Suzhou Transport
An important tourist destination in China, Suzhou is well connected by air, train, and land. Bullet trains connect Suzhou to other major cities, including Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Huangshan. Suzhou has four metro lines that connect different parts of the city.
Here are some fast and easy ways for you to travel to Suzhou and get around the city.
Trains to Suzhou
There are four railway stations in Suzhou that offer advanced bullet trains and ordinary trains to nearby cities and beyond. They connect Suzhou by rail to Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and other cities.
The following two stations have the most daily trains:
The Entrance of Suzhou Railway Station
- Suzhou Railway Station is situated in the downtown area, making it a convenient place from which tourists can arrive or depart from Suzhou. There are around 130 high-speed trains and more than 50 ordinary trains running between Shanghai and Suzhou daily. Most of the trains start from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station and Shanghai Railway Station. There are frequent trains to nearby Nanjing, Hangzhou, Wuxi, and other cities.
- Suzhou North Railway Station is further from the city center than Suzhou Train Station and caters to bullet trains only. It is located on the popular Shanghai–Beijing High-speed Railway. There are over 70 trains connecting Shanghai Hongqiao Station and Shanghai Station with Suzhou North Railway Station daily. It also offers 20 fast trains to Beijing South Railway Station every day.
You can book train tickets to and from Suzhou here
Flights to Suzhou
Suzhou does not have its own airport at present, as it is very close to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Pudong International Airport, and Wuxi Sunan Shuofang International Airport.
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) is 86 km (53 mi) from Suzhou. Upon arrival, you can walk to the nearby Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station and then take a bullet train to Suzhou (around 25–35 minutes).
- Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) is about 150 km (92 mi) from Suzhou. Daily airport buses run between the airport and Suzhou city (around 2½ to 3 hours one way).
- Wuxi Sunan Shuofang Airport (WUX) is the nearest airport from Suzhou (about an hour‘s bus ride from/to Suzhou North Square Station).
Long-Distance Bus to Suzhou
Suzhou is known as the Southeast Gate of Shanghai and Zhejiang Province due to its well-developed highway network. There are 4 long-distance bus stations in the city. The two most useful stations for travelers are Suzhou South Bus Station and Suzhou North Square Bus Station.
- Suzhou South Bus Station (苏州汽车南站) is located at 604, Nanhuan Road East. You can take a bus to Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Huzhou, Shanghai, and other nearby cities.
- Suzhou North Square Bus Station (苏州北广场汽车站) is in the North Square of Suzhou Railway Station and has buses to Shanghai, including Shanghai Pudong Airport and Hongqiao Airport, and other places in Jiangsu Province, such as Tongli Water Town, Zhouzhuang Water Town, and Wuxi Shuofang Airport.
Transportation in Suzhou
Suzhou city has a modern transportation system to support visitors and locals alike.
Metro
Suzhou has 4 metro lines that cover Suzhou Railway Station, Suzhou North Railway Station, Mudu Water Town, Shantang Jie (Shantang Street), and other places.
Line 1 is from Mudu to Zhongnan Street (Green Line), Line 2 connects Sangtian Dao and Qihe (Red Line), Line 3 runs from Suzhou New District Train Station to Weiting (Yellow Line), and Line 4 runs from Longdaobing to Tongli (Blue Line). The ticket price ranges from CN￥2 (US$0.25) to CN￥8 (US$1) according to the distance traveled.
City Bus
Although city buses are not usually the first choice of foreign travelers, it is a good idea to take them as they cover a lot of the city. Ticket prices range from CN￥1 to CN￥3 per person one way based on the route and distance.
Passengers should check the sign on the bus stop to know the fare and route. There is no fare collector on the bus, so ensure that you have enough loose change before boarding.
Suzhou Bus
Taxi
If you would like to travel with greater comfort and privacy, you could take taxis instead of using public transport. The starting taxi fare is CN￥10 for the first 3 km (1 mi). Taxis operate 24/7 in Suzhou, but there are different fares for different times of the day. In addition, taxis may be hard to get during the peak travel times of 7–10 a.m. and 5–8 p.m.
SND Tram
There are two tram lines operating in Suzhou. Line 1 runs between Suzhou Amusement Land (Shizhishan Station) and Xiyangshan Station, while Line 2 connects Longkang Lu Station and Wenchang Lu Station. The fare is CN￥2 per person for a single ride.
Bicycle
China is called the kingdom of bikes and for good reason. Bicycles are the most popular mode of transportation in the country. You can rent a bicycle from some youth hostels or bicycle shops. You could also rent a public bicycle if you have a subscription card.
Rickshaw
Suzhou boasts many classic Chinese water towns and scenic spots. There are plenty of streets and alleys that are too narrow for a bus or a taxi to pass through. Rickshaws are a great way to navigate older and more congested neighborhoods and will give you a taste of local life in the city. While you can definitely try haggling over the rate, the usual cost of taking a rickshaw is around CN￥10.
Suzhou Rickshaw
Suzhou Tour with China Travel
If you choose to take a personalized private tour with us, your private tour guide and driver will pick you up from any place you want. Enjoy a hassle-free trip with us! Here are our most popular Suzhou tours:
Our tours are flexible and can be tailor-made to your tour needs.
Related Tours
If you would like to do a slightly longer trip, you can check out some of the other tour itineraries we offer.
How to Travel between Shanghai and Suzhou
