Food
As a result of hundreds of years of culinary experimentation, Suzhou cuisine has developed a unique flavor and a famed reputation. Each course is individually prepared and the emphasis is on the use of quality ingredients, tender meat, fresh vegetables and care in preparation. The result is a selection of fabulous dishes that are unique in color, aroma, shape and taste. Suzhou cuisine is often sweet to taste and beautifully presented.The fish and vegetable dishes of the area are well known throughout China and some of the best local dishes to try are; Songshu Guiyu (Mandarin Fish, stewed and fried), Qingtang Yuchi (braised shark's fin in a clear soup), Xiangyou Shanhu (stewed shredded eel) and Xigua Ji (young chicken buried in watermelon rind and steamed). The best places to try for good and authentic Suzhou cuisine are on Gangzhou Lu and around the middle of Renmin Lu.The snacks in Suzhou are also tasty. Try the bean curd cakes with honey, pine nuts in syrup, melon seeds fried with rose juice and sesame cake with mashed date.International cuisine has made its way to the city restaurants, largely thanks to the fact that Suzhou is a tourist town. The big hotels do some great western food and there are even a couple of smaller independent restaurants around town branching into the continental cuisine area. KFC and McDonalds are already well established!
Suzhou Zhongtian Department Store
Address : No.186 Guanqian Street, Suzhou, China.
Suzhou No. 1 Department Store
Address : No.440 Renmin Road, Suzhou, China.
Suzhou Renming Department Store
Address : No.22, Little Park, Northern Block, Suzhou, China.
Suzhou Shopping Center
Address : No.245 Guanqian Street, Suzhou, China.
Taihue Commercial City
Address: 23-29 Renming Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province Post Code: 215007
Telephone: 86-512-5302158
Fax: 86-512-5307918
Suzhou may be "paradise on earth" but this paradise shuts down at 10pm!! To be fair, there are a few decent bars which have opened up across the city in recent years including a great little Indian Bar on Renmin Road and a couple of nice little places on Shi Quan Jie. However, if it's exciting nightlife you are after, you'd be better off making the ninety minute trip to Shanghai. That said, Suzhou is a nice place to relax, kick back your feet and soak up some of the atmosphere in the traditional tea houses which are dotted about town. There is an especially quaint tea house in the City Art Institute on Gangzhou Lu. Check out what's going on at the Sheraton Hotel too, as they often organize parties especially on local or national holidays. What's more, while the developers are pulling down a lot of the old city, this usually means an influx of western style restaurants and bars. Locals already boast about the "little Singapore" in the outskirts of town which is an area where vast sums of money are being invested by Singaporean businesses. Investment usually equates with westernisation so look out for some new restaurants and bars shooting up in this part of the city. For kids, (or the young at heart) there are more options. Suzhou has (until the real thing in Hong Kong opens up), the Chinese version of Disney World! There is no Mickey mouse here but, there is a large selection of high- tech amusement games and rides. Holiday Water world is another place worth trying and there is even a lake here where you can surf in the summer!