November 24, 2025

SUZHOU

A DAY IN SUZHOU

We took a day trip from Shanghai to Suzhou, a beautiful canal city with more than 2,500 years of history. Known for its waterways, stone bridges and classical gardens, it’s one of those places that feels like it was made for wandering. We arrived in the morning with no real agenda other than to walk around, eat, explore and see where the day took us. We watched little boats make their way through the canals and wandered along the water, taking in a completely different pace from Shanghai.

Fruit stand in suzhou, china

WANDERING SUZHOU

Most of our day was spent exactly like this, just walking. We wandered through little streets and market alleys, stopping whenever something caught our eye. Fruit stands, tiny shops, incense, beautiful old buildings and glimpses of everyday life. I always love exploring a city this way, without having every stop planned out. Suzhou is especially good for it because there always seems to be another little alley or canal to turn down.

A large round hot pot filled with bubbling broth, sliced meat, and red chili peppers, set on a wooden table in a restaurant. A person wearing an apron is visible in the background holding a cup and using tongs.LUNCH IN SUZHOU

Somewhere along the way we stopped for lunch and had this spicy tofu dish swimming in the most delicious, flavorful broth. I wish I remembered exactly what it was called because it was insanely good. Spicy, warm, comforting and one of those completely unplanned meals that ends up being one of your favorites from a trip.

A traditional Chinese garden scene featuring a small stone arch bridge over a pond, with a dark wooden pavilion and tiled roof in the background, surrounded by rocks and lush greenery.

TEA AT JIANGNAN HOUSE

After walking for hours, we stopped at Jiangnan House for tea and to rest our feet for a little while. The hotel itself is so beautiful and full of charming details, with traditional Chinese architecture, courtyards and quiet little corners everywhere you look. We really only went in for tea, but ended up lingering because the atmosphere was so peaceful and, of course, I wanted to photograph everything.

A man wearing a black cap and dark jacket sits on a red and green electric tricycle, giving a thumbs-up. The tricycle has a red canopy, a front basket filled with items, and a blue license plate.

THE BEST WAY TO GET AROUND

We decided to hire a pedicab and asked the driver to take us around Suzhou for an hour. It ended up being one of the most fun parts of the day. We just sat back while he pedaled us through the streets, weaving through parts of the city we probably wouldn’t have found on our own. No itinerary, no particular destination, just an hour of seeing Suzhou go by.

A man wearing dark sunglasses, a dark gray long-sleeve shirt, and dark gray sweatpants stands in a doorway of a rustic building, giving a thumbs-up while holding a black cup. A motorcycle is parked on the left, and Chinese characters are visible on the wall.

A man wearing black sunglasses, a dark gray v-neck sweater, and dark gray sweatpants stands in a doorway holding a black smartphone. The background shows a home interior with framed art and shelves.

JADE WATER STUDIO

The real magic happened when we peeked into a tiny calligraphy studio called Jade Water Studio tucked in the back corner of an alleyway. The artist inside, mid calligraphy sesh, looked up the second I stepped inside and paused. His eyes lit up and the first thing he asked was “Hindu??”. I said yes, and he immediately started dancing and singing a Bollywood song. We were all laughing and dancing together and started having a whole conversation through Google Translate. He told us he loves Indians and grew up watching Bollywood films, especially a movie called Caravan from 1971 that he saw seven or eight times as a teenager. He took photos with us and made us feel so welcome. He told us India is China’s neighbor and that we were welcome in his village and country, and that he was so happy to meet us. His energy was so warm. 🥹

We were so caught up in the moment that we forgot to ask his name. When we got back to Shanghai, we even asked the hotel to call a nearby shop to try to find him, but no luck. I’ll keep trying, because this meeting felt so special and unforgettable.

It is so nourishing to meet people around the world in the most unexpected corners, and how connection finds its own way, even when you don’t speak the same language. Suzhou, you were so beautiful. But this is the moment I’ll remember most. ✨