Suzhou's proximity to Shanghai makes it an obvious choice for day or weekend trips to get away from the big city. Additionally, it is a convenient stop on the way to Shanghai from Beijing as well.

Shanghai Airport to Suzhou

Airport Shuttle

Both Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports are serviced by a shuttle bus to Suzhou. The bus departs the Pudong (PVG) airport, stops at Hongqiao (SHA) airport, and then continues on to Suzhou. It has two arrival points in Suzhou - one in Suzhou's SIP area (1st stop - eastern end) and one downtown (2nd/main stop - western/central end).

From Pudong Airport, the price is 82 RMB/passenger. It runs at the following times:
10:50 11:50 12:50 13:50 14:40 15:20 16:10 16:50 17:50 18:50

The bus leaves from the outer-cities bus terminal, just outside the arrivals hall. To reach it, follow these instructions:

1. After getting your luggage and exiting the arrivals area, you enter the Main Hall (ground level). Turn right and go to the end of the Hall. You'll see an escalator.
2. Take the escalator to the second floor and proceed through the overpass doors immediately to your right. This bridge will take you across the road towards the parking area.
3. About 1/3 of the way down the hallway you will see an elevator that goes down to the parking area. Take it, or the adjoining stairs one floor down and exit into the parking lot. To your left should be the parking garage and to your right will be a number of parked buses and the gated exit.
4. Just pass the buses is a small building with a ticket window. Purchase your ticket here.

Train

To get to Suzhou by train, follow these instructions to get to the Shanghai train station, and then look below for information on getting to Suzhou by train.

The Shanghai train station is accessible from the airport only with several transfers.

1. Follow the signs in the PVG terminal to the MagLev (Magnetic Levitation Train - the fastest train in the world!). The MagLev will take you to the Longyang Rd. station.
2. Exiting the MagLev you will see signs to the Shanghai subway (map). Take the #2 (Green) line to the People's Square (Renmin Guangchang) stop. Here, transfer to the #1 (Red) line north to the Shanghai Railway Station.

From Shanghai City

By Train

1. Navigate your way to the front of the train station and enter the hall that says Tickets/Today Tickets. There is a ticket booth here for English speakers. It is often crowded with non-English ticket buyers, but put your elbows out, and join the scrum.
2. Train tickets to Suzhou are frequent and you'll not likely need to wait for more than 30-45 minutes.
3. Train times to Suzhou vary between 35 minutes (on the new bullet trains) and about 50 minutes on the regular trains. All trains arrive at Suzhou's main train station.
4. Upon exiting the train station, directly in front of you will be a taxi stand with what is usually a long line of people waiting for a lift.
5. A Your China Pal can be waiting for you upon arrival and help guide you to your accommodations.

By Bus

coming soon.

From Beijing

By plane

Suzhou has no domestic airport of its own, but as it is quite near Shanghai's Hongqiao airport, it has little need for one. If you are coming from Beijing, simply fly to Shanghai's Hongqiao airport (SHA), and follow the Airport Shuttle instructions above.

By train

China Rail offers several trains coming from Beijing that stop in Suzhou. The trip takes between 8 and 12 hours, but is usually an overnight train, so the time passes quickly. Click here for a Beijing to Suzhou train schedule.

Upon arrival in Suzhou, a Your China Pal can be waiting for you to help assist you to your accommodations.