Private Tour
Timeless Suzhou: Private Suzhou Trip from Shanghai or Suzhou
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
A full day packed with the best Suzhou has to offer: curated garden, spiritual temple, charming water alleys, leaning tower, bustling wet market, and more! The day will also be filled with unique activities: a boat ride through historic canals; rest your legs at a riverside tea house; and visit a temple to do fun activities
- No shopping! No silk museums, no wallet drain. All expenses covered—except lunch. We’ll take you to a lively wet market to pick your own favorites
- Discover a Suzhou’s finest garden, once the emperor's favorite
- Enjoy tea at a riverside tea house and create latte art with tea
- Visit a bustling local wet market to discover your favorite local food
- Spot cats, burn incense and try fortune-telling in a spiritual temple
- Visit a 1000-year-old leaning tower and hear its cultural significance
- Ride a boat from a quiet neighborhood on a 4-km long river journey
- Climb up the ancient city wall and get panoramic view of the old town and the modern skyline
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Vegetarian friendly (please notify us in advance)
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Operates in all weather conditions (except for the extreme ones), please dress appropriately
Infants (age under 3) are welcome to join free of charge; however, please note that we do not provide infant seats in car
Please wear comfortable shoes as there will be approx. 3-4 km of walking
Not recommended for gluten-free guests due to the common use of soy sauce in local cuisine
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Bottled Water
Entry Admission - Xiyuan Temple
All entry admissions/tickets included - a Classic Suzhou Garden, Xiyuan Temple, Tiger Hill
Local English-speaking guide
Boat ride in the Suzhou Grand Canal
A thoughtful gift :)
Private tour (if your group exceeds the max size, please contact us)
Private car for hotel / preferred location pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
We will stop by a bustling and fancy wet market and you can discover your favorite local food at your own expense
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Lion Forest Garden
A top-rated Suzhou garden with fewer crowds, offering a full garden experience. Uncover the artistry, symbolism, and culture reflected in Suzhou garden design. For added fun, explore the maze-like trails of the garden's rock mountain
Pingjiang Road
Once the silk center in the city, today river-crossed side-alleys are the true gem of this neighborhood. We will rest our legs at a charming riverside tea house tucked away in this neighborhood, and enjoy tea the traditional Chinese way
Options
Suzhou Day Trip from Shanghai
Meeting location at Shanghai: This option applies to guests who prefer to start the tour at Shanghai. private round-trip transfers from Shanghai
Pickup included
Suzhou Day Tour from Suzhou
Meeting location at Suzhou: This option allows guests to meet in Suzhou. We offer free pick-up/drop off and premium taxi transfers in the tour
Pickup included
Reviews
2 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
An Absolutely Flawless and Enlightening Tour with Yi 😊
A5808PEjuliek,
Aug 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an exceptional tour with Yi as our guide. His knowledge was profound, and he brought each destination to life with clear, concise, and engaging storytelling. Every question we had was met with a thoughtful and detailed answer. The entire experience was seamless from the punctual hotel pickup and comfortable private car to the drop-off. Despite the intense heat, Yi was incredibly considerate, constantly checking on our comfort. This was a completely hassle-free, five-star experience. We will undoubtedly book again and specifically request Yi 😀
Wonderful tour with lots of storytelling
903dmitryf,
Jul 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We truly enjoyed our tour in Suzhou. As frequent travelers, we’ve experienced many guided tours, but this one stood out in so many ways. The quality of the tour and, most importantly, the storytelling were exceptional. Most guides focus on dates, long dead emperors, and building materials, Harry brought the history to life through captivating stories — tales of heroes and villains, love and betrayal. It was mesmerizing and absolutely fascinating. I can always read the facts on Wikipedia, but I’ll never forget the story of the Emperor’s sword and the other legends he shared. They took care of every detail, from coordinating transportation to arranging our return to the hotel. We especially loved the market visit and street food experience; the variety was amazing, and it gave us a real taste of local life. We have a 14 and 10 years old and with the weather of 40+ celsius they were tired, hot and miserable - Harry and Xirui were able to still engage them — that’s a rare skill, and it made the experience enjoyable for the whole family. The regular breaks were also much appreciated, especially given the weather. Even though they extended the tour by quite a bit, we never felt rushed or that they were trying to wrap things up. And last but not least, we truly appreciated the timing and association of the gift — it holds a special meaning for us and now has a prominent place in our home. We absolutely recommend this tour, it was engaging, captivating and fun.
Related Experiences
Operated by Eastbound and Beyond