[2025 Suzhou Hotels] Travel Guide for Yihe Riverside (Updated Jul)

It's been nearly 6️⃣ years since I checked out from "Nanjing YIHE Hidden Water Street" in November 2019, which is truly unacceptable [NosePick][NosePick][NosePick] This time, I thoroughly experienced the new masterpiece of "Nanjing YIHE" – the "YIHE Songmao Residence on Pingjiang Road, Suzhou". Its presentation of Suzhou's charm is nothing short of divine, and I'm once again deeply impressed by the product strength of "Nanjing YIHE" [YesSir][YesSir][YesSir] The hotel was originally the 300-year-old Pan Mansion, the former residence of Wang, wife of Pan Zuyin, a prominent official in the late Qing Dynasty. Built in the 10th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign, all rooms, including the "Garden Suite" I stayed in, perfectly embody the craft aesthetics advocated by Li Yu, the foremost proponent of Qing Dynasty lifestyle aesthetics – "valuing naturalness and emphasizing ingenuity" 🎐🎐🎐 The well-preserved courtyards of the Pan Mansion speak authentic Suzhou dialect in every brick and tile. Suzhou-style aesthetics are subtly yet pervasively present, and one can only appreciate their elegance and grace by being there 🪟🪟🪟 The drizzling rain perfectly captures the mood of ancient Suzhou 🌧️🌧️🌧️ During my stay at "YIHE Songmao Residence on Pingjiang Road, Suzhou", it happened to be the plum rain season. Wandering through this mansion at just the right time, exploring every corner, admiring the rocks, enjoying the scenery, sipping tea, and bathing 🛀🏻🛀🏻🛀🏻 The only restaurant, "Wanguochun·Suzhou Cuisine", presents exquisite dishes with meticulously crafted flavors, perfectly interpreting the charm of Suzhou-style taste. Breakfast is served either as a set menu or semi-buffet, depending on occupancy, both including an art-like "bento set" that's both visually appealing and richly varied 🍱🍱🍱 Notably, the in-room amenities are from "The English Aromatherapy Company", the toothpaste is "MAVIS" brand, and the turndown service offers either freshly made mango pomelo sago or a sleep aid spray. The minibar's non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary for the first round 🆓🆓🆓 Located in the heart of the "Pingjiang Historical and Cultural District", guests can easily explore Pingjiang Road, whether in the quiet mornings with few tourists or the enchanting nights. The lesser-known national key cultural relic protection unit "Weidaoguanqian Pan Mansion" leads numerous old residences and museums scattered along Pingjiang Road, offering plenty to see and admire 👀👀👀 At the same time, guests can easily walk to must-visit attractions and commercial areas like "Humble Administrator's Garden", "Suzhou Museum", "Yanlord Cangjie", "Xuanmiao Taoist Temple", and "Guanqian Street". The hotel is also not far from well-known scenic spots like "Master-of-Nets Garden", "Canglang Pavilion", and "Lion Grove Garden" 🎫🎫🎫 Address: No. 54 Lujia Lane, Gusu District, Suzhou (near Xuanqiao Lane Metro Station), starting from 1200 yuan per night 💰💰💰

This time in Suzhou, instead of staying at a hotel, I moved into a genuine century-old residence deep in Pingjiang Road—Yihe Songmao Ju. It wasn't a hurried vacation for quick check-ins, but more like hitting the pause button for myself, to simply "stay awhile" here. The flowers and plants in the courtyard corners, the play of light and shadow under the corridors, even the moss peeking out from between the bricks—all exude a wordless sense of tranquility.

#discoverchina 📍 Hotel: Yihe Songmaoju, Suzhou (Located in the heart of Pingjiang Lu) 💰 Average Price: RM700+ From the moment I stepped in, I was captivated by the hotel’s stunning design—even the room key was a work of art. Check-in was seamless, with a personal butler escorting us to our room and introducing the fully automated facilities, including motorized curtains and a smart TV. The bathroom was pure luxury, featuring a bathtub and even a Dyson hairdryer—a thoughtful touch that made the stay feel extra special. After a long day of exploring, the butler surprised us with a bowl of sweet soup, adding a warm, personal touch to the experience. The room was so cozy, I never wanted to leave! Breakfast Options: The hotel offers both Western and Chinese breakfasts, but the Suzhou-style braised pork noodles 🍜 were the real standout—absolutely delicious! 😋 Highly recommend this place for a relaxing and luxurious stay in Suzhou. Happy stay! ✨ #DiscoverChina #CoupleTrip #LuxuryStay #SuzhouTravel

Transportation Guide: #苏式汤面 ##Historical Sites Mrs. Pan Zuyin’s residence. The pick-up service at Songmaoju Scenic Area was provided by Master Zhou, who was friendly and professional. He was not only familiar with the routes and introductions of the scenic spots, but was also punctual and polite. Highly recommend to everyone! Must-see attractions: Pingjiang boat trip, Lingering Garden, and Ouyuan Recommended hotel: Songmaoju Must-eat food: Squirrel fish Shopping guide: None

✨Green bricks and black tiles, willow trees and painted bridges, in the misty drizzle, the bell of Hanshan Temple, which has spanned thousands of years, rings gently at this moment. ✨Gusu is a hazy romance, a beautiful dream interwoven with ink and color. Pushing open the door of Songmaoju at Yihe, the past moment comes rushing back to you. ✨The ancient house spanning three centuries still allows us to get a glimpse of the style of the Qianlong period. The flower street pavement unique to Suzhou gardens is rarely seen in other places. Traditional Chinese aesthetics are fully reflected in this house. ✨The small bridges, flowing water, winding corridors, and the rich summer are filled with sunshine and lush greenery. ✨Open the window in the room and you will see the courtyard. You can make tea in spring, listen to the rain in summer, appreciate chrysanthemums in autumn, and watch the snow in winter. There are different beautiful scenery and different fun in each season. Strolling in the ancient streets, every brick and tile tells the past, and every bay of water reflects the deep love in the past. ✨In this misty Jiangnan, sip a pot of tea and feel the tranquility and elegance of Gusu that has been passed down for thousands of years.

Usually, when I go to Suzhou, I go there and back in one day, until this Yihe Songmaoju opened on Pingjiang Road. The predecessor of this old building was the former residence of Mrs. Wang, the wife of Pan Zuyin, a Suzhou family. It was built in the tenth year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1745) and has a history of more than 200 years. Speaking of Pan Zuyin, many foreign tourists may not be familiar with it, but if you mention the famous national treasures, the big Ke Ding and the big Yu Ding, I believe everyone knows that these two bronze national treasures were originally collected by Pan Zuyin and later donated to the Shanghai Museum by his descendants. Yihe Songmaoju has only 27 rooms. The ancient Jiangnan mansion is almost different in every room, and some even have their own courtyards. Black pine, banana, Taihu stone, pen, ink, paper and inkstone, landscape screen, every detail reveals the elegant late Qing classical aesthetics. Walking out of Songmaoju is Pingjiang Road. The morning Pingjiang Road has less hustle and bustle, and more tranquility of the Jiangnan water town, small bridges and flowing water, the morning glory protruding from the eaves, the old man who goes out to buy vegetables on the stone road... This is the true appearance of Pingjiang Road. The route of the "Searching for Song, Searching for Qing" cultural City Walk is to walk from Songmaoju to Ouyuan, and the end of Cang Street can go to Shuangta. The exquisite and exquisite Ouyuan has a romance exclusive to Suzhou people; Suzhou Shuangta has two brick towers built in the Northern Song Dynasty in 982 and the ruins of the main hall of the Song Dynasty. The exquisite stone carvings on the stone pillars are still vivid. If you are a cultural enthusiast like me, Yihe Songmaoju on Pingjiang Road will be the starting point for this "Searching for Song, Searching for Qing" journey.

One Pingjiang Road, half of Gusu City. When you come to Suzhou, you must take a walk on Pingjiang Road 🚶‍♀️. This time, let's just stay on Pingjiang Road! The hotel is located in an alley on Pingjiang Road, built by the river, forming a secluded corner. The Suzhou-style garden architecture is ancient and elegant, and the welcoming pine at the entrance is vigorous and graceful. Outside the door is the bustling Pingjiang Road, but inside is a serene and elegant garden retreat. Hidden in the bustling city｜Great seclusion in the city｜Quiet in the midst of noise 🍃. Although it is an ancient garden house, the hotel facilities are very advanced. Welcome fruits, snacks, tea, coffee, and minibar are all 🆓. The drip coffee is actually Vienna Little Red Riding Hood! This makes me nostalgic for my trip to Austria . The toiletries, toothpaste, toothbrush, tea set, and hairdryer are all my favorite brands. You can also change into the hotel's bathrobe and cotton-linen home clothes, which is very considerate . Unexpectedly, there is also an outdoor swimming pool and gym in the small garden. Swimming and exercising in the summer evening is very relaxing! ☀️ Breakfast can be chosen between Chinese and Western styles, both are exquisite, and my best friend and I each had one. 🍽️ Don't miss the Wanguochun Chinese Restaurant (Yihe Songmao Residence) for dinner. Every dish is exquisite and delicious, even if you don't stay at the hotel, it's worth coming in to taste the food! 🍦 Nearby food: Just across the bridge at the entrance is the very popular Shen Wansan Jiangnan Braised Flavor (Pingjiang Road Store). There are also plum blossom cakes, jasmine ice cream, and Biluochun milk tea internet-famous stores. 🚶‍♀️ Nearby, you can walk to Suzhou Museum, Humble Administrator's Garden, and Guanqian Street within 15 minutes, making it very convenient to travel. During the day, the bustling Pingjiang Road is crowded with people, but you can retreat to Songmao Residence and enjoy leisure. At night, when the tourists disperse, sit on the small bridge and listen to a melodious Jiangnan tune 🎵. Leisurely experiencing the slow life of Suzhou, this sense of relaxation is worth coming back for! 🏨 Hotel: Suzhou Pingjiang Road Yihe Songmao Residence 📍 Address: No. 54, Luojia Lane Suzhou store exploration｜Internet-famous check-in｜Suzhou food, drink, and fun｜My travel diary｜Weekend grass pulling

Discover a treasure hotel in Suzhou, which turns out to be an ancient house built in the tenth year of Emperor Qianlong's reign during the Qing Dynasty, located right at the heart of Pingjiang Road. The hotel perfectly blends the ancient style courtyard with modern living facilities. The hotel was formerly the residence of Madam Wang, the wife of Pan Zuyin, a high-ranking official in the late Qing Dynasty, and it has a history of 300 years! The original courtyard space has been almost completely preserved, and the ground is paved with flower-patterned streets unique to Suzhou gardens. Design The biggest impression upon entering the hotel is that there is no deliberate sense of design, but everything is well thought out. It seems that the intention was to restore the ancient house's appearance to the greatest extent possible. Suzhou embroidery, grotto stones, lattice windows, decorative tiles, and antique furniture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties were added later, yet they integrate seamlessly with the ancient house, without any sense of abruptness. Rooms The bedding is made of American Celanese, and a set of cotton and linen pajamas is provided during the night bed service. I also love the tea station, and it's the first time I've seen a 0-95 degree pure water dispenser installed directly in each room, which is truly fitting for the tea-loving people of Jiangnan. Dining The standard of dining is a critical factor for a boutique hotel. The Chinese restaurant 'Wanguochun' at Songmao Residence is a dining brand under the Yihe group, specializing in modern Huaiyang cuisine and creative Su-style dishes that incorporate local characteristics. The menu that evening was made with Suzhou embroidery, and the tableware was custom-made celadon from Jingdezhen. The head chef is said to have served state banquets and is among the top in the entire Jiangsu and Zhejiang region. Surroundings Located at the most central part of Pingjiang Road, the hotel is right next to the busiest riverside pedestrian street. The most famous ancient sites and gardens of Suzhou are all within walking distance, such as the very popular Ouyuan Garden, which is less than a 10-minute walk away. Brewing tea by the stove or arranging a photo shoot in ancient costume, you can spend a leisurely day without the crowds of tourists.

Suzhou Yihe Songmao Residence Hotel is located in Lujia Lane, Pingjiang Road district, which is quiet in the bustling Pingjiang Road. It is very convenient for travel and sightseeing. You can take a rowing boat on Pingjiang Road, or sit by the river and boil tea around the stove. As the 7th themed cultural boutique hotel under the Yihe Group, Suzhou Yihe Songmao Residence also shows extraordinary cultural charm. The building it is located in was the former residence of Mrs. Wang, the wife of Pan Zuyin, a high-ranking official in the late Qing Dynasty, and has a history of nearly three hundred years. On the topic of ancient buildings and boutique hotels, Yihe Songmao Residence provides a new modern high-quality living experience while restoring the traditional style of the old Jiangnan mansion.