Travel Guide

The Humble Administrator's Garden is located at No. 178 Dongbei Street, Gusu District, Suzhou City. It is one of China's Four Great Classical Gardens and the largest and most famous garden in Suzhou. It was built during the Ming Dynasty and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Humble Administrator's Garden is centered around water, with mountains and rivers winding through it, exquisite halls and pavilions, and lush flowers and trees, embodying the rich characteristics of the Jiangnan water towns. It is known as the 'Mother of Chinese Gardens'. The entire garden is divided into three parts: East, Central, and West, each with its unique features. The East Garden is open and spacious, the Central Garden is the essence of the entire garden, and the West Garden features delicate architecture. The Humble Administrator's Garden is an important window for understanding traditional Chinese garden art and Jiangnan culture.

Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, located in Kunshan City, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, is China's first water town. It is famous for its unique Jiangnan water village style with small bridges, flowing water, and riverside homes, boasting nearly a thousand years of history and being a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction. The town features crisscrossing rivers, numerous ancient bridges, and residential houses built along the water, preserving a large number of Ming and Qing dynasty buildings.

Guanqian Street is a famous commercial street in the center of Suzhou, with a total area of 0.52 square kilometers. This old street, with over 1300 years of history, is famous for its grand Taoist architectural complex, including the Zhenqing Taoist Temple (later renamed Xuanmiao Temple) with nine rooms. There are also about ten temples on the street. Guanqian Street is named for its location in front of Xuanmiao Temple and has undergone multiple renovations since 1930. In June 1982, the street was designated as a 'pedestrian street' by the municipal government, and a new night market was established. Guanqian Street is known as one of China's four famous pedestrian streets (the other three are Nanjing Confucius Temple, Shanghai City God Temple, and Beijing Tianqiao). Guanqian Street is themed around dining, shopping, and entertainment, featuring hundreds of shops, restaurants, bars, stores, and clubs. These buildings have an antique style, surrounded by colorful signs and neon lights. This 760-meter long street is divided into three sections: East, Middle, and West. The East section features historical ancient buildings, the Middle section is mainly Xuanmiao Temple, and the West section primarily consists of fashion stores. Strolling along Guanqian Street is a favorite pastime for locals. Today, the restored Guanqian Street attracts not only Suzhou locals but also tourists from all over, as it blends commerce, culture, religion, and cuisine. The street is home to many famous century-old shops, such as Huangtianyuan, Sanwanchang, and Caizhizhai, which are renowned both domestically and internationally. It is the presence of these century-old shops that makes Guanqian Street not only a typical commercial street but also a showcase of Suzhou's culture. Tourists are drawn to these century-old shops for the wide variety of Jiangnan delicacies available. At the same time, some shops boast over a century of history, leaving a deep impression on visitors, and many tourists come to Guanqian Street specifically to enjoy the food.

Yipu Garden, also known as one of Suzhou's classical gardens like Humble Administrator's Garden, Lion Grove Garden, and Lingering Garden, is the best-preserved example of a Ming Dynasty classical garden in Suzhou. It was founded in 1541 by Yuan Zugeng, originally named 'Zuiying Hall'. In 1620, Wen Zhenmeng acquired and rebuilt the garden, renaming it 'Yaopu' (Medicine Garden). In 1659, Jiang Cai rebuilt it again, renaming it 'Jingting Mountain Villa'. Later, Jiang Cai's son, Jiang Shijie, inherited the garden and renamed it 'Yipu' (Art Garden) because Guanyin was enshrined within. In 2000, Yipu Garden was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Yipu Garden covers an area of 3967 square meters, divided into an eastern residential complex and a western garden. Its exquisite layout and profound cultural heritage embody the highest achievements of Chinese classical garden art.

Tiger Hill Scenic Area is located in Gusu District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. It is a famous tourist destination and a World Cultural Heritage site, renowned for its unique natural scenery and rich historical relics. Legend has it that it was named either because its shape resembles a crouching tiger, or because a white tiger appeared to guard it. The hill is over 30 meters high, covers an area of approximately 20 hectares, and boasts a history of tourism spanning over a thousand years, with numerous poems and calligraphies left by literati throughout the ages. Wu Wang Helü is buried here, and the Yunyan Temple, founded in 327 AD, is also located on the hill.

Shantang Street, approximately 3829.6 meters long, connects Changmen Gate and Tiger Hill. It was built by Bai Juyi during the Tang Dynasty when he excavated the Shantang River, using the excavated silt. Due to its long history and rich cultural heritage, this street is known as 'Gusu's First Street' and was listed as a 'National Historical and Cultural Street' in China in 2015. Today, Shantang Street is a famous tourist destination in Suzhou, where visitors can admire well-preserved ancient buildings and bridges, and experience the unique charm of a Jiangnan water town.

Cherry Pork is a traditional famous dish from the Suzhou region of Jiangsu Province, belonging to Su Cuisine. Its characteristics are a bright red color, cherry-like shape, tender and melt-in-your-mouth texture, moderately sweet and savory taste, and rich without being greasy.

An iconic glutinous rice porridge topped with red bean paste, osmanthus sugar, and brown sugar, it is a popular traditional dessert in Shanghai, Suzhou, and surrounding areas.

Stir-fried Eggs with Taihu Whitebait is a traditional famous dish from Wuxi, Jiangsu province. It uses Taihu whitebait, a local specialty, as the main ingredient, stir-fried with fresh eggs. The whitebait has tender flesh and a delicious taste, perfectly combined with the rich texture of eggs. It is characterized by being nutritious, light, and savory.

Osmanthus Euryale Seeds is a dessert primarily made from euryale seeds (gorgon fruit) and osmanthus flowers. It has a soft, glutinous, and sweet taste with the unique fragrance of osmanthus. It is common in the Jiangnan region, especially around Suzhou, and is often enjoyed as a seasonal dessert.

Suzhou soup dumpling is a type of soup dumpling from the Jiangnan region of Jiangsu, and is one of the representative dishes of Jiangnan cuisine. It has a thin skin, a generous filling, and a fresh, sweet soup, making it a traditional Suzhou snack.

Stir-fried Shrimp is a common home-style dish, primarily made with fresh shrimp, often paired with a small amount of vegetables such as peas and corn, and cooked by stir-frying. The dish has a refreshing color, tender texture, and a savory-umami flavor.