Suzhou Xiangcheng: A Vibrant Land of Hidden Elegance
A Few Thoughts Before I Begin
Suzhou — I’ve passed through it many times, always in a rush, never stopping to truly savor it. This time I came to Xiangcheng, slowed down, left fatigue behind, and immersed myself in its charm. That experience revealed a place of hidden grace and vibrant energy, where the ancient and modern blend seamlessly and spill over in perfect harmony. Here, classic charm collides boldly with modernity; here, you find scenic new countryside; here, boutique hotels and guesthouses flourish in abundance; here, cuisine rivals scenery in beauty; here, history’s tales and the marks of time meet people’s yearning for a better life.
Yes, I love Suzhou. I love Xiangcheng. I love everything about it. So, come with me and get closer to this wonderful place!
Suzhou Imperial Kiln Gold Brick Museum
Before visiting the Suzhou Imperial Kiln Gold Brick Museum, I knew only from online snippets that these so-called “gold bricks” aren’t made of real gold. They earned the name because one brick was worth its weight in gold — a single piece cost as much as a tael of gold. Exclusively used for the residences of nobility in the capital, the bricks’ excellence and the Chinese character for “capital” sounding like “gold” also gave rise to the name. The staggering price came from unique materials and a mind-bogglingly complex production process: from soil selection to shaping, polishing, firing, and final finishing — a sequence so intricate and professional that it transformed humble clay into a brick with fine grains, dense texture, and a metallic ring when struck.
The guide who received us, a capable young man, used humor and wit to instantly transport us back in time, recounting the entire journey of a gold brick — its making, use, and transport — in vivid detail. Unlike other museum guides who recite from scripts, he interpreted the story in his own words, weaving in history and culture seamlessly, keeping us all thoroughly engaged.
The museum consists of a main hall, a heritage garden, a cultural and creative experience hall, and a contemporary art exchange center. Most visitors start from the main hall, which uses artifact displays, scene reconstructions, technology simulations, and interactive games to lead you layer by layer through three thematic exhibitions: “Unveiling — The Making of a Brick,” “Becoming — The Journey of a Brick,” and “Serving — The Era of a Brick.” They vividly recreate the epic transformation of imperial kiln gold bricks from yellow clay by Yangcheng Lake to the highest halls of the dynasty.
(1) Unveiling — The Making of a Brick: The first hall, floored with yellow mud, traces the timeline from raw soil to finished brick.
(2) Becoming — The Journey of a Brick: The second hall centers on a tribute grain boat, showing how gold bricks were transported from Xiangcheng to the capital via the Grand Canal.
(3) Serving — The Era of a Brick: The third hall deploys an imposing array of gold bricks to display the Ming- and Qing-dynasty imperial bricks collected here and their applications.
At the main hall, visitors can touch a sample of Suzhou imperial kiln gold bricks. We all reached out — and wow, the surface felt incredibly smooth and glossy, warm and moist like fine jade. Though made of fired clay, it rings like metal when tapped, clear and pleasing, almost like a musical instrument. Such a magical object could only be produced in Lumu Town, Suzhou, because only the clay from the Yangcheng Lake area there can be used. Lumu’s yellow clay is of premium stickiness, and Lumu’s rice is the plumpest, most translucent in Jiangnan — as the saying goes, good soil makes good rice.
Inside the main hall, there’s a replica brick kiln. The entrance is extremely narrow — even slim girls had to squeeze sideways; a well-padded person like me had to do the same, much to my friends’ amusement (ouch!). But inside, it’s a different story — surprisingly spacious and impressive. Making gold bricks requires a large kiln, but only the core chamber can produce them, so each firing yields only about a hundred unglazed bricks. The pre-formed raw bricks must have no internal air bubbles, no surface cracks, and must dry naturally for months — only then might ordinary clay become lustrously smooth gold bricks. The fire must be gentle: first a month burning wheat straw, rice straw, and chaff; then a month of firewood; finally forty days of pine branches. That’s like a month of Wu ballads, a month of Kunqu opera, and forty days of Suzhou pingtan storytelling. From clay collection to out-of-kiln, then slicing and polishing into fine material, one gold brick takes over a year.
Time infuses it, effort infuses it, wisdom infuses it — only then does clay turn to gold. Gold bricks are exquisite, smooth, and durable; they are neither slippery nor damp. Paved as flooring, they withstand thousands of trampling feet and block rising dampness, making palaces even more majestic and temples even more resplendent. It was Kuai Xiang who brought gold bricks to the capital; the bricks’ own quality elevated their name from “capital bricks” to “gold bricks”; the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di bestowed the kiln a name — “Imperial Kiln.” Gold bricks adorn the Taihe, Zhonghe, Baohe halls, Qianqing and Kunning palaces, the Tiananmen tower of the Forbidden City in Beijing, and the Qinian Hall of the Temple of Heaven. They also embellish Suzhou’s garden halls, the Sanqing Hall of Xuanmiao Temple, the Mahavira Hall of Hanshan Temple, and now grace Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, Confucius Temple in Nanjing, and Chinese-style antique buildings in the United States, Singapore, Japan, Canada, Australia, and beyond — wherever they appear, Suzhou imperial kiln gold bricks shine.
At the cultural and creative experience hall, we tried making a gold brick ourselves. Under the teacher’s guidance, step one was kneading the clay: you must repeatedly pound, throw, and knead to squeeze out all air. It’s a workout — my wrist and palm ached the whole next day. Step two: press the clay into a wooden mold and keep scraping it smooth, again to eliminate air bubbles. During scraping, tiny holes from air bubbles surface: if many holes appear, you must re-knead; if just a few, patch them with a little clay. Step three: remove the mold and stamp your desired logo — the centre provides traditional seal templates. The experience was profound, and I truly felt how difficult gold brick making is. The price is reasonable: 80 yuan per person if you don’t take the brick, 100 yuan to take the raw brick home. Since I had a flight, I let the brick return to clay, for the next lucky person to try.
Feng Menglong Village
Originally named Xinxiang Village, located in Huangdai, Suzhou, it is the birthplace of folk literature master Feng Menglong, hence the renaming to “Feng Menglong Village” in his honor. Feng Menglong is hailed as a pioneer and master of Chinese vernacular fiction. Besides writing poetry, he devoted himself mainly to historical and romantic novels. Though his own poetry collections are lost, thirty works compiled by him have been passed down, leaving a trove of immortal treasures for Chinese culture. Apart from the widely known “San Yan” (Three Books of Wisdom), his legacies include Illustrated Stories of the States, Supplement to the Pacification of the Demons, Biographies of Exemplary Women, Treasury of Laughter, Wisdom Bag, A General Survey of Humour, Expanded Records of the Taiping Era, History of Love, and Mohanzhai Edition of Dramas, along with many commentaries, historical records, folklore collections, and local chronicles — but “San Yan” exerted the greatest influence. “San Yan” collectively refers to Stories to Enlighten the World, Stories to Warn the World, and Stories to Awaken the World. Feng Menglong became a tribute student only at 57 and at 61 served as magistrate of Shouning County in Fujian. He reduced corvée labor, reformed governance, judged cases astutely, abolished harmful customs, rectified academic standards, promoted the good and eliminated evils — creating a Shouning where people lived and worked in peace! Records say: “The jail was often empty, no need for the jailer to report peace.” Truly, Feng Menglong was an upright and capable official! General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly quoted Feng Menglong’s works and praised his clean governance and service to the people, urging Party members to learn from him. Feng’s life stories have even been adapted into a TV drama, starring Yan Weiwen.
Feng Menglong Village is stunning — simply too beautiful. White walls, black tiles, blue sky, white clouds, plus a riot of blooming flowers and lush trees — you won’t want to leave. Local aunties sell home-grown vegetables by the roadside: pumpkins, sweet potatoes, winter melon, and some unnamed gourds, absolutely organic and pollution-free. I was so tempted to buy a few. Light clouds, gentle breeze, picture-perfect — that’s the time-honored Feng Menglong Village.
The Feng Menglong Academy is also worth a visit. It sells his books and many cultural creative products — exquisite and pretty items full of ingenuity. You can also try rubbing and block printing with the staff, a fascinating glimpse into the most ancient copying method, which amazed us all. The village retains some old agricultural customs, like the oil press reproducing the traditional way of oil extraction: a huge wooden press, worked by human force plus stone weights pounding heavily, then the oil is filtered into edible oil. A special demonstration showed this: when the worker swung a large stone using inertia to ram the wedge, that muffled, energy-packed thud shook my head — literally!
What truly captivated me was the lotus pond here. This spot of mind-boggling beauty felt like the Jasper Pool of the gods, heavenly indeed. Vast expanses of lotus — pink, white, red — some pure and flawless, some rosy-tipped, others white petals with pink edges, or shy buds standing gracefully like bashful maidens. White walls and grey tiles peeped through the lotus leaves, set against blue sky and white clouds — achingly beautiful. I suddenly envied the villagers for living in such a paradise. I almost asked: does this village still need a bride? I’m coming, I’m coming!
There’s also a type of green grape that outshines many others — top-notch in taste. Plump berries, thin skin, sweet to the very core. We tried only one grape because the owner wouldn’t give a second taste (such a miser!), but it was truly delicious — grape sweetness with a hint of rose fragrance combined superbly. The stall is right next to Feng Menglong bus stop, 15 yuan per jin, no shipping, no delivery — you must come and buy yourself. That’s how proudly the owner operates! Hey boss, I just gave you free publicity — how about a bunch of grapes as thanks? Haha.
Wuzhen Taoist Temple
Wuzhen Taoist Temple sits in the southeastern part of the Huolidao commercial area in Xiangcheng District, Suzhou, north of Renmin Road Extension, west of Yuyao Road, and north of Yangcheng Lake West Road — a serene retreat amid prime urban bustle. According to the local gazetteer Lumei Zhi, the temple was founded in the third year of the Chunxi reign of the Song Dynasty (1176), with over 840 years of history. It mainly enshrines Gu Kaizhi, an Eastern Jin painter. Legend says that during the Yixi years of the Eastern Jin (405–418), a severe drought hit the Wu region. Gu Kaizhi, then a military advisor passing by, felt compassion and used army grain to relieve the starving people. Wronged by slander, he was demoted. Locals, grateful for his kindness, built a thatch “General Temple” and revered him as the local land deity, offering sacrifices for generations.
The temple later became the retreat of He Zhongli, a scholar-official of the Song Dynasty (Daoist name: Sorrow-Coat Perfected). Lore says that when people prayed for cures, he would cut his straw coat and brew it — the decoction worked miraculously. A stele inscribed with “Shen Tong An” (Supernatural Hut) by Emperor Xiaozong of the Southern Song once stood here. Repairs were done: in 1368 by Ye Daoyuan; in 1462 by Tong Shouchu, a Daoist from Xuanmiao Temple; and in 1628 by Niu Daolu. According to Wu Kuan’s Ming Dynasty record, in 1478 he visited the temple north of Qi Gate when scholar Zhang Jiayu was studying there. With local support, Tong Shouchu built the Zhenwu Hall and scripture gallery. Under the Kangxi reign, Tian Hongke and Ouyang Gang restored and expanded halls. Emperor Qianlong on his Southern Tour saw the “General Temple” and personally inscribed the plaque “Eternal Integrity.” During the Guangxu period, the temple was renamed Wuzhen Taoist Temple. Peng Dingqiu left a restoration epigraph (now in Suzhou Museum). After 1949, it was used as a grain store, preserving over twenty rooms. In 1986, the county government allocated 5,000 yuan to repair halls and erected a “Wuzhen Taoist Temple” stone tablet as a county-level protected site. In 1997, it was approved as a Daoist activity venue under Xiangcheng jurisdiction.
In 2006, it was among the first batch of recognized fixed religious sites in Suzhou. In 2009, Xiangcheng District rebuilt the temple to meet believers’ needs, maximizing limited land while highlighting Daoist culture, local history and customs, and Suzhou’s architectural style — creating a distinctive religious place that blends Daoist culture with modern urban civilization.
The expanded temple covers about 22.5 mu. The main gate faces east, symbolizing “the purple cloud of fortune arriving from the east.” Besides the gate, seven south-facing halls form a central axis of Yuhuang Hall, Hejing Hall, and Caishen Hall, flanked by Cihang and Wenchang halls to the east, Luzu and Yuanchen halls to the west — meeting the worship needs of surrounding believers well. With orderly layout and lush greenery, free admission and no commercial taint, it’s a quiet haven in the bustling city, a home for spiritual cleansing and cultivation.
Lotus Island
Lotus Island lies in the northeast of old Suzhou, surrounded by water on three sides, named for its lotus-flower shape set in the lake. The island covers 3.2 square kilometers, home to over 300 households whose lives revolve around the lake and crab farming. Vast, clear waters with excellent quality make it the authentic origin of Yangcheng Lake’s famous hairy crabs, hailed as “the crab’s hometown.” With honest folk customs and pristine ecology, it preserves an authentic Jiangnan fishing village. As rural tourism rises, flocks of visitors come to enjoy dining, lodging, sightseeing, entertainment, and shopping — forming a complete service chain. It has earned titles like “Suzhou Top Ten Eco-tourism Villages,” “Jiangsu Province Four-Star Rural Tourism Area,” “Jiangsu Eco-tourism Demonstration Area,” “East China Top Ten Rapeseed Flower Viewing Spot,” and “China’s Most Beautiful Green Eco-tourism Village.”
Lotus Island sits right in the center of Yangcheng Lake; though said to be shaped like a lotus, it’s more like a lotus leaf’s stalk. Many local crab farmers run restaurants, the most famous offering Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs. Every autumn when crabs hit the market, visitors from nearby cities flock to feast on them while enjoying pastoral island scenery and lake views — a truly satisfying countryside experience. One way to reach the island is via Lotus Island Pier in Yangchenghu Town. The island’s crab restaurants usually open only during crab season; at other times, you can enjoy the scenery, rapeseed flowers in March–April, then come back in September–October for the hairy crab feast. As the saying goes: “Were it not for the delicious Yangcheng Lake crabs, what need would there be to live in Suzhou?” Though they say heaven has paradise, earth has Suzhou and Hangzhou, without the delicacy of hairy crabs, our Gusu City might lose some luster. Remember, if you’re in Suzhou at the right time, don’t miss the crabs!
This Lotus Island pier is also dubbed “China’s most beautiful pier,” the “most beautiful ferry crossing,” where many young ladies come to take Insta-worthy photos. So here, you might easily encounter whole groups of pretty girls and handsome guys!
Suzhou Second Library
The Suzhou Second Library, as a new branch of Suzhou Library located north of old Suzhou, is the country’s only library with a large-scale intelligent integrated book repository. Using the concept of a rotating paper strip, it forms a book-shaped structure with a capacity of 7 million volumes — a grand intelligent library.
Situated in Xiangcheng District, Suzhou, the project invested about 480 million yuan, with a building area of 45,600 square meters. It officially opened on December 10, 2019, equivalent to two of the old Suzhou Library. Its service functions include five special “library within a library”: children’s library, Suzhou literature hall, music library, design library, and digital technology experience center. Supporting facilities — a scholarly park and scholarly platform — opened simultaneously.
Public library service areas are concentrated in the southern part; the northern part’s first to third floors house a document storage and distribution hub with China’s first high-density intelligent book warehouse maximizing storage space — nearly 7 million volumes. This not only saves space but also pioneers intelligent library service management. It also includes a national-standard ancient book repository, logistics center, and acquisition and cataloging center to support the overall branch system and public library development. Peripheral service areas feature a multi-hall digital cinema, readers’ restaurant, cultural supermarket, and leisure book bar — creating a new highlight of cultural consumption meeting diverse cultural needs.
The library showcases four highlights: building the country’s first large-scale intelligent book warehouse, creating a “joyful reading world” children adore, establishing a new high-end information service platform, and a warm and comfortable “citizen’s study.” To adapt to the all-media era, it transforms from merely providing books and reading facilities into offering information and learning environments — a direction for future libraries to “support human knowledge and creative environments.” The Suzhou Second Library’s pioneering high-density intelligent book warehouse can house nearly 7 million volumes, saving space while implementing intelligent management.
Huolidao Night Market
I heard the Huolidao night market was beautiful, so before heading there, we climbed a nearby building for a bird’s-eye view. That unique, almost divine vantage point was truly eye-opening — overlooking Xiangcheng’s nightscape, watching the market below, with a cool evening breeze — sheer joy!
Xiangcheng’s “Summer Night Fest” runs for three months! June 19 to September 27, every Friday to Sunday night! It’s crowded and bustling; stall slots apparently require queuing and draw lots, they’re so competitive. Various entertainments are in full swing. The most lively spot we saw was the Wusu beer zone — just buy a bottle and you can sit listening to singers on stage, belting out their best tunes, some tender, some passionate, drawing applause and cheers. Most patrons are nearby residents coming out for a post-dinner stroll, chatting, bringing the whole family to browse clothes and fruits, or grab a cup of icy mung bean soup — such a refreshing summer evening. We even spotted some foreign and out-of-town visitors browsing the night market for souvenirs.
Coming to Huolidao at night to wander the stalls, feel the breeze, and enjoy the lights — it’s truly delightful. I predict it will soon be hot nationwide again. As we circled around, we noticed that the goods are really affordable and varied, each with its own character. Peaches: 10 yuan for 1.5 kg; Jingdezhen ceramics: 3 yuan each — such tempting prices, I wished I could buy everything! The stall owners are polite and high-quality — even if you only ask without buying, they answer with a smile. When I photographed some items, a stall owner thanked me: “Thank you for making our goods look so pretty!” Such warm words are like a heart-cooling popsicle. Post-epidemic, Xiangcheng’s night market has revived the nighttime economy and given people an extra leisure spot — great thinking!
Afterwards, we went to a BBQ restaurant nearby called Chuan Daxian (Skewer Immortal). Cool name, many dishes, good flavors. When the mood was just right and the drinks flowed, we raised another round of beer — all good friends.
Yuyin Private Kitchen
Yuyin sits by Yangcheng Lake on Meirentui (Beauty’s Leg), hidden in lush woods. There’s no signpost, but navigation brought us right there. Outside hung a simple shop sign, no elaborate decoration — just neat on a white wall, a back-to-basics feel. Inside, it’s like a unique and tasteful garden world: fragrant grass, shady trees. Each private room is an independent cottage, offering strong seclusion — perfectly living up to the “private” in private kitchen.
The rooms are spacious, each with its own decor, fully equipped with sofas, coffee tables, and even karaoke. Some have a super-large lounge area, and a corner even features an open kitchenette — you feel an ultimate sense of luxury and relaxation here.
We ordered a full table of dishes that were a feast for eyes and palate, from presentation to taste — truly fine works. Our menu: Eight Exquisite Cold Starters, Iced Crawfish, Osmanthus Chicken Head Rice, Pickled Cabbage Mandarin Fish, Refreshing Twin-Flavor Shrimp, Noodle-Coated Sixth-Month Crab, Steamed Eel Tube with Fresh Pork, Farmer-Style Braised Goose, Yuyin Braised Pork, Mustard Baby Octopus, Lotus Pond Stir-fry, Seasonal Greens, Chicken Soup, Desserts, Fruit. Let me start with the cold appetizers — ingenious in both vessel matching and color pairing of food and garnish, a delight to behold. The saltwater duck tongue and tripe were tender and savoury; the glutinous rice lotus root was sweet and sticky; even the soy cucumber was crisp and fragrant, perfectly seasoned — one grain of salt more would be too salty, one less too bland.
Iced crawfish: fresh and refreshing, unlike spicy ones. These salt-boiled crawfish let you savor their freshness to the fullest — so tender without chili and Sichuan pepper, brilliant!
“Never forget Sixth-Month Crab no matter how busy” — “Sixth-Month” refers to the runny, golden, fat-laden crab roe in early summer (lunar June), unlike the matured roe later. Suzhou people adore this light, soft, umami delicacy.
The braised goose and pork belly cubes were tender, rich, and fragrant — we couldn’t stop eating. Fresh Yangcheng Lake river delicacies: fish and eel sections were silky and delicate. And that Lotus Pond Stir-fry — lotus root, water caltrop, chicken head rice, wrapped in a lotus leaf — so refreshing, my personal favorite.
Don’t forget to taste the locally unique chicken head rice, only available this season. These plump, white, sticky pearls are pure green, pollution-free, and gently nourishing. The dishes at Yangcheng Yuyin Private Kitchen truly satisfied our taste buds, with us foodies raving nonstop. Coupled with the environment — far from the city, overlooking Yangcheng Lake, breathing fresh air, admiring charming scenery — it was a superb experience. Of course, great ambience and cuisine come at a price: starting from 500 yuan per person, but absolutely worth it!
Land of Fish and Rice — Eighteen Stoves
The Land of Fish and Rice — Eighteen Stoves restaurant is set in the scenic Meirentui resort area by Yangcheng Lake, with about 3,000 square meters of operating space, including indoor and open-air seating for 120 tables, accommodating 800 diners — the largest farmhouse restaurant nearby. With top-notch facilities, spacious and comfortable, quiet and cozy, the elegant standalone building specializes in farmhouse cuisine and integrates dining and entertainment. Its architecture follows traditional Suzhou garden style, strong in local flavor, with a courtyard full of flowers and plants and eight large vats of water lilies. Covering roughly 2,500 square meters, it has over 20 private rooms, clean and bright. It features traditional earthen stoves cooking over firewood, offering all local specialty farmhouse dishes and water vegetables, Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, etc. Fresh air, beautiful scenery, honest and warm-hearted fishing folk — the Eighteen Stoves brand includes the main store, a branch on Lotus Island (with Hermitage Hostel and Original Flavor Restaurant), and a Mu Shang Chun Se agricultural cooperative — three outlets in total.
We visited the main store on Meirentui. Right upon entry, we enjoyed Suzhou pingtan — those exquisite melodies were utterly enchanting, soft yet clear. The young lady’s performance was so beautiful it could make your ears pregnant. The surroundings were equally lovely: grey tiles, white walls, garden architecture, refined and graceful. I heard there really are eighteen stoves, so I verified: in the kitchen, eighteen earthen stoves stand in a row, each with a number — quite impressive! To confirm, the supervisor led me behind the wall: a stoker was feeding firewood into one! So indeed, all eighteen are real, each performing its own culinary magic daily!
Regarding the dishes, vegetables are seasonal and fresh: bok choy, water spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, peas, broad beans, long beans, watermelon, melon, loofah, etc. Meat and lake produce center on Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs and freshwater fish — all green, fresh, delicious. Our menu: Cold dishes: jellyfish, oil-dressed okra, hot-sour lotus root strips, smoked fish, kelp knots, salted duck eggs, edamame pods, salted chicken. Hot dishes: salt-boiled river shrimp, chicken-head rice shrimp, braised large bream, grass chicken soup, braised pork with taro in clay pot, braised intestine rings, stir-fried bok choy, jiaobai with edamame, steamed bowl in chicken broth, soy sauce steamed Sixth-Month Crab, fruitwood roast duck, scallion oil red water caltrop, farmer-style pine cake, scallion oil flying bread, Su-style red soup noodles, fruit platter. Every dish was excellent. My personal favorites: soy sauce steamed crab, braised pork taro pot, and fruitwood roast duck — so good I nearly swallowed my tongue! Happy enough!
After wining and dining, stepping outside, we caught the golden sunset and rays of crepuscular light — sigh, living in Suzhou is like being in paradise, with both delicacies and scenery!
Yangcheng Xike Hotel
Suzhou Xiangcheng Yangcheng Xike Hotel boasts a superb location right by Yangcheng Lake in the Meirentui resort area, sprawling over a large site. The scenery is super nice, rooms spacious, each with a balcony facing the lake directly almost. Loads of outdoor activity spaces — several large lawns. Best of all, you can set off fireworks here — isn’t that amazing?
A standout feature is several kid-friendly areas: outdoor and indoor children’s pools, playgrounds with sandpits where kids can play all day, and an indoor kids’ world. The buffet breakfast and dinner also include many child favorites. Overall, it’s like a children’s amusement park — no wonder so many families come for a weekend or holiday, adults toasting, kids having a blast, truly relaxing.
The rooms are impressive: every room enjoys an unobstructed view of Yangcheng Lake’s beauty. Interiors are roomy, well-equipped, with fresh decor and excellent bedding that quickly lulls you into deep sleep — big plus!
The buffet meals are also great, with breakfast included. Thoughtful tips inform guests about peak hours and when the best variety is available — very user-friendly.
Suzhou Zhonghui Pullman Hotel
I never thought checking into a hotel could mean queuing, but that’s exactly what I witnessed at Suzhou Zhonghui Pullman. The scene stunned me — I half wondered if I’d walked to an airport check-in counter! The manager later explained it wasn’t even peak time; the queue was normal for the hotel. Suzhou Zhonghui Pullman ranks second in size in Suzhou, with correspondingly high occupancy — though the manager didn’t give specifics, we guessed over 85%.
Located in Xiangcheng’s financial hub with convenient transport links, the hotel offers easy access to Suzhou’s commercial centers and attractions. Guest rooms embody Pullman’s innovative inspiration, blending business modernity with new Chinese simplicity — 413 rooms marrying comfort with tech, ensuring a cozy stay. Four distinct restaurants provide ample dining choices. Approximately 2,200 square meters of banquet and conference space feature cutting-edge 360-degree 4D holographic projection technology for a brand-new event experience.
My only regret: I stayed up late editing photos, slept at 2 a.m., and overslept — missing the famed breakfast. I hear it’s wonderful, so I must try next time.
Cunshang Hushe
We didn’t stay at Cunshang Hushe on Meirentui but visited after dinner, drawn by glowing online reviews. The hostess warmly showed us around.
I adored the rustic decor and cute little decorations — a pastoral vibe everywhere. Their two mixed-breed dogs, smiling and adorable, melted my old heart — I was tempted to sneak one away! They have a BBQ area in the garden, and it looked busy, every table with skewers. The aroma must be fantastic to draw such a crowd. Next time I’ll definitely try it — for a food-lover traveler, beauty and feasts are equally unmissable!
The hostess told us the property also includes a big vegetable garden growing seasonal organic veggies, used in their own restaurant and available for guests to rent a small plot. Kids especially love this activity, making it a hit with families. The garden closed for the day, but the pottery studio was still open, so we toured it. An elegant space filled with ceramic artworks of varied shapes and colors — each a piece of art, soothing and calming.
The teacher demonstrated how to turn a lump of clay into a cup or vase — we marveled at his mastery. Looking at those adorable ceramic cats, dogs, and animals, so kawaii, I couldn’t leave. No time to make my own, so I begged and cajoled the owner — finally he gifted me a cute little white cat. Grinning, I happily left.
Final Thoughts
These days of touring gave me a profound impression of Suzhou Xiangcheng. It’s a land of outstanding people and natural grace, home to the unique imperial kiln gold bricks, the matchless Yangcheng Lake, the scenic Lotus Island, enviable modern library and cultural palace, and a beautiful new countryside themed around Feng Menglong’s former residence, along with an array of delicious cuisine and characteristic guesthouses. Suzhou Xiangcheng truly deserves a deep savor. If you get a chance, come see for yourself~~~
