Home China Tours Suzhou Tours 2-Day Essential Suzhou and Tongli Water Town Tour

2-Day Essential Suzhou and Tongli Water Town Tour

Tailor Make Your Tour:
  • Your Schedule
  • Your Interests
  • Your Hotel Tastes
From US$389 p/p

Based on 2 persons & 4-star hotel

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The world heritage gardens and the nearby water towns are two highlights of Suzhou that should not be missed. This tour offers a great chance to appreciate Suzhou's classical gardens and Tongli water town. Explore the biggest classical garden and the smallest stone bridge. Take a small boat in Tongli for a leisurely trip.

Highlights

  • Visit one of China's top four gardens—the Humble Administrator's Garden
  • Appreciate one of the smallest but also one of the most ingenious gardens—the Garden of the Master of Nets
  • Take a rickshaw ride in Suzhou's alleys and catch a glimpse of local people's lives
  • Stroll around in Tongli water town and relax on the boat trip there

Suggested Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1Private Transfer from Shanghai to Suzhou, Appreciate Suzhou's Gardens
Lunch Pan Pacific Suzhou (5-star)/ Jasmine Holiday Inn (4-star)

Activities

Your private guide will be waiting for you at your hotel. Starting from the hotel in Shanghai, you should arrive in Suzhou in about 1.5 hours, via a comfortable non-smoking vehicle.

Note: If you prefer to take a bullet train, we can arrange train tickets.

Enjoy a hassle-free transfer to Suzhou, and start your exploration at the biggest classical garden there, Humble Administrator's Garden. Your guide will help you understand more about the garden, especially its history. See picturesque pools, pavilions, and rocks.

Have lunch at a local Suzhou restaurant. The most famous Suzhou food is Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish. The fish is sweet and sour, cooked in the shape of a squirrel.

Humble Administrator's Garden Humble Administrator's Garden
Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish

The Garden of the Master of Nets is only 1/6 of the size of the Humble Administrator's Garden, but it is the most ingenious classical garden in Suzhou. It also has the smallest stone bridge in Suzhou—only 2 meters long.

Take a rickshaw ride to explore the alleys of Suzhou, where local people live. You will find a hammam (a communal bathhouse), food markets, ancient wells, and stone pagodas, and you'll probably see people washing clothes by the river.

Rickshaw Ride Rickshaw Ride
Nets Master Garden Nets Master Garden

After the trip, we'll take you back to your hotel in Suzhou.

An Evening Recommendation

The “Night Garden” in the Garden of the Master of Nets is a good place to enjoy a live traditional Chinese music performance. Ping tan (storytelling and ballad singing in the Suzhou dialect), Kunqu Opera, flute, and Chinese zither are all performed in different halls.

Opening times: mid-March to mid-November, 19:30–22:00

Day 2 Tongli Water Town Leisure Tour

Our service includes

  • Our 1-to-1 expert China consultancy with unlimited itinerary changes
  • Booking of China internal flights, trains, and cruises, per your preferences
  • Your own China-Highlights-trained, versatile and knowledgeable tour guide
  • Your own chauffeured and comfortable vehicle, chosen for ample space
  • Hand-picking of hotels for your requirements
  • Hotel breakfasts arranged, and local restaurant lunches ordered, to suit you
  • Entry to all attractions on your itinerary, with queues avoided wherever possible
  • Our 24-7 helpline for while you are travelling

Trip Notes

Customizing the Tour — According to Your Needs

This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary, and extend or shorten it to suit your schedule.

For example, you can extend it by 1 day to visit Shanghai or 2 days to add a tea culture experience in Hangzhou.

What's the Best Time to Visit Suzhou?

You can visit Suzhou at any time. Every season has its own peculiar beauty. Beautiful flowers in spring and colorful leaves in autumn make spring and autumn most popular. Avoid Chinese national holidays like May 1st, or the China National Day holiday (Oct. 1st-7th).

Suzhou & Neighbors

Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai are the most famous cities of the Yangtz Delta. The other two places are convenient to reach from Suzhou at a short distance.

Destination Train Schedule Duration What to do
Shanghai 5:00–23:00
146 trains per day		 26m–1hour Add Shanghai before or after the Suzhou tour, and see the essence of Shanghai: Yuyuan Garden, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Bund.
Hangzhou 8:00–19:00
13 trains per day		 1hour 26m– 2hours 6m Extend to Hangzhou to see the beautiful West Lake, experience Grand Canyon culture, and taste Dragon Well (Longjing) tea.