Trip Planner: Asia / China / Jiangsu / Suzhou / Museums / Suzhou Museum

Suzhou Museum, Suzhou

4.4

#1 of 8 in Museums in Suzhou

Specialty Museum Museum

Where Prince Zhong's mansion once stood, now stands Suzhou Museum, an exhibition building designed by a famous Chinese-American architect. Surrounded by exquisite courtyards, the three-story building represents a blend of modern halls and traditional gardens. You can visit three main areas of the museum--the central, western, and eastern areas. As you stroll through the museum, inspect the vast collection of Chinese national treasures ranging from handicraft works, paintings, and calligraphy, to porcelain, celadon, and silk relics. The museum also introduces its visitors to Chinese traditions, customs, festivals, belief systems, and folk activities. Choose to start, finish, or center your holiday on a trip to Suzhou Museum by using our Suzhou travel itinerary maker.

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Where to stay in Suzhou

The range of accommodations available in Suzhou reflects the diversity of architectural styles and historical periods on display throughout the city. Crossed by countless canals, the city's most atmospheric accommodations lie close to the knotted waterways, with modest guesthouses and hotels on the lesser waterways, and more luxurious options located in the more scenic canal areas. A wealth of modern development has left the city dotted with high-rise hotels, with the tall tower blocks offering rooms with an abundance of extra facilities and views over the city.

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644 reviews

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4.6

lesleighbryanbalwin

The exhibits in this museum provide a fascinating tale of the history of Suzhou and the surrounding region. Exquisite Ming ceramics and art particularly took my attention. the museum is designed to ac... more »
GarryTse

There is a white wall in the yard. Rain hits on the wall and makes it look like Monochromes. Never forget the view. more »
Robredo

The building of this museum is very beautiful, inside of it, you can read the history of this city, so it's a must visit place in town. more »

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Flemming Just

I consider Suzhou Museum one of the most beautiful museums I have seen. It is a master piece created by the master architect I.M. Pei. It is designed in total harmony with the very sensitive surroundings (UNESCO world heritage The Humble Administrator's Garden) and the old town. The museum in itself is among the best in China with beautiful artefacts and changing exhibitions from all over the world.

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Joel Wynne

Always a pleasure to visit here and enjoy the seasonal exhibitions that change frequently. A true beauty to enjoy!

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Meiyi Cheng

Suzhou Museum is one of the best museums in East China. I say this not because the museums are better or worse elsewhere in China, but because I've visited too few cities in the north to make a conclusion. To start off, the admission is FREE! You may have to wait for 15 minutes if you show up in the morning, but the line moves fast, and you'll get in soon. The collection is well curated, by the end of it you will have a basic understanding of the history of this region. There is also a collection of modern art pieces donated by renowned Chinese artists. I highly recommend checking it out. You can rent the audio guide for 20 RMB in Chinese and 30 RMB in other languages including English. However, they do run out fast, at least the Chinese ones. If you can read and understand Chinese, I recommend that you use WeChat (WeXin in Chinese) and follow Suzhou Museum's official account. There you can type in the number of the displayed artwork, and receive an interpretation either in text or audio format. It's a popular place for both locals and tourists, young and old, especially the pre-school-aged kids (idk why but they're everywhere in the museum), so please prepare yourself for a rather noisy atmosphere. There are other places within 30 minutes' walk from the museum to enjoy some serenity, but unfortunately not inside the museum. Last but not the least, the architecture is a masterpiece of I.M.Pei, the buildings alone are worth visiting!

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I tibettravel

This small and little-known museum is a gem of architecture

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Michael

Old and new, modern and traditional museum. Very intesting place.

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