"The hotel boasts elegant and pleasant views, designed by a renowned international firm. Opened in 1999 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, it symbolizes Sino-Singaporean friendship and international influence. The main building's stone facade is made of Jinshan stone from Mudu, a quarry that has since ceased operation. The garden landscaping is top-notch, with each of the 'Eight Views of Wu Palace' offering unique charm. A back exit provides direct access to the Panmen Scenic Area, allowing for day and night exploration. The hotel's restaurants are distinctive, with both the Chinese and Western establishments being superb. The Ruimian Noodle House, a Suzhou-style noodle restaurant, is particularly elegant and authentic!"

"The room facilities are very new, and the hygiene is excellent – not a hint of any strange odors. I'm quite sensitive to smells, but after two days here, I haven't experienced any itching. Most importantly, it's very quiet. Yet, it's only a ten-minute taxi ride to places like Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street. Public buses and the subway also offer direct routes, making it incredibly convenient. I highly recommend everyone stay here. If I come to Suzhou again, I'll definitely choose this hotel."

"I've stayed here before. It's right on Pingjiang Road. The environment is impeccable, with a small garden, Half Garden, right inside the hotel. However, the facilities are a bit old-fashioned, and the floor has some uneven spots. There's room for improvement in the service. Moving luggage around the hotel is inconvenient due to the old-style cobblestone paths and a steep ramp leading to the upper floors. On the other hand, the price is very affordable, and they include complimentary cruise tickets for a scenic area, which are quite valuable."

"**Location:** The hotel is located right in the heart of Shantang Street, which makes it very convenient for shopping, sightseeing and exploring the area on foot. However, there is an important drawback: cars cannot reach the hotel directly. You will need to drag your luggage for several hundred metres along a rocky path to get there. To reach the hotel, you also have to walk through its front shop, which functions partly as a silk shop and museum. During peak hours, this area can get extremely crowded and hectic, making it quite difficult to navigate with luggage. This can be particularly inconvenient for families with young children or those travelling with large or multiple suitcases. **Room:** The room was relatively clean and spacious, with a bathtub. However, the view was disappointing as our room faced a 民宿/local residential buildings rather than the river. The room came with basic amenities. **Service:** The front desk staff, Xin, Summer and Xiao Ma, were helpful and friendly. Fish food was provided for the kids to feed the koi while we waited for check-in, which was a nice touch. The staff also helped carry our luggage to our room and, during check-out, helped bring our luggage to the designated pick-up point where our driver could meet us. **Breakfast:** Breakfast was a set meal consisting of noodles with bamboo shoots and meat, a hard-boiled egg, corn, pickles and grapes. It was very simple and, honestly, not very tasty. We ended up leaving most of it untouched. **Add-ons / Extras:** Apparently, the minibar is complimentary, but this was not mentioned to us during check-in. Some snacks also appeared to be provided for free, although again, we were not informed about this. We also did not receive the welcome fruit mentioned on the booking website. There is a complimentary 30-minute photoshoot that includes three free photos, with the option to purchase additional photos. Unfortunately, our experience with the photoshoot was very disappointing. The photographer appeared inexperienced and struggled to find flattering angles. Many of the photos were overexposed or captured awkward facial expressions. We were quite surprised by the overall quality of the photos. **Overall:** The hotel's biggest advantage is definitely its location — being right on Shantang Street makes sightseeing extremely convenient. The staff were also helpful and accommodating. However, the difficult luggage access, crowded entrance, disappointing breakfast and poor-quality photoshoot were significant drawbacks, especially for families travelling with young children and large luggage."

"My stay at the Crowne Plaza Suzhou was very satisfying overall. The hotel's location is super convenient for transportation, making commuting for business a breeze. It's nestled in a quiet spot despite being in a busy area, providing a peaceful environment for rest. The room was clean and fresh, with no unpleasant odors, indicating high hygiene standards. The facilities were well-equipped, including a desk, high-speed internet, and full bathroom amenities. Everything was in good working order with no signs of age or malfunction, perfectly meeting both work and relaxation needs. The hotel staff provided professional and appropriate service; they were well-trained, and the check-in and check-out process was quick and efficient. All my requests were handled properly. My entire stay was hassle-free and effortless. I'll definitely rebook here for future business trips. Dolphin Crab~"

"The hotel entrance isn't particularly eye-catching, but once you step inside, it's a completely different world. The second floor is spacious, with a long corridor, and the overall environment is very pleasant. The guest rooms are actually arranged around the front desk, which was a unique and novel layout for me. Although the hotel has been open for a while, the facilities are very well-maintained. It offers great value for money and I highly recommend it. The location is also excellent, almost in the center of all the major attractions, with most being about 2 kilometers away. A short ride on an electric scooter gets you there in no time."

"The room was very comfortable, and the environment was lovely, with a distinct Suzhou flair. Our luggage was brought directly to our room door, and we could see the unique Suzhou scenery right outside our window."

"Room is big and clean and with a perfect lake view"

"Facilities: Well-equipped, comfortable bedding. Hygiene: Clean and hygienic environment. Service: The owner provides excellent service and responds to requests promptly. Suzhou Encounter - Aixiang Nafu Gusu Gift: A pleasant surprise."