Suzhou is located by the shores of Taihu Lake, with fertile land and abundant products, famous for its beautiful gardens, pingtan (a form of storytelling), cuisine, and silk.

Suzhou cuisine is one of the eight major culinary traditions in China, characterized by a "Southern Sweet" flavor. It not only emphasizes strict selection of ingredients and meticulous preparation but also adapts techniques according to the materials used, varying with the seasons. The cooking techniques are known for braising, stewing, and simmering; it emphasizes soup preparation to retain the original flavors. Famous Suzhou signature dishes include: Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish, Stir-fried Eel, Crab Meat Tendon, Clear Shrimp, Steamed Rice Wine, Whole Chicken in Oil, Taihu Water Shield Soup, Snow Crab, Cherry Meat, Sauced Meat, Smoked Fish, (Fish Belly) Lung Soup, Three Pieces, Sweet Sauce Fire Square, Hot Pot, and Date Paste Cake.

Suzhou has many famous snacks, with flavors that are fragrant, sweet, soft, and glutinous. Pan-fried buns with a golden crust, Tiger Paw Claws...

Suzhou people pay attention to detail, and every snack is exquisite and delicious. Sweet Soybean Curd, Hawthorn Cake, Pine Nut Candy, Rose Sunflower Seeds, Shrimp Soy Sauce, Date Paste Sesame Cake, Lard Savory Cake, etc., are all unique and delicious snacks in Suzhou. There are several bustling snack streets in Suzhou: Shantang Street, Guanqian Street, and Pingjiang Road.

There is a five-star hotel, Wugong Pan Pacific Hotel, located north of the Panmen Scenic Area. It integrates the essence of classical Chinese architecture and Suzhou gardens, reflecting the understated elegance of Suzhou. The hotel has 481 luxurious and comfortable rooms and suites, with elegantly designed rooms that are simple yet unique, allowing guests to enjoy the garden scenery. Guests staying at the Suzhou Wugong Pan Pacific Hotel can enter the Panmen Scenic Area for free with their hotel room card.

Around the Panmen Scenic Area, there are several chain budget hotels like Home Inn and GreenTree Inn on Xinshilu and Zhuhuilu, which are convenient, comfortable, and quiet. There are also several star-rated hotels located around Guanqian Street and Ganjiang Road.

 

Suzhou Area Code	0512	Suzhou Public Bicycles	65892178
Suzhou Tourism Hotline	12301	Suzhou Buses	65252155
Suzhou Tourism Consultation Center Phone	67773131	Bus Inquiry Supervision	67538484
Tourism Complaints	65223377	Airport Bus	65231774
Taxi Booking	67776777	Provincial Highway Traffic Inquiry	96777
Taxi Complaints	96520	Convenient Service Hotline	12345
Suzhou Bus Station	65776577	Consumer Complaints	12315
Suzhou Train Station	95105105	Fire Alarm	119
Postal Services	11185	Ambulance	120
Weather Forecast	96121	Theft Police	110
Traffic Accident Handling	122