Tunnel Bar

Tunnel Bar is one of the first bars on the 1912 Fashion Block street at Ligongdi in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, China, listed at Building A7 of the block. Ligongdi sits on the western shore of Jinji Lake in Suzhou Industrial Park and is the city's best-known modern nightlife strip, with a run of bars and restaurants facing the water. Tunnel Bar is often used as a first stop of the evening before visitors move on to other venues along the street, which shapes its character: an easy, sociable pub-style room where groups meet, have a first round and decide where to go next. The crowd is a mix of foreign residents, business travellers, Suzhou locals and tourists, generally aged from the mid-twenties to the forties. There is no formal dress code, and casual clothes are normal, though weekend evenings on the Ligongdi strip tend to see people dressing up a little more. Music is incidental and kept at a level suitable for talking. The drinks programme is straightforward, with draught and bottled beer, spirits and standard cocktails, and prices of about CNY 35-80 per drink (roughly USD 5-12) are among the more affordable on the street. Opening hours are evenings until late, and the busiest time is Friday and Saturday night, when the whole 1912 street fills up. Weeknights are calmer and better for a conversation. There is no cover charge, reservations are rarely needed except for large groups, and bottle service is not a feature. Payment is usually by WeChat Pay or Alipay. Coordinates for the block are approximate, so visitors should use a map app with the Chinese name of the 1912 Fashion Block to find the entrance. The lakeside walk nearby makes it easy to combine drinks with an evening stroll before or after.