Pei's architecture
Old meets new.
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One of the world's most visited museums, with more than two million visitors in 2018, showing ancient Chinese art, painting, calligraphy and crafts in a building by the famous Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei, a son of Suzhou and designer of the Louvre's glass pyramid. Founded in 1960, the museum moved in 2006 into its present building, which blends Suzhou's traditional architecture, with white walls and grey roofs, with modern geometric forms of glass and steel, around a water garden with cut-stone «mountains» like a Chinese ink painting. Its galleries hold treasures of porcelain, jade, bronze, painting and calligraphy from many eras and objects from the ancient state of Wu, while the museum's folk branch near Lion Grove Garden shows the city's arts and crafts. Entry is free with a real-name booking one to seven days ahead on the official website or WeChat, 09:00–17:00, per visitor guides. Queues are long on holidays, so book early.
Old meets new.
Like an ink painting.
Ancient treasures.
Qimen Road, beside the Humble Administrator's Garden, Suzhou
Humble Administrator's GardenSuzhou's largest and best-known garden, considered by many the finest in souther2 minutes walk4.3
Lion Grove GardenA famous classical garden in old Suzhou, built in 1342 under the Yuan by a Buddh3 minutes walk4.4
Pingjiang RoadOld Suzhou's loveliest street, running about 1,606 m along the Pingjiang canal t16 minutes walk4.4Yes, but you need a real-name booking one to seven days ahead on the official website or WeChat, per visitor guides.