Suzhou (苏州) is a canal-laced city in Jiangsu province, eastern China, about 25 minutes by high-speed train from Shanghai. It is famous for its classical gardens, several of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites, its whitewashed lanes and stone bridges, and its silk and Kunqu opera traditions. Suzhou has been called the Venice of the East for more than 2,500 years of waterside history.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized day tours to Zhouzhuang and Tongli are sold by local hotels and travel agencies, roughly CNY 250-450 (USD 37-67) per person depending on group size and entrance tickets
- Private
- Didi or a chartered car with driver to the water towns typically costs CNY 200-500 (USD 30-75) one way depending on distance; confirm the fare in the Didi app before boarding
- Public
- High-speed rail from Suzhou Railway Station, Suzhou North, or Suzhou Industrial Park to Shanghai, Wuxi, Nanjing, and Hangzhou (book on Trip.com or the China Railway 12306 app); Metro Line 4 reaches Tongli; buses serve the other towns
- Rental
- Self-drive is possible but foreign visitors need a Chinese driving permit, so most travelers use Didi, rail, or buses instead
Multi-day tours from Suzhou
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from SuzhouWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Book high-speed rail tickets on the 12306 app or Trip.com; carry a passport, which is required to buy and board
Use Didi or Amap (Gaode) for water-town transfers; the apps show English and CNY fares before booking
Avoid Chinese public holidays (Golden Week, early October) when water towns are extremely crowded
Visit water towns early in the morning or in the evening to avoid tour groups
Pair Zhouzhuang with Jinxi or Tongli to make a full day
Save the destination name in Chinese for taxi drivers, for example Tongli (同里) and Zhouzhuang (周庄)
Approximate exchange rate used: 1 USD = 6.70 CNY; fares and entry prices change, so confirm before travel