Private Day Tour: Suzhou Incredible Highlights from Shanghai by Car or Train

Recommended by 96% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Shanghai, China

9 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Discover Suzhou, with worrying about planning or logistics, on a private tour from Shanghai. With your own guide, explore the old town famed for its classical gardens, silk, and waterways. See the medieval Panmen Gate and remains of the city walls, admire waterfront Shantang Street, and enjoy lunch overlooking Suzhou’s canals. Plus, visit a silk factory and one of Suzhou’s formal, UNESCO-listed gardens. Entrance fees, private transport, and central hotel pickup and drop-off included.

A hassle-free way to explore Suzhou in one day from Shanghai
Visit top Suzhou attractions with entrance fees already included
Go at your own pace, with plenty of time to ask questions
Choose to travel by car or train, with hotel pickup and drop-off included

What's Included

Personal tour guide
Premium car and driver
Bottled water
Central Shanghai hotel pickup and drop-off
Lunch

Su style noodle authentic lunch
Hi-speed train optional
Flexible start time: Choose when booking

Tips-recommended

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Please note: Languages other than English and Mandarin will require an additional fee of USD 50 per day, payable in cash to the guide on the day of the tour. Please note: Drop off and pickup outside of central Shanghai, such as Pudong International Airport, Hongqiao International Airport, Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, Shanghai Disney Area, Qinpu District, Jiading District, Chuansha District, or Songjiang District, Fengxian District, will incur an extra USD40 for your whole group and includes both pickup and dropoff. You can pay in cash (USD or RMB) directly to your guide when meeting.

Operating hours
.8:30 am

Itinerary

Select a downtown Shanghai pickup time and point, such as your hotel, and make the journey to Suzhou by private, air-conditioned vehicle or train, depending on the option selection. On route, inform your guide if there’s anything you want to see more of. As your tour is private, the itinerary can be tailored around you.

With a 2,500-year-old history, Suzhou was one of China’s major medieval cities, and attracted writers and painters drawn by its beauty. Today, it boasts a charming old quarter famed for its classical gardens, canals, and silk-making.

See the 14th-century Panmen Gate and surrounding scenic area near the remaining city moat and walls. View the Song-, Yuan-, Ming-, and Qing-era buildings here before strolling along canalside Shantang Street. Pass boats and bridges, and learn about Suzhou’s centuries-old Wu culture as you watch waterside life.

After a Suzhou-style restaurant lunch overlooking the canals, tour a silk factory. Discover the art and history of silk-making, and perhaps purchase some pieces (own expense).

Next, explore arguably the best of Suzhou’s UNESCO-listed gardens. Savor the exquisite landscapes, created in 1342 by a Buddhist monk, as you wander around the sculpted rocks, ponds, and pavilions.

Your tour finishes at your downtown hotel or chosen central Shanghai location.

Panmen Gate

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Master-of-Nets Garden

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Suzhou Silk Museum

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Shantang Street

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Wheelchair accessible
Please wear comfortable shoes
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Stroller accessible

Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.8

based on 48 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Must Visit City :Suzhou

MariaElizza_M, Apr 2025

We are a family of three and the door to door service private Tour is definitely worth what you pay for. Nora is an excellent and Knowledgeable guide and provided exceptional service. The noodle lunch in a local popular noodle house was a definite highlight. We loved the bullet train experience which took us back and forth from the city in 37 minutes. Overall a very good choice if you're looking for an out of town trip from Shanghai.

Perfect Patty.

Randy_R, Mar 2025

Jenny was a wonderful communicator and Patty was an amazing guide. She has so much local knowledge. Amazing!

For the most part the trip was...

MaConsuelo_A, Aug 2018

For the most part the trip was comfortable. We were 7 individuals who went on the trip and the coaster they provided a mini-bus was spacious and was perfect for the hot and humid weather. During our trip we were with Celine, she was an outstanding guide and showed experience and mastery. However, my only irk was that at times it felt as though she felt a minor annoyance towards us. While it was a very minor detail in our trip, I couldn't help but feel quite awkward afterwards. Jenny was able to reply, sometimes quickly, but other times 5 or more hours after. Still, I found her to be a good host. She was able to accommodate to our queries even though they weren't necessarily about the tour.

A very beautiful experience! Portia...

Raffaella F, Oct 2017

A very beautiful experience! Portia was an amazing guide, very well informed and very nice. We could choose exactly what we wanted to see and learned a lot about Chinese culture and way of living. The lunch was typical Chinese food in picturesque environment. The trip in the car was very comfortable. We enjoyed the tour very very much!!! Thank you!!!

Very efficient pre-tour contacts via...

riccardo.mollo, Aug 2017

Very efficient pre-tour contacts via WeChat with Jenny made everything easy and smooth. If you book with them, try and ask for Apple to be your guide: she is professional, knowledgeable, and a lovely person. Jenny was available also for help in Shanghai after the tour. Remarkable experience.

I was promptly contacted by Jenny's...

S H TAN, Jun 2017

I was promptly contacted by Jenny's Shanghai Tour about my preference for the tour soon after booking. Emails and messages were promptly answered. Due to a slight change in our travel plan, we had to reschedule the tour. This was done without any fuss. Thank you. Our guide, Susie was very knowledgeable. My family of 6 adults including 2 elderly grandmothers, were met promptly at our hotel in the morning and were driven around in a spacious and comfortable coach. This was important as the road trip to Suzhou took nearly 2 hours. Susie was very attentive and made sure we were well taken care of especially our grandmothers. Mineral water was provided to ensure our comfort. I highly recommend this tour.