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.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Suzhou silk scarves and quilts
Mulberry silk scarves, pyjamas and quilts woven in Suzhou, a centre of silk production since the Song dynasty
Price: CNY 100-2,000 (approx USD 15-300)
Where: Suzhou Silk Museum shop, Guanqian Street
Su embroidery pieces
Framed and double-sided embroidery in silk thread, including the well-known cat designs
Price: CNY 200-50,000 (approx USD 30-7,500)
Where: Suzhou Embroidery Research Institute, Pingjiang Road shops
Taohuawu woodblock New Year prints
Colourful woodblock prints from Taohuawu, once a national printing centre, showing folk scenes and auspicious images
Price: CNY 50-800 (approx USD 8-120)
Where: Taohuawu Art Museum, Pingjiang Road, Shantang Street
Sandalwood folding fans
Hand-made fans with carved ribs and painted silk faces, a scholar's accessory
Price: CNY 40-500 (approx USD 6-75)
Where: Shantang Street, Pingjiang Road
Biluochun green tea
Spring-picked green tea from Dongshan and Xishan on Lake Tai, famous for its curled leaves and floral scent
Price: CNY 150-1,500 per 100 g (approx USD 22-225)
Where: Tea shops on Guanqian Street and Shantang Street
Suzhou pastries and osmanthus cakes
Sweet pastries such as osmanthus cake, pine-nut candy and mooncakes from historic shops
Price: CNY 20-150 (approx USD 3-22)
Where: Old brand shops on Guanqian Street
Fine textiles and handkerchiefs
Fine cotton and silk handkerchiefs and hand-embroidered accessories
Price: CNY 30-400 (approx USD 5-60)
Where: Suzhou Silk Museum shop, Guanqian Street
Lake Tai freshwater pearls
Freshwater pearl and jade jewellery from the Lake Tai region
Price: CNY 100-3,000 (approx USD 15-450)
Where: Jewellery shops in the old town, Shantang Street
Ink, brushes and stone seals
Calligraphy sets and carved seals for personalised stamps
Price: CNY 40-800 (approx USD 6-120)
Where: Guanqian Street stationery shops
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Guanqian Street
Historic pedestrian shopping street around Xuanmiao Guan temple with snack shops, tea, silk and old brands.
Where: Suzhou old town, near Xuanmiao Guan
Hours: Daily 9AM-10PM
Shantang Street
Restored 1,200-year-old canal street with lantern-lit shops, snack stalls, souvenirs and teahouses.
Where: Near Tiger Hill
Hours: Daily 9AM-10PM
Pingjiang Road
Canalside historic lane of teahouses, shops and inns with embroidery and craft stalls.
Where: Northeast old town
Hours: Daily 9AM-10PM
Suzhou Pearl City
Cluster of shops selling Lake Tai freshwater pearls, jade and silver jewellery.
Where: Old town
Hours: Daily 9AM-6PM
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Guanqian Street
Pedestrian street of long-established shops in the old town
Shantang Street
Canalside heritage street of souvenirs
Jinji Lake SIP
Modern malls around Suzhou Center and Yuanrong Times Square
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Suzhou Center Shopping Mall
Large mall with international and mid-range brands, cinema and dining beside the Jinji Lake waterfront.
Hours: Daily 10AM-10PM
Yuanrong Times Square
Mall near Jinji Lake with restaurants, cinema and brand shops.
Hours: Daily 10AM-10PM
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is normal at markets and souvenir stalls, but not in malls or museum shops where prices are fixed
Start at about half the first price and settle near 60-70 percent
Stay polite and be ready to walk away
Genuine mulberry silk feels smooth and warm to the touch and does not smell of plastic
Mobile wallet payment sometimes earns a small discount
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Shops open around 9-10AM and close around 9-10PM, Tax refunds for foreign visitors are available at participating shops; bring a passport, Genuine embroidery is hand-worked; machine copies are common at cheap stalls, Export of antiques requires a permit, Cash is less common; mobile wallets are widely accepted