There is no airport in Suzhou so most incoming international travellers connect first through Shanghai. There are two major airports in Shanghai: Pudong International and Hongqiao for domestic connections. There are multiple buses departing daily from Suzhou’s Water Garden Hotel for Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai. From here, a shuttle bus brings passengers to Pudong International.

Hongqiao was Shanghai’s international gateway until 1999. Today it still offers international flights to Tokyo and Seoul, though the vast majority of its present traffic is domestic. This airport handles more than 19 million passengers annually and accommodates numerous airlines including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, All Nippon Airlines, Japan Airlines and Korean Air.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport opened in 1999 and is expanding rapidly. It easily handles 500 daily flights and serves well over 21 million passengers every year. Flights to and from Pudong connect to Atlanta, Amsterdam, Bangkok, Chicago, Paris, Mumbai and Sydney. Facilities here are modern and all passenger needs are catered for.

It is possible to reach Suzhou by bus or train from several other cities in the region though most transport is routed through Shanghai. Buses from the Shanghai Bus Station take approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes to arrive at Suzhou.

Most land-based transport to and from Suzhou is handled by trains. There are numerous daily departures from Shanghai, with travel times ranging from 30 minutes to just over an hour depending upon the class of ticket purchased. There are two train stations in Suzhou: one at 8 Taiian Lane and the other at 1608 People’s Road.

It is also possible to reach Suzhou by boat along the Grand Canal which runs from Hangzhou (just south of Shanghai) to Beijing. The Grand Canal is one of China’s most ancient works of engineering and covers a total of more than 1,100 miles.

Once you are in Suzhou, transport is relatively basic. Taxis are readily available and provide reliable transport across the greater metropolitan area. It is possible to cross portions of the city centre on foot, though many local sites are far enough making walking between them a chore.

The bus and train stations have their own taxi stands, and it is wise to avoid the touts and unaffiliated drivers that linger outside of these stations. As many drivers do not speak or understand much English, it may be helpful to have the name and address of your hotel written in Chinese characters (your hotel concierge will happily oblige) to show your taxi driver.

Three-wheeled bicycle rickshaws are available for transport between major sites in the city centre. This is an excellent way to see Suzhou city, though it is less desirable as a means of immediate transport. Ask around a bit before agreeing on a price, as many tricycle drivers quote inflated prices and then expect passengers to negotiate. Hourly rates are available for non-transport sightseers.

Motorcycle taxis are also on hand in Suzhou. Again, it is a good idea to negotiate with the driver before boarding. Suzhou also operates a network of tourist buses that travel between all of the major attractions in town. These tours are only available in Mandarin.

Traditionally, hire cars in China come with a driver. In the past, international drivers’ licenses were not recognised, meaning driving was technically illegal for tourists. Recently, regulations have slackened and short-term driving is possible for foreigners. Road signs are seldom posted in English, however, and hiring a car with a chauffeur is still preferable to driving yourself.