Written by Natalia |
Two popular destinations for Shanghai side trips, Suzhou and Hangzhou are both well known for their unique culture, cityscape and natural charm. Both of them are easily accessible via high-speed trains from Shanghai (usually within 1-1.5 hours). Though as two represenaitive Jiangnan cities, they two offer vastly different vibes and cultural experiences. Read on for their attractions and characteristics, and learn about how to choose between Hangzhou and Suzhou to fit your travel style and needs.
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Hangzhou or Suzhou? A Quick Overview
There’s a famous Chinese saying that goes, “above is paradise in heaven; below are Hangzhou and Suzhou on earth.” Needless to say, both cities are beautiful and worth visiting on your China tour. But if you have limited time and must choose between Hangzhou and Suzhou, here’s a quick overview on their highlights and differences.
Hangzhou |
Suzhou |
|
Highlight |
Landscape and culture |
Architecture and water towns |
Landscape |
The West Lake |
|
Culture |
Buddhist culture, tea culture, silk culture |
Water town culture, classical Jiangnan gardens, silk culture |
History |
The capital of South Song Dynasty |
/ |
Activities |
Touring the beautiful West Lake, tea plantation experiences, discovering Buddhist and historic sites |
Touring the classical gardens, exploring the water towns, strolling through the ancient streets |
Distance from Shanghai |
144 km (90 miles); 50 mins by bullet train; 2.5 hours by car |
100 km (62 miles); 30 mins by bullet train; 1.5 hours by car |
Best time to visit |
All year round, especially spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) |
All year round, especially spring and autumn |
Recommended tour length |
2-3 days |
1-2 days |
Suited to |
Couples, families, nature and culture lovers |
Those interested in classical Chinese gardens, culture lovers |
Water towns nearby |
Wuzhen Water Town, Xitang Water Town, and Nanxun Water Town |
Zhouzhuang Water Town, Tongli Water Town, Luzhi Water Town, Mudu Ancient Town |
Reasons to Visit Hangzhou
Visit the Famous West Lake
The West Lake, aka Xihu, stands out for its unique “nature-meet-culture” vibes. As one of the three UNESCO heritage sites in Hangzhou, it always top any Hangzhou travel bucket list. Visitors flock to it because of its gorgeous landscapes and causeways, and frequent appearance in many famous Chinese poems and legends. Beyond that, the vast lake is also home to abundant elegant tea houses, idyllic plantations, ancient bridges and temples.
Given its vast scale, the lake offers different classic scenes from different locations. Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty once marked each of its top ten scenes with a four-character inscription. Among them, “The Three Pools Mirroring the Moon” was so iconic that it graces China’s one-yuan banknote.
Discover Longjing Tea Culture
Besides the West Lake, another can’t-miss highlights of Hangzhou is to experience its Longjing tea culture. Wondering a great place to experience this 1,200-year-old culture? Then, look no further than the Instagram-perfect Longjing tea plantations in the southwest of the West Lake. More than just snap pictures, these plantations offer more authentic experiences, like trying hand-frying leaves in giant pans, plucking the tea leaves yourself, tasting the freshly made tea, and learning about the traditional tea production process.
For a more in-depth glimpse into Chinese tea culture and history, head to the nearby China National Tea Museum. As the only national-level museum in China that dedicated to tea and tea culture, the museum will introduce you to famous tea collections, tea ware, tea-drinking customs, etc.
Experience the Rich History and Culture of Hangzhou
From the jade cong of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City to the bustling streets and alleys from the Southern Song Dynasty, Hangzhou, as one of the six ancient capitals of China, will also reward you a trip with rich historical and cultural heritage. Visitors can look into its historical and cultural uniqueness from ancient buildings along Southern Song Imperial Street and Qinghefang Street, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, diverse ancient bridges and temples, and stone carvings and inscriptions at the Feilai Peak.
West Lake silk umbrellas, Longjing tea roasting, and Zhang Xiaoquan scissors forging, etc., will show you how profound and enduring the city’s intangible cultural heritage is. Also, you can walk into the centuries-old pharmacy, Hu Qing Yu Tang, to experience and explore traditional Chinese medicine culture.
Recommended Classic Hangzhou Tours:
Reasons to Visit Suzhou
Admire the Best of Classical Jiangnan Gardens
Suzhou is best known for being home to some of the greatest classical Chinese gardens. In fact, the city has over 100 classical gardens from different dynasties, and some of the most famous ones include Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lingering Garden, Master of the Nets Garden, and Lion Grove Garden.
Praised as the “art of arts”, classical Chinese gardens were poetic retreats for ancient scholars. Ancient gardens in Suzhou are especailly outstanding thanks to the picturesque hills and abundant waters in the region. Suzhou people’s excellent artistry in calligraphy, painting, opera, tea ceremonies and woodworking skills also contribute significantly to the elegant appearance and detail-oriented design of local gardens.
The architecture and landscaping of the gardens showcase the ingenuity of Chinese people and a deep understanding of the relationship between man and nature. Each garden has its own characteristics and unique designs that are truly a feast for your eyes. If you’re interested in architecture and gardening art, you should definitely travel to Suzhou.
Visit the Tranquil Water Towns
Suzhou is home to many of the most beautiful water towns of China. Ancient stone bridges, winding rivers, and traditional residential houses from Ming or Qing dynasties together paint a picturesque ink-and-wash Jiangnan scene. Away from bustling crowds, Zhouzhuang, Tongli, Jinxi, and Shaxi allow you to quietly enjoy their distinctive elegance and past stories.
Spending some days in these ancient water towns, you’ll discover the quiet and simple life that is so precious in modern times. The Grand Canal flows past the traditional residential houses, stone bridges connect ancient streets bustling with life, locals run their family-owned stalls selling local crafts or delicious snacks… the vivid life scenes will leave you feeling enchanted.
Recommended Classic Suzhou Tours:
- One Day Suzhou Tour with Grand Canal Cruise
- Suzhou Day Tour to Zhouzhuang Ancient Town and Pingjiang Road
Visit Hangzhou and Suzhou Together
If you can’t decide whether to visit Hangzhou or Suzhou, you can easily include both on your trip. The two cities have different sceneries to offer, and if you’re interested in both, there’s no need to choose between Hangzhou and Suzhou.
Both cities are close to Shanghai and are well-connected by the railway system. It takes only 45 minutes to travel between Hangzhou and Suzhou on a bullet train. You can easily extend your Shanghai tour without wasting much time or energy on the road.
Considering your trip length, plan for at least 3 days for a Hangzhou-Suzhou trip. You can spend a night in each city and fully immerse yourself in the Jiangnan landscape and culture. As Hangzhou is bigger, it’s better if you spend 2 days there and 1 day in Suzhou.
Recommended Hangzhou-Suzhou Tours:
