Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In
Off the Beaten Path in Suzhou
Search:

Home » Travel Guides » Asia » China » Jiangsu Sheng » Suzhou » Off the Beaten Path

Suzhou Hotels

Real reviews from real travelers.

Suzhou Off the Beaten Path

Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Suzhou attractions, posted by real travelers and locals.
Suzhou Map
Suzhou Off the Beaten PathTips 1 - 10 of 17  
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
Gardens at Suzhou Sheraton Hotel
  • Tip Rating:
  • By mke1963 on May 12, 2005
  • Suzhou Page by mke1963
    • Suzhou Off the Beaten Path
    by mke1963
    It is very difficult to find any hotel in China that isn't simply a slab-sided skyscraper rising out of busy streets, but the Sheraton in Suzhou is a very different affair.
    The whole hotel complex is closely modelled on classical Suzhou architecture (of which there is very little left because of all the demolition in the city) with beautiful courtyard gardens. These gardens are worth visiting in their own right, and are free of charge. Just wander around looking like you have $180 a night to spend and the place is yours for the day.
    The garden where most guests gather for the obligatory squat and click is actualy the least interesting part. Head off along the paths to find little courtyards everywhere. Some of these are best seen from inside the hotel through the frames of the windows. Several more courtyards are hidden away between the huge blank front wall and several of the restaurants, so go left or right out of the entrance of the hotel to look down into the 'wells'.
    I don't know who designed this whole complex but it is one of the rchitectural and landscaping marvels of China.
    Address: 259 Xinshi Lu, Suzhou

    Leave a Comment

  • Phone: 0512 6510 3388
  • Website: http:/www.sheraton.com/suzhou
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Suzhou?

    Read reviews about Suzhou Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    The Museum of Ancient Chinese Sex Culture
  • Tip Rating:
    • Paul2001
  • By Paul2001 on January 9, 2008
  • Suzhou Page by Paul2001
    • Suzhou Off the Beaten Path
    by Paul2001, 1 more photos
    The Museum of Ancient Chines Sex Culture is one of the more interesting and provocative attractions within Tongli. The museum is a collection of 1,200 artifacts relating to sex activity. The artifacts are divided up into various categories such as the repression of women, sexual positions, sexual devices, homosexuality and various kinky aspects towards sexual activity. These displays are spread out in two buildings that once held a girls school. I was surprised by the maturity of the exhibitions. Clearly the intention here is to educated rather than exploit. Just the same I might recommend that you do not bring the kids along.
    The museum is open daily from 8:30am to 5pm.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Wumen Qiao
  • Tip Rating:
  • By mke1963 on April 29, 2005
  • Suzhou Page by mke1963
    • Suzhou Off the Beaten Path
    by mke1963
    There are few bridges as typical of China than the Wumen Qiao, crossing the moat at the south-western corner of Suzhou’s old town. Sadly, the neighbouring area – described in every guidebook – has been flattened in the last few months. Your chance to see the Wumen Qiao striding across the wide canal alongside the old waterside buildings has gone forever. Presumably something new and charming will spring up in its place but the authenticity will have disappeared. One day China will wake up and want to see its heritage and it will all have been replaced by kitsch and poor-quality reproductions. Quite frankly, I’m not particularly bothered: it’s not my heritage. I do my best to promote it and encourage responsible development, but its up to China and the Chinese people to make their decisions.
    Despite the spectacular beauty of the Wumen Qiao, a horrendous group of black cables is strung obtrusively across the canal alongside.
    All you can do now is walk across the bridge and imagine how beautiful it must have been just a few months ago, with both banks crowded with houses and people earning their livelihoods. Suzhou has, again, made a classic decision that is incrementally lessening the attraction of the city: why not just get rid of all the gardens and replace them with factories making ball-bearings and automobile wing-mirrors. Then you can finally get rid of all those pesky tourists and look just like any other Chinese small city.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Hanshan Temple
  • Tip Rating:
    • yipsufen
  • Updated By yipsufen on June 20, 2004
  • Suzhou Page by yipsufen
    • An Arched Bridge at Hanshan Temple - Suzhou
    An Arched Bridge at
    Hanshan Temple
    by yipsufen
    The temple became famous because of a poem which reads:
    "The moon goes down, crows cry under a frosty sky. Dimly lit fishing boats, beneath maples sadly lie. Beyond the Suzhou walls, the Temple of Cold Hill chimes bells, which reaches my boat, breaking the midnight still."

    The sound of bells here is believed to eliminate one's worries. This attraction is popular among Japanese tourists. There are traditional activities to welcome the New Year on New Year's Eve.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    "Historic Village (2)
    coolpanda87
  • By coolpanda87 on January 19, 2004
  • Suzhou Page by coolpanda87
    • Historic Village - Suzhou
    Historic Village
    by coolpanda87

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Suzhou?

    Read reviews about Suzhou Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Temple of Wu Zixu at Panmen
  • By mke1963 on May 12, 2005
  • Suzhou Page by mke1963
    • Suzhou Off the Beaten Path
    by mke1963
    A senior official of the Wu Kingdom in the Spring and Autumn Period was grand master Wu Zixu. He was the second son of a senior minister in the Chu Kingdom, Wu She. In the seventh year of the reign of King Ping Wang of the Chu (522BCE), Wu She was murdered by the Chu king, so the son, Wu Zixu, headed for the Wu kingdom and the refuge of Helu, whom he helped to assasinate the Wu king Liao, so paving the way for Helu to become the monarch. In 514BCE, Wu Zixu was at King Helu's side as they built the great city of Helu (present day Suzhou), and then managed the army, administartive matters and national security.
    In gratitude, the king granted him the territory of Shen, so Wu became Shen Xu. But over time, the king and his erstwhile loyal servant grew apart: Wu tried to persuade Helu not to attack the Qi kingdom, and to avoid peace with the Yue. Eventually Wu was required, as an act of great loyalty, to commit suicide with a ceremonial sword. Seemingly almost immediately, the king regretted his foolishness, albeit a little bit too late, and built a temple for Wu Zixu at a place by the river at the Panmen Gate.
    Sadly, over the centuries, the temple disappeared and the structure standing today was constructed in 1988.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Suzhou downtwon - Guan Qian Street
    yirutang
  • By yirutang on May 30, 2006
  • Suzhou Page by yirutang
    • Suzhou Off the Beaten Path
    by yirutang
    Apart from popular tourist spot, maybe you would like to explorer some of the city's real life and then Guan Qian Street is the place to go. It has been and is still the downtown of Suzhou. Again the place was full remodeled a couple of years ago but the old style of architectures are preserved there. On the street, you will still be able to find shops with hundres of years selling traditional Suzhou snacks, desserts, noodle soups and dinners. There is an small street besides it has a lot of resturants including some famous suzhou cuisine resturants such as "De Yue Lou", "Wang Si Jiu Jia". But I haven't been to those resturants for year myself so I really don't have an opinion on them.

    "Guan Qian" street means before the temple. The central of the street is ChengHuang temple. Nearly every city in the old China has a ChengHuang temple. It is almost like a city hall for the city. It is a place for gathering and pray. A lot of the love stories in old China happen in such temples because it is the only place a mistress can go outside her home.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Suzhou Highschool
    yirutang
  • By yirutang on May 30, 2006
  • Suzhou Page by yirutang
    • Suzhou Off the Beaten Path
    by yirutang
    Generally speaking, Suzhouness is known to be good at academics and arts but poor at politics, military and probably business. As Suzhou's best high school always, this school has produced a lot of well known scientist and experts.

    Suzhou High School is one the 13 top high schools across China. Same as suzhou, it has such a long history (built from 1035 A.C) that itself could become a point of interest. If you have chance to visit the school, I am sure you will get to know Suzhou better.

    There is a temple for KongZi besides the school which is a place I would recommend to go and take a look. It is not made into a tourist spot so that it preserves its original peaceful and tranquility. The architure and all kinds of stone crafted chinese calliphony are magenificent to me.

    Leave a Comment

  • Website: http://www.szzx1000.com/portal/style/detail.jsp?DocID=419
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Shi Quan Street
    yirutang
  • Updated By yirutang on May 30, 2006
  • Suzhou Page by yirutang
    • Suzhou Off the Beaten Path
    by yirutang
    In chinese, the street means "have it all". The street is as old as "GuanQian" street. As of tourist shopping, I think you can get more on that street instead of "GuanQian" street because there are a lot of crafts and silk shop on that street. Nowadays, the street also became a gathering for different bars and modern teahouse for locals to go. So on that street the oppotunity to see local people is much more than other places listed in my blog.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    The Suzhou Indutrial Park Garden
    snuggie
  • By snuggie on February 4, 2006
  • Suzhou Page by snuggie
    • Suzhou Off the Beaten Path
    by snuggie
    The garden near the Suzhou industrial Park served as a place for relaxing & family outings.

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    1 | 2
    More Suzhou Tips
    Overview
         		Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 35 - Photos: 28
    Things To Do
    Tips: 225 - Photos: 357    		Nightlife
    Tips: 12 - Photos: 15
    Transportation
    Tips: 21 - Photos: 13    		Restaurants
    Tips: 18 - Photos: 22
    Shopping
    Tips: 17 - Photos: 15    		Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 17 - Photos: 21
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 2 - Photos: 3    		Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 2 - Photos: 0
    Local Customs
    Tips: 6 - Photos: 6    		Packing Lists
    » Add a tip now
    Sports Travel
    » Add a tip now    		General Tips
    Tips: 29 - Photos: 33
    Best Suzhou Travel Deals

    Lodging Hotel
    Up to 50% off Hotels at Expedia. No Expedia change or cancel fees!

    Find Local Hotels
    Let Switchboard Help Find Local Hotels in the New York Area.

    Hotels in Suzhou, China
    Great for business or leisure. No Booking Fees. Book direct!

    Suzhou Accommodation
    Hotels, B&Bs, Suites and more Book online Now. Pay at Checkout.

    Newark NJ Hotel
    Minutes from Manhattan. Save 75% Over NYC Hotels in Downtown Newark!

    Sponsored Links

    More Suzhou Travel Deals

    Crowne Plaza Suzhou
    Official Site. Upscale hotel located in Suzhou.

    Hotel Discount: Suzhou
    Save Up To 70%. Hotels For Every Budget. Free Transfers. Book Now.

    Deals in Suzhou
    Suzhou's best hotel deals. Save your money and time!

    Sponsored Links

    Suzhou Hotels

    Cheap hotels from
    Cheap flights from
    Cheap car rentals from
    Cheap cruises from
    Cheap vacations from




    About VirtualTourist |  10 Great Things to Do On VirtualTourist |  Contact Us |  Press Center |  Help |  User Agreement |  Privacy Statement
    Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2009 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.