China Guide
Jiangsu and Zhejiang
Accommodation
1 Bamboo Grove 168 Zhuhui Lu 
0512/65205601 
65208778 
www.bg-hotel.com A tour-group favourite, this efficient Japanese-run four-star hotel imitates local style with black-and-white walls and abundant bamboo in the garden. There are a couple of good restaurants on site. Price: ¥800
2 Dongwu 24 Wu Ya Chang, Shiquan Jie 0512/65193681 65194590 By far Suzhou's best budget hotel, this large place run by the university is central but quiet, and offers rooms either in the main building or – the cheaper option – in the pleasant foreign students' guesthouse at the back. There's a very cheap canteen on site too. Price: ¥140-199
3 Lexiang 18 Dajin Xiang, the third lane south of Guanqian Jie, east off Renmin Lu 0512/65228888 65244165 A good, friendly, central hotel, one of the best options in its price bracket, with CITS next door and convenient for some decent restaurants. The three- or four-bed rooms can work out fairly cheap if you bring enough friends to fill them. Price: ¥450-599
4 Motel 168 16 Pingqi Lu 0512/82106666 Though it's a little out of the way, this chirpily decorated, no-frills chain hotel is very competitively priced. Price: ¥80-139
5 Nanlin 20 Gun Xiu Fang, Shiquan Jie 0512/68017888 68015818 www.nanlin.com A big three-star garden-style affair with an immaculate lobby. The new wing has luxury rooms, while the old wing still offers reasonably priced doubles and triples. Price: ¥800
6 New Century 23 Guangji Lu; out in the west of the city, beyond the moat: bus #7 from the train station 0512/65338888 65335798 Has nicely decorated, airy rooms and is handy for the Shi Lu shopping area. Price: ¥450-599
7 
Sheraton 259 Xinshi Lu, near Pan Men in the southwest of town 0512/65103388 www.sheraton.com/suzhou A pastiche Chinese mansion sprawling over two city blocks, this is Suzhou's best (and most expensive) international-standard hotel. A stream runs through the middle of the grounds, and there are serene gardens and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Price: ¥600-800
8 Suzhou 345 Shiquan Jie 0512/65204646 65204015 www.suzhou-hotel.com A huge but relatively characterless place, a favourite of tour groups. The cheapest rooms are surprisingly dingy but do have clean facilities. Price: ¥600-800
9 Suzhou Friendship 349 Zhuhui Lu 0512/65291601 65206221 A big city block south of Shiquan Jie, this is large and friendly, with good-value rooms and a nice garden in the central atrium. Price: ¥300-449
10 Suzhou International Youth Hostel 186 Zhuhui Lu 0512/65180266 65180366 A bit out of the way, but worth it for their decent dorm beds. Rooms, however, are better elsewhere. Free Wi-Fi and laundry. Price: hostel ¥45Price: hotel ¥200-299