Suzhou Transportation
Getting There and away
As one of the economic, cultural, logistics and transportation centers in east China, Suzhou is one of the transportation hubs in this area, therefore, there is no need to worry about how you can get there.
By Air
In spite of the one and only airport in Suzhou has been turned into a military airport, there are other six airports available in Jiangsu Province. That is to say, you can go to the other airport in Jiangsu then take other vehicles to Suzhou, which won’t cost too much time and money.
Nanjing Lukou International Airport (ZSNJ) is 36 km (22 miles) away from the city center. Flights from Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macao, Shanghai, Qingdao, Dalian, Harbin, Guilin and almost all the main cities in China as well as Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, Thiland, Los Angels, London, Moscow, Frankfurt and Vancouver can get here directly.
Lianyungang Baitabu Airport (ZSLG) is 25 km (15 miles) away from the city center. Flights from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Dalian and Guilin can get here directly.
Nantong Xingdong Airport (ZSNT) is 18 km (10 miles) away from the city center. Flights from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Qingdao and Nanjing can get here directly.
XuzhouGuanyin International Airport (ZSXZ) is 45 km (30 miles) away from the city center. Flights from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Dalian, Guilin, Sanya, Xiamen and Chengdu can get here directly.
Yancheng Nanyang International Airport (ZSYM) is 10 km (6 miles) away from the city center. Flights from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Dalian, Guilin, Xuzhou, Kunming and Harbincan get here directly.
Changzhou Benniu Airport (ZSCG) is 18 km (10 miles) away from the city center. Flights from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Qingdao, Fujian and Shenyang can get here directly.
By Train
Suzhou Railway Station is subordinate directly to the Shanghai Railway Station, which guarantees the excellent facilities and service in the train. There are 7 platforms and 16 railways that permit at least 30,000 passengers traveling come and go everyday.
Suzhou New District Railway Station is also subordinate directly to the Shanghai Railway Station but the scale is smaller with 2 platforms and 4 railways. This station mainly offer the Shanghai-Nanjing high-speed rail tickets.
By Bus
There are 4 long distance bus stations, North Suzhou Station, South Suzhou Station, West Suzhou Station and Wuzhong District Station. The highway system is so sophisticated that almost all the towns can be gotten within 15 minutes from the highway entrances. Buses heading to Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuxi, Zhouzhuang and Tongli can be available every 15 minutes.
By Boat
Lying in the estuary of the Yangtze River, on the shore of Lake Taihu and beside the Grand Cannel, Suzhou is developed in water transportation, therefore, go to Suzhou by boat is also a wise decision.
Boats running along the Great Canal can take visitors up to the north, Zhenjiang, Yangzhou( two well-known cities in the area) or down to Hangzhou in the south. Boat travel from Suzhou to Hangzhou has become increasingly popular due to the amazing country scenery witnessed during the journey.
Getting Around
Taxi
| Flag-down Fare (CNY) | Over 3km (2 miles) (CNY)/km | |
| Xia Li Cab | 10 | 1.4/km |
| Satana Cab | 10 | 1.8/km |
Taxis are convenient and are generally a hassle-free alternative to public transportation.
Bike
A rout designed exclusively for the bikes is available in Suzhou, along which there are scenic spots such as the Grand Cannel, Hnashan Temple and Liu Garden etc. The whole rout is as long as 172 km (100 miles) which will cost 2 and half a day to complete. This is a most popular way to travel around Suzhou for it is funny and does not cost too much.
Pedicab
The man-drawn pedicabs have some edges over other transportation vehicles. It runs never too fast to cause accident, it will take you to the place the taxi and bus are not able to get and it is cheaper. The starting price is 2 Yuan, rising to between 3 to 5 Yuan for a longer trip. You can usually bargain with the “divers” before setting out.
Public City Bus
It takes 1 Yuan for common buses and 2 Yuan for buses with air condition. Buses for most of the scenic spots in the city are available. Buses are generally self-service ticketing, so you need to prepare coins or smackers of CNY in advance.
