Traveling alone in Suzhou, wandering through ancient streets and gardens

The romance of Suzhou city lies in its water town ancient streets and gardens, where one can enjoy a citywalk, exploring the quaint streets and lesser-known gardens. Seven-mile Shantang A must-visit in Suzhou is the city's premier street, Shantang Street, Bai Juyi's seven-mile Shantang, stretching from Changmen Ferry Monk Bridge in the east to Huqiu Wangshan Bridge in the west. Transportation strategy: Take subway line 2 and get off at Shantang Street Station. Food strategy: Shantang Street is a famous gathering place for Suzhou's time-honored food brands, offering plum blossom cakes, chicken head rice sugar porridge, Wanfuxing's Dingsheng cakes, Zhu Xinnian's sesame dumplings, crabapple cakes, small square cakes. Aozao noodles, shumai, xiaolong, and Zangshu mutton... Prices start from 5 yuan per person Pingjiang Road Old Street Travel strategy: Pingjiang Road is the calling card of Suzhou's old streets, with a hundred years of old Suzhou architecture, and the alleys are filled with the local life of old Suzhou. It is recommended to listen to Suzhou Pingtan at least once, with prices starting from 10 yuan per person. In the evening, you can take a gondola ride through the small bridges and flowing waters. Food strategy: Recommended Suzhou-style dishes and various Suzhou-style pastries, be sure to try the glutinous rice mung bean ice. Prices start from 10 yuan per person. Transportation strategy: Take subway line 1 and get off at Xiangmen Station Humble Administrator's Garden The Humble Administrator's Garden is the largest classical garden in Suzhou, a typical Suzhou-style garden architecture, and a representative work of classical gardens in the south of the Yangtze River. It is recommended to visit the Humble Administrator's Garden in summer when the lotus flowers are in full bloom, adding an ancient charm. The ticket price is 70 yuan. Tour route: It is recommended to tour clockwise, visiting the Listening Rain Pavilion, Yuanxiang Hall, Xiaolangcang, Fucui Pavilion, Jian Mountain Tower, Hefeng Four-sided Hall, and Tianquan Pavilion. Five Peaks Garden Five Peaks Garden was built during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. If you prefer to avoid the crowds at the Humble Administrator's Garden, this lesser-known garden is almost tourist-free. Transportation strategy: Take subway line 4 and get off at Beisita Station Attraction strategy: The garden's highlights are the five stone peaks erected from Taihu Lake stones, namely Zhangren Peak, Sanlao Peak, Guanyin Peak, Qingyun Peak, and Qingyun Peak. Below the five peaks is a lotus pond, and across the pond is the garden's main building, the Five Peaks Mountain House. Admission is free Transportation strategy: Take subway line 4 to Beisita Station and walk for 20 minutes.