Suzhou Travel Accommodation Guide: Stay in a Cruise-Like Hotel and Enjoy Superb Afternoon Tea

📍 Suzhou · 👁 6474 reads · ❤️ 29 likes

How long has it been since you last set foot on a cruise ship? In Suzhou, I discovered a hotel that not only looks like a cruise ship on the outside, but also feels exactly like one inside. It’s located right on the shores of Jinji Lake, and just drawing back the curtains reveals the lake. If you were blindfolded and led into this hotel, you’d swear you’d been whisked onto a cruise! Don’t think this place is only for out-of-towners; locals flock here too, especially young women, because it boasts an internet-famous afternoon tea that’s both gorgeous and delicious—and you need to book ahead to snag a seat. The hotel in question is the Crowne Plaza Suzhou.

This Crowne Plaza Suzhou not only serves Suzhou’s most sought-after afternoon tea, but also houses one of the city’s priciest and most abundant seafood buffets, plus luxurious lake-view rooms. I was drawn in by the stunning afternoon tea, and since my stay coincided with the pre-Christmas season, the entire hotel—and the tea itself—was drenched in festive cheer. If you’re wondering where to spend Christmas, why not head straight to the Crowne Plaza Suzhou? And don’t worry if you miss that window; I have a feeling there’ll be a new theme for New Year’s. So, what makes this hotel so alluring? Let me show you.

The afternoon tea is served in the hotel’s bright, airy lobby. You’ll spot the tea area as soon as you walk in, and from your seat, just a glance over your shoulder reveals Jinji Lake. The tea is Western-style, with pastries crafted around a Christmas theme, and a Christmas-costumed server even brings a giant gift box to your table!

That entire lavish spread cost only 378 yuan in total! What a steal, right? The white cake shaped like a deer head was durian-flavored—an absolute must for durian lovers. For drinks, I highly recommend the Earl Grey tea (TWG tea). Add one sugar cube and the flavor transforms completely; it becomes irresistible, very similar to the century-old tea I once tasted at an old teahouse in Xinjiang—absolutely heavenly! At that moment, I was nearly moved to tears.

Beyond the afternoon tea, the Western restaurant at the Boat Bar is also a huge hit! Their burger, with a hefty steak patty, is enough to fill two people, and the bread is so soft and fragrant that one bun is never enough—you’ll find yourself reaching for another. Be sure to dip them in the sauce that comes with the meal; it’s so good you won’t want to stop. I should also mention the amazing ambience here: the lighting is not too dim, making it perfect for a date.

I wasn’t very interested in the buffet at first, until a friend told me it might be the priciest one in Suzhou—that got my attention. I can’t say for sure it’s the most expensive, but the variety is genuinely staggering. There’s an entire section heaped with seafood, which is a seafood lover’s dream.

Besides seafood, there are desserts, sushi, roast pork, mini hot pot, and more. Even if you take just one bite of every dish, you’d likely end up stuffed. In the fruit section, someone is constantly peeling jackfruit. Though this fruit isn’t expensive in Southeast Asia, it’s not cheap here in the free-shipping region, especially when already prepped. After our meal, we all ate our fill of it and enjoyed every sweet moment.

When heading up to the rooms, I noticed the cocktail lounge on the first floor had such a strong cruise-ship vibe—it really made me miss the wonderful time I had on a cruise last year. Even the room keycard features a full panoramic photo of the hotel’s exterior, looking just like a grand cruise ship in motion. To get a good view of the facade, st take the lakeside boardwalk from downstairs. I recommend an evening stroll: the colorful lights are stunning, not to mention the lovely nightscape.

The rooms themselves are of course much more spacious than a typical cruise cabin. The dim bedroom lighting contrasts sharply with the bright bathroom, and the moment you enter, you start to feel drowsy. But before bed, why not soak in the large bathtub? You’ll sleep even more soundly.

In the morning, just pull back the curtains to reveal the lake view from Jinji Lake. From your room, you have a perfect vista. If I hadn’t been on a tight schedule, I honestly would have loitered in the hotel forever. All in all, this two-day, one-night hotel experience was supremely comfortable. If you have any more questions about the hotel, feel free to ask—I might be able to help. Now it’s time for our interactive segment: Have you ever stayed at the Crowne Plaza Suzhou? Or have you stayed at any Crowne Plaza hotel? What was your experience like? Share your thoughts in the comments!