Discover Suzhou: More Sightseeing, Shopping & Recreation
SIP (Suzhou Industry Park)
In Suzhou, it is impossible not to mention the SIP.
In the beginning, it was a cooperative project to build a modern industrial park in the east of Suzhou with Singapore’s experience and investment. The China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (CS-SIP) was thus born on Feb. 26th 1994, after these years’ development the SIP is not only a world famous investment paradise but also the interpretation of modern life. Around Jinji Lake and Dushu Lake, a lot of people settle and are enjoying the modern live there.
Museums
If you want to know a city, then go to visit its museums to understand the city’s history & development, here is a list should be useful to you:
- New Suzhou Museum
The New Suzhou Museum is the final design of world-renowned designer, Mr. I. M. Pei in his glittering career. It is not only a symbol of public construction in Suzhou, but also an innovative monument, bridging traditional Chinese architecture with the future. Prompting the protection of Suzhou’s cultural heritage, the new museum also has turned a new page for Suzhou Museum.
Address: No.204 Dong Bei Street
Entrance Fee: Free of Charge
Opening hours: 8:15am-5:00pm
- Suzhou Arts and Crafts Museum
Here you can watch artists in action. They carve jade, cut latticework fans from thin sheets of sandalwood, and fashion traditional calligraphy brushes. Perhaps most amazing is the careful attention to detail of the women embroidering silk. The attached shop is a good place to pick up quality crafts
Address: No.58 Dong Bei Street
Entrance Fee: 15RMB
Opening hours: 8:30am-3:45pm
- Museum of Suzhou Folk Customs
The Museum of Suzhou Folk Customs, located in an ancient residence, is a regional folk custom museum. The building of the Museum, featuring the architectural style of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), is listed as one of the major historical sites under the protection of Jiangsu Province.
Address: No.32 Panru Lane
Entrance Fee: Free of charge
Opening hours: 8:30am-3:45pm
- Suzhou Garden Museum
In order to commemorate the 2,500th anniversary of Suzhou, a Garden Museum was established inside Humble Administrator’s Garden. The exhibitions in this museum mainly introduce the history of Suzhou’s ancient gardens, plus their current conditions and the technology of building gardens. There are four exhibition halls.
Address: Inside Humble Administrator’s Garden
Entrance Fee: Free of charge
- Suzhou Inscriptions Museum
Address: No.613 Renmin Road
Entrance Fee: Free of charge
Opening hours: 8:30am-3:45pm
- Suzhou Art Museum
Address: No.4 Canglang Ting
Entrance Fee: Free of charge
Opening hours: 8:30am-3:45pm
- Art Museum of Suzhou Art Academy
Address: Xinghu Street (Southern Square E-103)
Open Hours: 9:00am- 5:00pm
Entrance Fee: Free
Shopping and Recreation
- Guanqian Street
Guanqian Street (观前街, Guan Qian Jie) is famous for shopping and recreation in Suzhou.
The history of the street can date back to Qing Dynasty, 100 years ago. It is named after the Xuanmiao Guan which is a Taoist temple, meaning of “the street in front of the Guan”. In the Guanqian block, you can shopping, dining, see a film, sing karaoke, watch festival performances and everything about recreation you can find here. What special in Guanqian is you also can find some old & famous shops and traditional craft.
- Shiquan Street
Shiquan Street (十全街, Shi Quan Jie) was once the old downtown of Suzhou, it is home to many hotels, including the famous Nanlin Restaurant, Suzhou Hotel, Nanlin Hotel as well as the classical Master-of-Nets Garden. Ming-and-Qing-Dynasty-style architectures can be found dotted along this famous street.
Shiquan Street is well known for its art and craft products, such as chinaware, silk, inscriptions, jade, rosewood, etc. Other general shopping items can also be found here.
- Shilu Shopping Street
Located in Jinchang District, it is said that the Shilu (石路, Stone Road) street was very prosperous in ancient times.
Reconstructed in 2003, and now one of the best shopping centers in Suzhou. Nearby Xinfeng Lane has been restored and is now a leisure area with cafes and pubs to accommodate any weary shoppers. The opening of the Shilu pedestrianised Shopping Street has also attracted shoppers, especially with the market at night in the Shilu commercial area. Business hours of the stores on Shilu (Stone Road) have been extended to 10 PM.
- Times Square
On the east shore of Jinji Lake, Times Square (时代广场) is the biggest shopping mall in Suzhou. You can find the latest fashion things here.
The Guinness World Record for the biggest commercial LED ceiling over the world is right smack in the middle of Time Square. It measures 500m in length, 32m in width and had more than 2,000,000 LED.
A number of other bigger & well known shopping area.
- Stage
Numbers of international brands, often discount
Address: No.9 Houdai Street, modern avenue, SIP
- INCITY PLAZA
Address: Donghuan Road, Modern Avenue
- Wanda CBD (万达广场, Wan Da Guang Chang)
Shopping Mall, CBD, Leisure District, HOPSCA
Address: No.3188 Renmin Road
- Suzhou Amusement Park
Suzhou Amusement Park (苏州乐园, Su Zhou Le Yuan) is the largest modern park with a special theme in East China. The park falls into two parts: Water World and Happy World. Water World is the largest aquatic amusement park in terms of size and advanced facilities in all of China. The Happy World is regarded as “Oriental Disney Land” with beautiful European and American architectural styles.
Address: Changjiang Road
Entrance Fee: 60RMB for Happy World ; 40RMB for Water World
Opening hours: 9:00am-5:00pm Happy World ; 9:00am-9:00pm Water World
- Suzhou Ferris Wheel Park
As a land-mark project, Suzhou Ferris Wheel (摩天轮乐园, Mo Tian Lun Le Yuan) is the most eye-catching facility in Suzhou Industry Park. It is in the new amusement Park, which is one part of Jinji Lake Area.
Looking at the giant wheel located on the east bank of Jinji Lake, visitors are always impressed, and excited, about taking a trip on the wheel. In addition, there are many other amusement facilities around the park, such as the 28-seater 4D cinema, a roller coaster with a track in the shape of butterfly, and more. Hours of fun can be had here, for both the young and the young-at-heart!
Address: East of the Jinji Lake in Suzhou Industrial Park
Entrance Fee: 80RMB
Opening hours: 9:00am-5:00pm
Other fun & exciting places for fun & entertainment are:
- Suzhou Ocean Aquarium (苏州海洋馆, Su Zhou Hai Yang Guan)
Address: No.28 Taihu Lake Avenue, Taihu Scenic Zone
Entrance Fee: adult 130RMB ; children(1-1.4m) 90RMB
Opening hours: 9:00am-5:00pm
- Night clubs
Shiquan Street – a European-style bar street paradise
On the 300-meter-long stretch between Anli Bridge and the crossing of Phoenix Street, there are more than 20 bars. Each of which offers a different style of music, drinks, and food. Rock, blues, and pop music; pool tables, darts, and sports channels guarantee you find the fun you want. Here you can also enjoy cheaper drink prices, warm service, good food, and games.
Japanese Bar Street – a pure Japanese world
To make businessmen, travelers, and expatriates coming from Japan feel more at home, a Japanese Bar Street was set up in the Suzhou New Area. Walking this 1000-meter-long commercial street, you can find over 80 Japanese restaurants and bars, all with Japanese signs and menus and Japanese speaking waiters. Here, you can really enjoy Japanese-style nights, with authentic customs and flavors.
Li Gong Di – Modern Leisure Life Palace
Li Gong Di (李公堤) is the only causeway in Jinji Lake of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP). It is a water-side leisure area that represents the most modern face of Suzhou. High-level night clubs and spas are spread around the area and can provide you a luxurious evening. Most clubs here take on a European style. While walking along the Li Gong Di, you can enjoy graceful views of Jinji Lake and relax.
Vocabulary
yú lè
娱乐 Recreation n.
jì niàn bēi
纪 念 碑 Monument n.
tán xiāng mù
檀 香 木 Sandalwood n.
bēi wén
碑 文 Inscriptions n.
