Suzhou Transport

Suzhou is located in Eastern China, with a history of over 2,500 years, and is referred to as the "paradise on earth." Suzhou's location is strategic, nestled between Nanjing and Shanghai, and is an important part of the Yangtze River Delta economic zone.

Suzhou is well-connected with highways, railways, air routes, and waterways, and it easily connects with major cities domestically and internationally.

Here are some fast and easy ways for you to travel to Suzhou and get around the city.

How to Get to & around Suzhou 

Suzhou Flights

Suzhou doesn't have its own airport, but it's close to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and Wuxi Sunan Shuofang International Airport. from where you can easily reach Suzhou. Generally, it takes less than 2 hours to reach Suzhou from these airports by high-speed train or long-distance bus.

• 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 to Suzhou (about an hour‘s bus ride from/to Suzhou North Square Station).

Shuttle Bus Services between Suzhou and Shanghai Hongqiao/Pudong Airports 

Suzhou Trains

Suzhou has convenient rail transport connections to Suzhou Station, Suzhou North Railway Station, Suzhou New District Station, and Suzhou Industrial Park Station. The most important ones are Suzhou Train Station and Suzhou North Railway Station. High-speed trains directly connect Suzhou to Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, and other cities, making it very convenient.

Suzhou's railway transportation is composed of national trunk railways and intercity railways, such as Beijing-Shanghai Railway, Shanghai-Nanjing Intercity High-Speed Railway, Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, and Shanghai-Suzhou-Tongzhou Railway. 

• 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. You can reach here by taking one of the following buses: 7, 40, 85, 204, 303 to Suzhou South Square Station, or taking one of the No. 8, 10, 522, 529, 9016, 9035M, Tourist Line 1, Tourist Line 5, Haohang Line 1 to Suzhou North Square Station.
• 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 reach here by taking one of the following buses: 3, 83, 84, 811, 813, 817, 823, 824, 866, 867, 871, 873, 877, Express Line 7, Night Line 4, Night Line 7, Night Line 9, Custom Line to Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Rail Suzhou North Station, or taking No.832 to High-Speed Rail Suzhou North Station East.

You can book train tickets to and from Suzhou here

Suzhou Long-Distance Bus

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. You can reach here by taking one of the following buses: 3, 16, 60, 62, 66, 67, 92, 101, 108, 200, 308, 501, 504, 512, 514, 529 to the South Bus Station.
• 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. You can reach here by taking one of the following buses: 518, 202, 178, 119, Express Line 6, 83, 38, 26, 1, Tour 4, Tour 1, Express Line 2, 712, 502, 317, 219, 102, 80, 69, 50, 33, 19, Tour 3, 529, 522, 166, 81, 79, 44, 40, 10, 8, 7, 6, or Tour 5 to Suzhou North Square Bus Station East or Suzhou Station Road.

Shanghai to Suzhou Transfer

There are many ways to travel from Shanghai to Suzhou, and here are a few suggestions:

• Bullet Train: This might be the most convenient and fast method. High-speed trains between Shanghai and Suzhou operate numerous times a day, requiring approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the type of train you choose. You can take the train from either Shanghai Hongqiao Station or Shanghai Station.
• Long-Distance Bus: Another option from Shanghai to Suzhou is the long-distance bus, which takes about 2-3 hours. Long-distance buses to Suzhou can be found in major bus stations in Shanghai, such as Shanghai South Long-Distance Bus Station and Pudong Long-Distance Bus Station.
• Taxi: If you are not concerned about the cost and prefer a more direct and private way, you may consider taking a taxi. 

Transportation in Suzhou

Suzhou City has a modern transportation system to support visitors and locals alike.

Suzhou Metro

The Suzhou metro, with its modern and swift features, has become the main mode of transport for locals and tourists.

Suzhou has 6 metro lines covering the whole city and various major tourist attractions, such as Suzhou Railway Station, Suzhou North Railway Station, Mudu Water Town, Shantang Jie (Shantang Street)

The ticket price ranges from CNY2 (US$0.25) to CNY8 (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 CNY1 to CNY3 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.

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 CNY10 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 CNY2 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 CNY10.

Tour Suzhou with Us

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:

• Half-Day Suzhou Cycling Tour
• 1-Day Suzhou Classic Tour
• 1-Day Suzhou and Tongli Water Town Tour from Shanghai

Our tours are flexible and can be tailor-made to your tour needs.

Related Reading

If you would like to do a slightly longer trip, read How to Travel between Shanghai and Suzhou.