott Yangzhou Slender West Lake
78-room Marriott hotel in the Slender West Lake scenic zone.
Check rates on Booking.comMid-range
Sheraton Nanjing Kingsley Hotel & Towers
350-room hotel on Hanzhong Road about a five-minute walk from Hanzhongmen and close to the Xinjiekou financial and shopping district.
Check rates on Booking.comUrCove Nanjing Confucius Temple
Hyatt's UrCove lifestyle brand near the Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River area, convenient for evening walks along the canal and the Laomendong old-town streets.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Indigo Nanjing Garden Expo
IHG lifestyle hotel at the Nanjing Garden Expo park in Tangshan, a hot-spring and hill area south-east of the city centre; a car or taxi is needed for the city.
Check rates on Booking.comSuzhou Jinji Lake Grand Hotel
Five-star hotel by Jinji Lake in Suzhou Industrial Park, in the modern east district with metro access to the old city.
Check rates on Booking.comScholars Boutique Suzhou Shantang
Boutique hotel on the historic Shantang canal street below Tiger Hill, in a traditional Suzhou garden-house setting.
Check rates on Booking.comTongli Lakeview Hotel
Lakeside hotel in Tongli, one of the Jiangnan water towns, about 20 km south-east of Suzhou city.
Check rates on Booking.comCrowne Plaza Wuxi City Center
IHG business hotel close to Wuxi city centre, convenient for the metro and the Grand Canal area.
Check rates on Booking.comWuxi Taihu Hotel
Classic garden-style hotel facing the Yuantouzhu Scenic Area on Lake Tai, known for its lakeside grounds.
Check rates on Booking.comSheraton Zhenjiang Hotel
Sheraton in central Zhenjiang, a base for Jinshan Temple, Beigu Hill, and the Xijin Ferry old street.
Check rates on Booking.comSheraton Xuzhou
Sheraton in Xuzhou's high-tech zone, a base for exploring Yunlong Lake and the city's Han-dynasty sites.
Check rates on Booking.comLuxury
Jinling Hotel Nanjing
Landmark high-rise on Xinjiekou square, opened 1983 and long the symbol of modern Nanjing; connected to the Xinjiekou metro interchange (Lines 1 and 2) and the main shopping district.
Check rates on Booking.comHilton Nanjing Riverside
Riverside Hilton near the Yangtze in Gulou District, suited to visitors combining the Yangtze River Bridge and Xiaguan area with the city centre.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Ritz-Carlton, Suzhou
Luxury high-rise in the China Central Place development beside the Gusu old city, a short drive from Pingjiang Historic Street and the Lingering Garden.
Check rates on Booking.comPan Pacific Suzhou
Garden-style hotel at the southwest corner of the old city near Panmen Scenic Area; Canglang Pavilion and Pingjiang Road are within reach.
Check rates on Booking.comPark Hyatt Suzhou
Hyatt's luxury property in the traditional Suzhou garden district on Yuanlin Road, close to the city's classical gardens.
Check rates on Booking.comHyatt Regency Wuxi
Tower hotel in central Wuxi with guest rooms and restaurants on the upper floors, offering city views.
Check rates on Booking.comInterContinental Wuxi
Hotel beside the Wuxi People's Hall on Taihu Square with views of the square and the Grand Canal.
Check rates on Booking.comHUALUXE Wuxi Taihu
Upscale IHG hotel in Wuxi's Taihu New City financial district near Lake Tai, a short ride from Yuantouzhu.
Check rates on Booking.comKempinski Hotel Yangzhou
Kempinski property in Hanjiang District, a short drive from Slender West Lake and Yangzhou old town.
Check rates on Booking.comChangzhou Marriott Hotel
Marriott in Changzhou's Xinbei district, in the city's northern new district.
Check rates on Booking.comChangzhou Marriott Hotel Jintan
Marriott resort-style hotel in Jintan, south of Changzhou.
Check rates on Booking.comBest neighborhoods to stay
Choose your base based on your interests and travel style.
Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao), Nanjing
Nanjing's lively Qinhuai River quarter with lantern-lit lanes, snack streets and the densest cluster of budget and boutique hotels.
Best for: All travelers
Xinjiekou, Nanjing
The city's central shopping and business hub around Jinling Hotel, with metro Lines 1 and 2 crossing beneath it.
Best for: All travelers
Guanqian Street and Pingjiang Road, Suzhou
Pedestrian old-city streets beside the historic canal, offering courtyard guesthouses and budget hotels within walking distance of Suzhou Museum and the gardens.
Best for: All travelers
Jinji Lake, Suzhou Industrial Park
Modern lakeside district east of the old city, with international chain hotels and metro access.
Best for: All travelers
Taihu New City and Yuantouzhu, Wuxi
Lake-facing hotels near Lake Tai's Yuantouzhu peninsula, quieter than the city centre.
Best for: All travelers
Slender West Lake, Yangzhou
Yangzhou's canal-and-garden scenic area, with a small number of hotels within walking distance of the lake.
Best for: All travelers
Our top picks
Handpicked recommendations for every type of traveler.
Jinling Hotel Nanjing
Landmark high-rise on Xinjiekou square, opened 1983 and long the symbol of modern Nanjing; connected to the Xinjiekou metro interchange (Lines 1 and 2) and the main shopping district.
Check rates on Booking.comSheraton Nanjing Kingsley Hotel & Towers
350-room hotel on Hanzhong Road about a five-minute walk from Hanzhongmen and close to the Xinjiekou financial and shopping district.
Check rates on Booking.comHilton Nanjing Riverside
Riverside Hilton near the Yangtze in Gulou District, suited to visitors combining the Yangtze River Bridge and Xiaguan area with the city centre.
Check rates on Booking.comUrCove Nanjing Confucius Temple
Hyatt's UrCove lifestyle brand near the Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River area, convenient for evening walks along the canal and the Laomendong old-town streets.
Check rates on Booking.comZunjing Boutique Hotel Nanjing Confucius Temple
Small boutique hotel in an alley inside the Confucius Temple district, favoured by independent travellers wanting walking access to the Qinhuai River sights.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Indigo Nanjing Garden Expo
IHG lifestyle hotel at the Nanjing Garden Expo park in Tangshan, a hot-spring and hill area south-east of the city centre; a car or taxi is needed for the city.
Check rates on Booking.comBooking tips
Get the best deals and avoid common mistakes.
Book Suzhou and Nanjing hotels 4-6 weeks ahead for spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November); rates surge during May Day and National Day golden weeks
Foreign guests must show a passport at check-in; a few small guesthouses do not accept foreigners, so confirm on Trip.com or Booking.com before arriving
Trip.com is the most reliable booking app in English; Alipay and WeChat Pay both accept linked international cards for in-app payments
Suzhou's high-speed rail stations sit outside the old city; Metro Lines 1 and 2 or the Didi ride-hailing app reach the historic districts in 20-30 minutes
Water-town stays in Tongli are quieter after day-trippers leave in the late afternoon, and weekday rates are lower
Alternative accommodations
Beyond traditional hotels, consider these options.
Guesthouses
Family-run guesthouses offer authentic local experiences and often include home-cooked meals. Great for cultural immersion.
Serviced apartments
Ideal for longer stays or families. Kitchen facilities help save money and provide flexibility.
Hostels
Budget-friendly option for solo travelers. Dorms and private rooms available with social common areas.