Suzhou is located in southern Jiangsu Province in the center of the Yangtze Delta. Shanghai lies to the east, Zhejiang Province to the south, Wuxi City to the west and the Yangtze River to the north. The city is divided by the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal from north to south. Since 42% area of the city is covered by water, including a vast number of ponds and streams, it is praised as the 'Venice of the Orient'. Built in 514 BC, this is an ancient city with over 2,500 years of history and numerous points of interest. The unique characteristics of the past are still retained today. The double-chessboard layout of the city, with 'the streets and rivers going side by side while the water and land routes running in parallel', is preserved intact.

The mild climate makes the city a desirable destination all year round. Touring the wonderful ancient water towns in the vicinity or lingering in the exquisite classical gardens in the downtown area, you will truly know the charm of a 'paradise on earth'. As the saying goes - 'Gardens to the south of the Yangtze River are the best in the world, and Suzhou gardens are the best among them'. These gardens attain their high reputation not only for their vast numbers, but also for their charming natural beauty and harmonious construction. At present more than 60 gardens are kept intact in the city, and some of them have been listed in the World Heritage List.

Praised as the 'Oriental Venice', Suzhou features a scenic water town with numerous ponds and streams. Our exquisite private Suzhou tour package will enthrall you with the unique and lingering charm of its city landscape, especially the fantastic gardens, which have high reputation for their tranquil beauty, featured landscapes and delicate architecture. Besides touring in Suzhou city, you will also have side trips to Hangzhou, Tongli and Zhouzhuang water towns to explore the traditional towns in east China.

Visit Suzhou Gardens

What makes Suzhou an attractive place for many travelers is the city's classical gardens. It is nicknamed the City of Gardens for possessing more than 60 gardens. Some of the best well-known are the Blue Wave Pavilion, Lion Grove Garden, Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lingering Garden. These four gardens respectively show the artistic styles of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Often two or three gardens are sufficient for most visitors although each of them has its own features. If you are keen on architecture, history and scenery, Suzhou Gardens won't disappoint you.

Explore the Water Towns in Southern China

When traveling to cities in the Yangtze River Delta, a trip to one of the ancient water towns is well worth experiencing. One can enjoy the old streets, antique residential houses, charming waterscape, various bridges and traditional folk customs.
Some of the most popular water towns are Tongli, Nanxun, Zhouzhuang, Luzhi, Wuzhen and Xitang. Though built hundreds or even over one thousand years ago, these water towns have integrally retained their original style and historical charm. Only a short distance from Suzhou, any of these water towns makes a very good choice for a day-trip.

What is the best time to visit Suzhou?

Best time to visit: March to May & September to October.
Suzhou has a subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. The weather is often mild and moist, neither too hot nor very cold. As the seasons change, Suzhou Gardens greet visitors with different beauty. The exquisite garden architecture coupled with blooming flowers in spring, lush green trees in summer, glorious colors in autumn and silver-coated scene in winter will bring you an unforgettable travel experience.