Suzhou’s beauty doesn’t end with its famous gardens. Step off the postcard path, and you’ll find tranquil temples where cats nap under gingko trees, lantern-lit alleys whispering old love stories, and even a futuristic skyscraper shaped like a pair of “autumn pants.” Here are the rest five unforgettable Suzhou experiences that reveal the city’s living charm — where ancient serenity meets modern rhythm.
No.6. Pingjiang Road — A Walk Through 800 Years of Canal Life


The heart of old Suzhou beats softly along Pingjiang Road, a stone-paved waterway that’s existed for over eight centuries. Whitewashed walls, arched bridges, and willow-lined canals create the perfect scene for slow travel.
Locals still live here, hanging laundry by the river or singing traditional pingtan ballads in teahouses. Visit at dusk when red lanterns shimmer on the water — it’s one of the most romantic things to do in Suzhou at night.
Traveler tips:
Rent a hand-rowed boat to glide under low bridges.
Stop by small cafés for osmanthus tea or rose-flavored desserts.
Photographers love the blue-hour reflections after sunset.
No.7. Xiyuan Temple — Cats, Calm, and Vegetarian Noodles



Hidden amid city streets, Xiyuan Temple is Suzhou’s most beloved spiritual retreat. Locals visit for blessings, travelers come for peace — and everyone comes to meet the temple cats lounging in the courtyards.
Walk across the Bridge of Blessings when you enter and the Bridge of Wisdom when you leave — a symbolic journey toward balance. Inside, 500 lifelike Arhats line the halls, each with a distinct expression.
What to experience:
Eat “Guanyin Noodles” — a simple vegetarian bowl with mushrooms, gluten, and bamboo shoots (about 15 RMB).
Feed the pigeons resting on temple eaves; they’re astonishingly tame.
Copy a Buddhist scripture by the lakeside pavilion — a mindful way to slow down during your China tour.
No.8. Hanshan Temple — Where a Poem Echoes Through Time


Few places in China blend literature and spirituality like Hanshan Temple, made immortal by the Tang-dynasty poem “A Night Mooring at Maple Bridge.” Every New Year’s Eve, visitors gather to hear the great bell ring 108 times, symbolizing renewal and good fortune.
> “From the Cold Mountain Temple outside Suzhou city,
> the midnight bell reaches the traveler’s boat.”
Stroll through the temple’s courtyards, light incense for good wishes, and listen as the deep bell tones roll across the river. Come early morning or late evening for soft mist and few tourists.
No.9. Shuangta Market — Street Food Meets Design Culture



Want to taste the real Suzhou? Head to Shuangta Market, a reinvented local bazaar where old flavors meet new aesthetics. By day, it’s a produce market; by night, it transforms into a lively Suzhou street-food hub.
Insider tip: The market’s lighting and murals make it one of Suzhou’s most Instagram-worthy spots at night.
Top picks for your foodie list:
Grandma’s Sweet Soup: taro and mochi balls topped with osmanthus syrup.
Drunken Crab & Shrimp: marinated in Shaoxing wine — sweet, briny, unforgettable.
Crabapple Cake: buttery, fragrant, straight off the griddle.
Stuffed Egg Pancake with Pork Loin: smoky, savory, and dangerously addictive.
No.10. The Gate to the Orient — Where Suzhou Touches the Sky

Locals jokingly call it the “Autumn Pants Tower,” but the 300-meter-tall Gate to the Orient is far more than its nickname. It’s Suzhou’s bold leap into the future — a modern landmark overlooking Jinji Lake.
Here, you can literally walk among the clouds:
Sky Garden at 238 meters: the world’s highest Suzhou-style garden, complete with pavilions and bonsai trees.
Infinity Pool: swim above the city lights as the skyline mirrors the lake below.
Glass Sky Bridge: take a gondola ride through the “Heavenly River,” suspended 40 meters above the street.
Suzhou isn’t a city you just visit — it’s one you feel. Whether you’re sipping tea beside a lotus pond or drifting down a canal under moonlight, every moment whispers stories of elegance and patience. When you leave, the scent of osmanthus and the sound of temple bells may linger — gentle reminders of a place where time moves like water.























Juyongguan is a famous gate along the Great Wall. It is known as one of the three major gates of the Great Wall. It is built along the mountain and is very steep. On the tower of Juyongguan, there is a plaque of “天下第一雄关”, where people like to take photo. Moreover, the mountains are beautiful and the trees are layered on top of each other. The “Juyong Pinnacle” is also the famous scenery around the capital.
After purchasing tickets at the gate of Guancheng, you can enter the scenic spot. There are many cultural attractions in the scenic spot, which enshrine ancient celebrities and record the history of Juyongguan. There is also a small lake next to it, you can visit one by one. At the same time, you can admire the tall and majestic towers underneath the south and north gates of the scenic spot.
Located on the south bank of the picturesque Songhua River, the terminal square of Central Street, Daoli District, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, Harbin Flood Control Memorial Tower was built in 1958 to commemorate the people of Harbin overcoming the great flood in 1957. It is a symbol of this heroic city. It was co-designed by former Soviet designer Bagis Zierev and Harbin Institute of Technology second-generation architect Lee Kuan Yew. The Harbin People’s Flood Control Victory Memorial Tower won the highest honor in the Chinese construction industry.
The full name of the flood control memorial tower is Harbin People’s Flood Control Victory Memorial Tower. The memorial tower consists of a three-dimensional tower body and an attached corridor. The tower is 22.5 meters high. The tower base is made of blocks, which means that the embankment is firm and indestructible. The fountain in front of the tower base, symbolizing the brave and wisdom of the people of Harbin City, are taming the stormy river water into a long stream, benefiting benefits and eliminating troubles, and benefiting the people. The lower level of the tower represents the altitude of 119.72 meters, marking the highest water level when the flood in Harbin was submerged in 1932; the upper level represents the altitude of 120.30 meters, marking the highest water level when the people of the city defeated the flood in 1957. The memorial tower is a cylinder, and the tower body depicts the vivid plot of the victory over the flood in relief. On the top of the tower is a round sculpture of workers, peasants, soldiers and intellectuals, showing the heroic image of defeating the flood. Behind the tower is an ancient Roman-style cloister, which is surrounded by 20 columns, blending with the memorial tower into a scene, to be harmonious and spectacular. This is a tourist attraction worth sightseeing in Harbin.
Xishuangbanna Virgin Forest Park, located to the east of Jinghong and north of Lancang River, 8 kilometers away from the seat of the state capital, is the virgin forest closest to Jinghong City in Quanzhou. The park is built on the basis of 25,000 acres of tropical valley rainforest. The forest coverage rate in the park exceeds 98%. It is a natural oxygen bar. There are gully rain forests, flying peacock, folk songs and dances, delicious food, water splashing carnival and other projects in the park. It is one of the largest comprehensive ecological tourist attractions in Xishuangbanna. The concept of fashionable life with nature, ecology, environmental protection, leisure, health, etc. as the main elements is embodied through the ethnic folk culture season in winter, the peacock culture season in spring, the rainforest culture season in summer and the ethnic costume season in autumn.
In Xishuangbanna, it is not uncommon to be close to animals. It is easy to appreciate the peacocks on the screen and greet the guests and see monkeys playing with people. When you come here, you will be able to fully feel the harmony between man and nature, and between man and animal. In general, Xishuangbanna Virgin Forest Park is famous for its magical tropical rainforest natural landscape and ethnic customs. You can enjoy the air of the natural oxygen bar, see the beauty of the tropical rainforest, and experience minority folk-custom. It is very worth a visit.
Super Brand Mall is located in the Lujiazui Financial Center by the Huangpu River, adjacent to popular attractions such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jinmao Tower, and the World Financial Center. The high-rise buildings of Lujiazui Financial Center can be clearly seen on the skybridge outside the square. It is a good place for photography.
The location of Super Brand Mall is very superior and the transportation is convenient. At Lujiazui Station of Metro Line 2, walk out of the metro station and walk up to the raised bridge, which is connecting all directions, with signs on every side. You can reach Super Brand Mall directly. Super Brand Mall is near the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Ocean Aquarium and other attractions. From the bridge to the Super Brand Mall for shopping, the shopping environment of the entire mall is very good, clean, bright and distinct. You can buy some imported food in the supermarket on the basement level. There are a lot of imported foods here, and they are cheap. There are popular shops such as HM, Gap and CA on the first floor, and there are usually discounts. There are several restaurants on the 8th floor that you can also try.
World-famous chef Jean Georges copied the restaurant of the same name he opened in Manhattan, New York to the Bund in Shanghai, and this is the Jean Georges Restaurant. French cuisine is not only tasteful, but also looks like a work of art. The decoration of Jean Georges restaurant is mainly in light and bright colors, with white as the base tone, with light orange flowers and yellow warm lights, showing a sophisticated modern restaurant, creating a unique romance and elegance. You can enjoy the beauty of the Pujiang River by the window here.
Since its opening in 2004, Jean Georges French Restaurant has become a model of contemporary high-end dining in Shanghai with its innovative dishes, rich collection of wines and attentive service, and has welcomed countless gluttonous diners. The restaurant was fully renovated at the end of 2015 and reopened in April 2016. The renewed Jean-Georges includes a main dining area, 3 private rooms, a bar, and two open kitchens. The French restaurant Jean Georges is known to enjoy the pinnacle of modern French cuisine in an elegant environment. Remember that if there are infants and young children going to the restaurant, it is best to have lunch at noon. The restaurant does not accept diners with infants and young children into the restaurant for dinner.
Xuanwu Lake Park is located at the foot of Zhongshan Mountain. It is a large-scale imperial garden lake in China. Together with Jiaxing South Lake and Hangzhou West Lake, it is called the “Three Famous Lakes in regions south of the Yangtze River”.
You can take a pedal boat or electric boat to tour the lake, and it is very pleasant to see the five oases and the surrounding city scenery on the lake. Of course, to appreciate the beauty of Xuanwu Lake Park, you need to walk up to five oasis and take a slow tour. There are bridges and embankments between the five oases, so you can walk freely. When you visit Yingzhou in spring, you can see cherry blossoms full of branches, and there is also a lotus garden here, which is a good place to see lotus flowers and take photos.