The Venice of the East Where to stay and play in Suzhou

The Great Wall, Beijing's Forbidden City, the city lights of Shanghai and the Terracotta Warriors are frequently on travellers’ must-sees when it comes to China itineraries.

- MEGAN HOBSON

Step outside these international tourist favourites and you can find fascinating culture, ancient traditions and glimpses into the country’s true charm. This is exactly what you can expect from a trip to Suzhou – and happily it has a fab new hotel that offers a luxury stay inspired by the past and future of the city.

Suzhou’s Old Town

Situated in the Yangtze River Delta and just a short transfer from Shanghai, this unique city of canals has ancient roots more than 2,500 years old. Said to have been visited by Marco Polo, Suzhou developed a reputation as a centre of silk, traditional handicrafts, calligraphy, carving and embroidery.

Today, you can get lost crossing hundreds of arched bridges, floating down buzzing waterways lit by lanterns at night and exploring crumbling stone alleyways, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, classical gardens and tranquil temples.

M Social Suzhou