How to Get Around in Suzhou – Different Ways to Explore the City

Is Suzhou one of the future destinations on your bucket list? Once you've arrived in this city in China, one of the main things, which you'll need to make use of in order to explore all that it has to offer, is its transportation network. Just like any other city, Suzhou offers a mix of public and private transport options for its citizens and visitors to choose from. Read on to learn more!

Option 1 – Bus

One of the most wallet-friendly modes of transport you could take in Suzhou is the bus. There are air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses, with the former being understandably more expensive than the latter. Do remember to have change on-hand before hopping aboard!

Option 2 – Taxi

Like most cities across the globe, taxis are a popular mode of transport in the city. They are good for when you don't mind forking out some extra cash for a convenient ride that can get you quickly and comfortably to exactly where you need to go. It's a good idea to take a cab when you've done a lot of shopping or have your luggage with you and don't want to exhaust yourself carrying them around while navigating the city's public transport network. As Suzhou is quite an ancient city, there are also a lot of historical attractions to visit such as the Suzhou Museum, Hanshan Temple, and the Ancient City Moat. If you stay at a hotel Suzhou, China has to offer such as Pan Pacific Suzhou, it would take you around a 20 to a 30-minute cab ride to reach these attractions.

How can you get a taxi in Suzhou? Well, the city has close to 5,000 taxis that cruise its roads, looking out for passengers that they can pick up. So, one method to hail a cab is to flag one down, right off the street. If you don't need a taxi spontaneously and would rather plan your trip ahead of time, you can also of course call one of the local taxi or cab companies and reserve a taxi for yourself in advance. However, keep in mind that taxis that are booked ahead of time could be a little more expensive in terms of the fares they charge per kilometer than the regular taxis you find on the roads.

There are also a few other things to remember when using a cab in Suzhou. Firstly, don't count the cents, metaphorically speaking. Taxi drivers as well as passengers are expected to round up (or down) the fares that are shown on the meter at the end of the journey. For example, if a ride amounts to 10.2 Yuan, the driver will only expect you to pay 10 Yuan. However, if it amounts to 9.8 Yuan, you are expected to extend the same courtesy, and pay a rounded figure of 10 Yuan to the cab driver. The second thing to remember is that if you travel in a cab at night, there's a nighttime surcharge that you have to pay, which usually amounts to your fare being around one-fifth higher than it would cost you during the daytime. There's also one more thing to remember when using a cab in Suzhou – in case there are any additional fees like toll fees or parking fees, it's your responsibility to pay them, not the cab driver.

Option 3 – Metro

You can also get around the city using trains. Suzhou's metro system currently has three lines in operation, with an additional six lines that are envisioned to be constructed.

Option 4 – Rickshaw

Some of the city's streets can be quite narrow and are not accessible by cars or other vehicles. In such cases, if you find yourself weary of being on your feet all day, consider hiring a rickshaw! Pulled by a rickshaw driver, these man-powered vehicles have been a popular mode of transport across the world for centuries.

Option 5 – Bicycle

Like to cycle? There's good news for you! The city has bicycles that you can rent out for a fee. Cycling is a great way to explore the city at your own pace while keeping fit and working off those pesky holiday pounds!