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How to Travel between Shanghai and Suzhou

The distance between Shanghai and Suzhou is about 100km (62mi). The 30 minutes’ high-speed train makes it possible to have a day tour from one city to the other. The normal trains are an economy alternative which takes 1-2 hours and costs CNY15. A Long-distance bus ride priced at CNY40-50 and a taxi costing CNY400-500 both take about 1.5 hours. Shanghai Pudong Airport and Hongqiao Airport have shuttle buses to Suzhou. Many south China water towns are within 1.5 hours’ journey by bus from Shanghai.

Joining a guided tour is the most convenient way for tourists to travel between the two cities:
5 Days Shanghai Tour to Suzhou & Zhouzhuang from $499
8 Days Shanghai - Hangzhou - Suzhou - Wuxi - Nanjing

Fastest Way: Shanghai – Suzhou High Speed Train: 25-35 minutes, CNY25.5-40

From Shanghai: Hongqiao Railway Station: 06:09 – 21:42; Shanghai Railway Station: 05:48 – 22:55

From Suzhou: North Railway Station: 08:25 – 23:07; Suzhou Railway Station: 05:27 – 22:43; Industrial Park Railway Station (SIP Station): 06:46 – 20:39; New Area Railway Station: 07:38, 11:36, 19:44

Train Ticket Prices:
G type trains: CNY35-40 for a second class seat, CNY60-65 for a first class seat, and CNY75-120 for a business class seat.
D type trains: CNY25.5 for a second class seat and CNY30.5 for a first class seat.

Economy Choice – Normal Train: 1 - 2 hours, CNY15

From Shanghai: South Railway Station: 04:14 – 22:40; Shanghai Railway Station: 08:51 – 23:47

From Suzhou Railway Station: 02:37 – 21:51

Train Ticket Prices: CNY15 for a hard seat, CNY60 for a hard sleeper, and CNY90 for a soft sleeper.

Long-distance Bus: 1.5 hours, CNY40-50

Shanghai to Suzhou Bus:

Intercity Bus Terminal	07:50, 09:30, 12:35, 14:45
South Long-distance Bus Station	06:40, 07:10, 07:30, 10:10, 10:30, 10:50, 11:50, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 14:50, 15:30, 16:10, 16:50, 17:25
Pudong East Long-distance Bus Station	06:40, 12:00
Hongqiao West Long-distance Bus Station	11:10, 12:25, 14:00, 16:00, 18:05, 20:05, 20:40, 21:35

Suzhou to Shanghai Bus:

North Bus Station	07:45, 08:45, 09:35, 10:20, 12:30, 13:55, 14:10, 16:10, 18:05, 19:10
South Bus Station	07:20, 09:15, 12:50, 13:10, 15:00, 17:30, 18:05
West Bus Station	To Shanghai South Long-distance Bus Station: 09:50, 13:25, 15:40 To Shanghai Railway Station: 10:10, 12:30, 15:30, 16:45

Taxi: 1.5 hour, CNY400-500

For a long distance, the taxi drivers prefer a flat rate instead of charging by meter, so reach an agreement on the taxi fare before getting in a car.

24-hour hotlines for taxi reservation:

Taxi companies in Shanghai: +86 021-96822 for Dazhong; +86 021-96961 for Jinjiang; +86 021-62580000 for Qiangsheng; +86 021-96933 for Haibo

Suzhou: +86 0512-95128, +86 0512-96520, +86 0512-67776777

How to Travel from Shanghai Airports to Suzhou

1. By Bus:

Bus between Shanghai Pudong Airport and Suzhou: 2.5 hours, CNY84;

Bus between Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and Suzhou: 1.5 hours, CNY53

Routes:

Pudong Airport → Hongqiao Airport → Suzhou North Square Bus Station (to the north of Suzhou Railway Station)

Schedules from Pudong Airport: 09:05, 10:00, 10:40, 11:10, 11:40, 12:10, 12:45, 13:30, 14:15, 14:50, 15:20, 16:10, 16:50, 17:20, 18:10, 18:50, 19:40, 20:30, 21:00. The buses reach the Hongqiao Airport in an hour.

Boarding sites:

Long-distance Bus Station, B1 Floor of P1 Parking Lot, Pudong Airport;

Hongqiao West Long-distance Bus Station, T2, Hongqiao Airport

Suzhou North Square Bus Station → SIP Modern Leisure Square → Hongqiao Airport → Pudong Airport

Schedules from the North Square Bus Station: 06:20, 07:00, 07:40, 08:20, 08:50, 09:20, 09:50, 10:20, 10:50, 11:30, 12:10, 12:50, 13:30, 14:10, 14:50, 15:30, 16:10, 17:00. These buses pick up passengers at the SIP Modern Leisure Square after 20 minutes.

2. By Train:

From Pudong Airport: Take metro line 2 to People’s Square → transfer to metro line 1 to Shanghai Railway Station → catch a high speed train to Suzhou

From Hongqiao Airport: Take metro line 10 from Terminal 1 to Hongqiao Railway Station within 8 minutes, or walk 15 minutes from Terminal 2 to the railway station, and here take the high speed train.

How to Travel from Shanghai to Ancient Towns in Suzhou

To Zhouzhuang Water Town: 1.5 hours

1. Direct buses are available in Shanghai Intercity Bus Terminal at 07:05, 08:30, 10:10, 12:00, 14:20 and 16:20. It takes 1.5 hours and costs CNY30-35.

2. Take metro line 11 to Huaqiao Station, and change to Kunshan Tourist Bus line 7 to the town.

3. Join the one-day tour of the Tour Bus Center. Take the bus near exit 4 of Hanzhong Road station on metro line 1. There are two buses leaving at 08:00 and 12:00, and getting back at 16:30 and 19:30.

To Tongli Town: 2 hours

1. Take a coach from Shanghai Intercity Bus Terminal at 07:00, 07:40, 08:20, 09:10, 09:45, 10:25, 11:25, 12:10, 12:40, 13:20, 14:10, 14:40, 15:45, 16:15, 17:10 or 18:15. The bus fare is CNY36.

2. Take a bullet train from Shanghai Railway Station or Hongqiao Railway Station to Suzhou within 30-40min. Transfer to the local rail transit line 4 to Tongli Station, and then get on the free shuttle bus with the ticket of the town, or take the bus no. 725 to the town.

To Luzhi Town: 1.5 hours

1. Take a direct bus from Zhongshan Bus Station and the schedules are from 06:10 to 16:50.

2. Take a train to Suzhou Railway Station, and then walk to North Square Bus Station to catch a bus, which is available from 09:25 to 16:00.

To Mudu Ancient Town: 1.5 hours

1. Take a train to Suzhou Railway Station, and then take 64 or 69 from the South Square of the railway station, or 38 or tourist line 4 from the North Square to the town.

2. Take a train to Suzhou New Area Railway Station, and then hire a taxi to go there in 20min with the fare of CNY40-50.

Shanghai Subway to Kunshan of Suzhou

Shanghai metro line 11 runs westwards from the Disneyland Park in the city’s east end to Huaqiao Station in Kunshan.

For passengers going to downtown Suzhou, there is a shuttle bus from the Huaqiao Station to Suzhou South Bus Station:

Route: Huaqiao Metro Station (06:45, 09:55, 12:50, 15:50) → Huaqiao Administration Center → Luxi New Village → Kunshan South Bus Station → Suzhou South Bus Station

Fare: CNY23

* Note: By 2023, Suzhou rail transit line S1 will connect to Shanghai metro line 11 at Huaqiao station.