Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( Pan Men; 1 Dong Dajie; admission Pan Gate only/with Ruiguang Pagoda
¥25/31; 7.30am-6pm)
This stretch of the city wall straddling the outer moat
in the southwest corner of the city has Suzhou's only remaining original coiled
gate, Pan Gate, which dates from 1355.
To get here, take tourist bus Y5 from the train station or Changxu Lu.
TEMPLE OF MYSTERY
( Xuanmiao Guan; Guanqian Jie; admission ¥10, incl performance ¥30;
7.30am-5.30pm)
The Taoist Temple of Mystery stands in what was once
Suzhou's old bazaar, a rowdy entertainment district with travelling showmen,
acrobats and actors.
Taoist
Tours
Each evening 55-minute
boat tours
(¥120; 6pm to 8.30pm)
wind their way
around the outer canal. Tickets can be bought at the port near Renmin Bridge,
which shares the same quarters with the Grand Canal boat ticket office (
Huachuan Shoupiaochu).
Sleeping
PINGJIANG LODGE $$$
( Suzhou Pingjiang Kezhan; 6523 2888;
www.pingjianglodge.com
;
33 Niujia
Xiang; 33 r ¥988-2588; )
This 17th-century, traditional courtyard building
has well-kept gardens and 51 rooms bedecked in traditional furniture (we love
the wooden bathtub!). Discounts of up to 50% are available.
Boutique Hotel
SUZHOU WATERTOWN YOUTH HOSTEL $
( Suzhou Sijifusheng Qingnian Lushe; 6521 8885;
www.watertownhostel.com
; 27 Dashitou Xiang, Renmin Lu; 27 6-/4-bed dm
¥50/60, r ¥130-220;
Hostel
)
Tucked away in an alley off Renmin Lu, this
